14 Unique Flowers for Your Garden

By

 

14 Unique Flowers for Your Garden


There are many plants that boast floral beauty, but to qualify as having unique flowers, a plant must go beyond the call of duty: Its blooms must be unusual in one way or another. In some cases, it will have bicolored flowers; in others, the blooms will be unusually large or oddly shaped. Growing these plants is a wonderful way to set yourself apart from your neighbors.

 

01of 14

Bird of Paradise

 

Bird of paradise isn't only bicolored, but also uniquely shaped. A tropical plant indigenous to South Africa, Strelitzia reginae grows in the jungle, where it can enjoy hot and humid conditions.

It's perennial only in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, so Northerners will have to grow it as an annual. It becomes five feet tall in the wild and sports leaves like those on banana trees. Grow it in full sun to partial shade in rich soil. It's one of the plants that like acidic

02of 14

Himalayan Poppy

                            


oppies (Meconopsis grandis) dazzle with blue umbrellas that shelter fuzzy, yellow centers. The plants stand 24 to 36 inches tall; the sky-blue flowers measure four to five inches across.

Grow them in zones 5 to 7 in dappled shade and in-ground that drains well but that you can keep evenly moist.

But these aren't easy plants to grow. They'll remind you of Goldilocks both in terms of moisture and temperature needs: 

They want a little bit of moisture around their roots all of the time but not too much at any time.

They want summers that aren't too hot but winters that aren't too cold.

03of 14

Crown Imperial


Orange crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis Rubra) is a spring bulb plant that stands three to four feet tall. The flowers stink, but don't hold that against them: They are the most unique and most beautiful of the spring bulb flowers. Multiple orange, bell-shaped blooms form the "crown" atop the plant stalk. Adding further uniqueness are the six shiny, circular, bright-white dots underneath each nodding flower.

Suited to zones 5 to 8, crown imperial should be placed in full sun and well-drained soil.

                                         

                                        04of 14

       Secret Lust Coneflower


 

05of 14

                  Pitcher Plant

 

Everyone knows the carnivorous Venus fly trap, but Northern pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea) are carnivores native to colder climates. They are fun plants to grow because you'll be fascinated by the way the flower starts as a tight ball, then unfurls as it develops. The namesake "pitchers" are modified leaves that will also charm gardeners.

Other genera have even more unique pitchers, such as tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes), which produce pitchers that look like the powder horns carried by American pioneers.

Northern pitcher plants grow to be 20 inches tall. Grown in zones 3 to 7, they like full sun and lots of water.

 

06of 14

                     Sundew


The unique "flower" of another carnivorous plant, sundew (Drosera), is a faux flower. Insects are tricked into thinking it's a real flower by the namesake dewdrops that glisten on its tiny stalks: They look like drops of nectar to unsuspecting insects. But when the insects land on them, they become trapped because these drops are quite sticky. 

You too may be tricked into thinking they're flowers, so exquisite is their beauty. But, unlike with insects, the illusion will cause you no harm. Sundew comes in many species. D. intermedia can be grown in just about any zone. Since they like boggy conditions, they're good plants for wet areas.

07of 14

            Red Hot Poker Plant


Red hot poker plants (Kniphofia) are so-called because of their cylindrical shape and the "hot" color of their flower spikes. Many types have bicolored flowers. The species plant, Kniphofia uvaria, is another South African native; it can reach four feet high. 

However, cultivars like Pineapple Popsicle (yellow), Mango Popsicle (orange), and Redhot Popsicle (red) stay shorter (two feet).

Grow these unique flowers in zones 6 to 9 in full sun and well-drained soil.

08of 14

                Amorphophallus


Native to Sumatra and Indonesia, titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) grows from a corm. It bears the world's largest flower (10 feet tall). It takes so many years to bloom that it's truly news when it does. 

Just don't take "flower" too literally: The actual flowers, which are foul-smelling, hide at the bottom of the hooded plant part known as a "spathe." A showy spike (the "spadix") pokes up through the spathe. Taken together, spathe, spadix, and flowers make up an "inflorescence." So, technically, titan arum has the largest inflorescence on earth.

The related devil's tongue (Amorphophallus konjac) doesn't get as big, but you'll enjoy its inflorescence annually. 

Because Amorphophallus is tropical, it's hardy only in zones 8 to 10; Northerners need to dig the corm up in fall and bring it indoors. Grow it in dappled sunshine during the summer. The soil should drain well but be kept moist.

09of 14

                      Silk Tree

Silk trees (Albizia julibrissin) look tropical, but these Asian natives are suited to zones 6 to 9. Their height reaches 20 to 35 feet and the delicate, silk-like flowers are fragrant. As a bonus, the fern-shaped foliage is pleasantly dark on some types, such as Merlot Majik.

They're invasive in some regions of the U.S., so check with your county extension before planting. Grow them in full sun to partial shade.

10of 14

            Amethyst in Snow

                                    


Amethyst in Snow (Centaurea montana Amethyst in Snow) and Amethyst Dream (C. montana Amethyst Dream) both give you a perennial bachelor button with bicolored flowers, but the contrast of the two colors shows up better on the former because one of the colors is light, while the other is dark. Amethyst in Snow is also better suited for use as a ground cover to fill in an area because it does spread. Otherwise, the two perennials are the same. Centaurea montana grows to be 20 inches tall x 27 inches wide.

Grow the plants in full sun and well-drained soil in zones 3 to 9.

            

            11of 14

Batik Bearded Iris

The Iris genus contains some of the toughest, prettiest, and most fragrant flowers in the plant world. If they had nothing else going for them, then this triad of qualities, alone, would make them unique flowers. But Batik bearded iris (Iris germanica Batik) sweetens the deal further by offering bicolored flowers. The plant grows two to three feet tall.

Grow Batik iris in zones 3 to 8. It likes full sun and dislikes a soil that gets overly wet.


                12of 14

Perfect Storm Hardy Hibiscus

                                                            


 

Perfect Storm hibiscus (or "rose mallow") is part of the Summerific series. It's a hybrid cultivar of Hibiscus moscheutos, which is known as the "hardy hibiscus" to distinguish it from its better known tropical cousins. This perennial becomes three feet tall. The size of the bicolored flower is an impressive 7 or 8 inches across. ​The dark foliage is striking enough for it to be treated as a foliage plant when it isn't in bloom.

Grow Perfect Storm hibiscus in zones 5 to 9. It likes full sun and a well-drained, evenly moist soil.

13of 14

Nora Leigh Garden Phlox

                                                                

Nora Leigh phlox (Phlox paniculata Nora Leigh) not only has variegated leaves but also bicolored flowers (an unusual combination). Since one color on both the leaves and the flowers is bright, this perennial shows up. It reaches a height of 24 to 36 inches. The tall types of phlox, such as Nora Leigh, are great for achieving a continuous sequence of bloom because they're perennials that will bloom all summer.

Nora Leigh is hardy to zone 4 and can be grown successfully as far south as zone 8. Install it in full sun to partial sun. It has average water needs and will profit from annual applications of compost.

14of 14

Featherleaf Rodger's Flower

                                                                    

Featherleaf Rodger's flower (Rodgersia pinnata Elegans) is one of the best plants most people have never heard of. It offers irregularly-shaped plumes of flowers reaching as much as 18 inches long. Just as unique as the flower cluster is the foliage: It gives you a perennial with leaves looking ever so much like those on horse chestnut trees.


 

This is a great perennial for shade that is useful at the edge of a water garden, where it's easier to give it the ample water it needs. Another Goldilocks (like Himalayan poppy), zones 5 to 7 are just about right for it: It likes cool summers but not cold winters.




Powered by

@Anandewagan

 

 

 

 

 



 






 

 

 

 

 




 

Comments

Post a Comment

If you have any doubts, Please let me know

Popular posts from this blog

Himalayan red Buransh flowers useful against SARS-Cov-2 viruses: study

By
Image
  Himalayan red Buransh flowers useful against SARS-Cov-2 viruses: study Encouraging results emerged later from the red Rhododendron arboreum, locally popular as Buransh, which was taken up for further analysis. Dr Sunil said, “A combination of phytochemical profiling, computer simulations and in vitro antiviral assays showed that extracts from the Buransh petals inhibited the replication of the Covid-19 virus in a dose-dependent manner.” A group of biologists at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Mandi has claimed to have stumbled upon a Himalayan flowering tree possessing antiviral properties with a  potential to be used in the treatment against SARS-CoV2 . “We had some knowledge about the medicinal plants and started documenting phytochemical molecules of rare and endangered plants growing in the Himalayas. Initially, the idea was to create a library which will be useful for future therapeutic purposes, food industry, nutrition purposes, etc. But it was during the 2020 lockdown
Read more

How to Grow and Care for Garden Roses

By
Image
  How to Grow and Care for Garden Roses When it's thick, healthy and emerald green, your lawn is one of the most inviting parts of your home landscape. But when your turf is brown and sickly due to pest invasion, it quickly loses its appeal. Learning about the various pests that threaten your grass – and then arming yourself with an effective treatment plan – will help ensure your lawn stays healthy and beautiful. Selecting the Right Roses Roses come in many different types. Success starts with choosing roses that suit your goals. Some roses, such as modern “hybrid tea" types, need mild climates, more attention and extra protection to survive winters. Classic florist-type roses fall in this category. Hardy, shrub-type roses withstand cold much better, require less attention and need little protection. From delicate buds to big, voluptuous blossoms, they're just as beautiful as other types and often have showy fall rosehips, too. Roses also differ significantly in fragrance
Read more

Start with H - 15 Flowers Names and Types with Pictures

By
Image
  Start with H -   15 Flowers Names and Types with Pictures Hawthorn Hawthorn, or Crataegus, is a deciduous plant that can be a shrub or tree, largely depending on how it’s maintained and trimmed back. The plant produces toothed leaves, with red or white blossoms formed. Orange or red berries are produced that attract birds to the Hawthorn. They flower best when planted in an area of full sunlight. Heather Scottish Heather is a broadleaf evergreen plant. It’s native range is throughout parts of northern North America and northern Eurasia. The heather flower blooms are a rose to purplish pink color, and the plant grows well in full sun to partial shade. This plant does not do well in high heat and humidity climates. Hebe Hebe is also known as the New Zealand lilac, an evergreen shrub that tends to sprawl when it grows. It isn’t very hardy and does better when it is protected, such as by a sunny wall. The plant produces a display of lavender blue flowers duri
Read more

Scientists solve mystery of when flowers originated

By
Image
Scientists solve mystery of when flowers originated London: A team of scientists from Britain and China has claimed to have solved what Charles Darwin called the "abominable mystery" of when flowers originated. Flowering plants likely originated between 149 and 256 million years ago, said the study published in the journal New Phytologist. The study shows that flowering plants are neither as old as suggested by previous molecular studies nor as young as a literal interpretation of their fossil record.   "The discrepancy between estimates of flowering plant evolution from molecular data and fossil records has caused much debate. Even Darwin described the origin of this group as an 'abominable mystery'," explained lead author Jose Barba-Montoya from University College London.  "To uncover the key to solving the mystery of when flowers originated, we carefully analysed the genetic make-up of flowering plants, and the rate at which mutations accumulate in t
Read more

Chennai: Flowers, veggies end up in trash at Koyambedu

By
Image
  Chennai: Flowers, veggies end up in trash at Koyambedu            Tonnes of unsold Chrysanthemum flowers dumped at Koyambedu flower market turn into a seat                                                                       for the   neighbourhood watch dog. CHENNAI: About 75 tonnes of  flowers  and  vegetables  went to waste at the wholesale market in  Koyambedu  follwing poor demand. While the wholesale market received an excess of chrysanthemum on the eve of Diwali, continuous rain and low footfall led to wastage of the flower . The number of flowers and vegetables that got rotten was also high, compared to other days. According to market sources, the Koyambedu market received collectively about 900 tonnes of chrysanthemums on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, after prices of the flower spiralled on Wednesday. S Mookaiah, president of Chennai Koyambedu  Flower Traders  Association said the rate of chrysanthemum increased to nearly 30 on the eve of Diwali. "The price hike crea
Read more

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) will hold its month-long annual flower show

By
Image
  The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) will hold its month-long annual flower show from March 3. The flower show has been part of the institution’s history for 35 years, and it is conducted to mark the birth anniversary of the founder, J N Tata. The plants on display are grown in-house and they are displayed from the door of the main building till the founder’s statue on the campus. This time, around 15 varieties of plants will be showcased, ranging from phlox, zinnia, coral zinnia, celosia, and hollyhocks to different types of marigold, candytuft, nasturtium, among others. B Sridhar, horticulturist and curator of the show, says the plants are chosen for their height and colour to befit the design of the floral tribute. “We add microbial culture to make the process organic. This makes the plants look brighter and express their real colour,” he explains. Sridhar and his team of 10 have been growing these plants since last October, staggering them as per their flowering cycle, which
Read more

Arthropodium cirratum: Rengarenga - Rengarenga Lily

By
Image
Arthropodium cirratum: Rengarenga - Rengarenga Lily Botanical name:   Arthropoduim cirratum  Common name:  Renga renga lily The Rengarenga Lily is a hardy, adaptable garden plant with good form and is a prolific flowerer in spring. It is one of our most useful native plants. Endemic to New  Zealand, it grows in coastal scrub and cliff faces around the North Island and  top end of the South Island. I noted that it was growing naturally on Mount Manaia at the Whangarei Heads. It is a hardy garden plant with long and fleshy leaves, forming a solid clump. White to cream flowers with a touch of mauve appear in late November and December but it has a short flowering span. Flowers are held well above the leaves on long stems, and is evergreen. In flower, the dimensions  are 70cm x 70cm. It Thrives in most soils in either sun or shade. It is happy as a graceful water-side plant and is a useful accent in the border. Naturally, it is also a hardy coastal plant, and is useful on d
Read more

This blooming solar system harvests energy from the sun like a flower

By
Image
  This blooming solar system harvests energy from the sun like a flower It wakes up at dawn and folds up at night – just like a flower. ' Smartflower ' claims too be the world's first "intelligent energy plant." It's a solar system that unfolds its giant solar panel petals in the morning and follows the sun throughout the day. It closes up at night or during heavy weather conditions. Its mobility makes it more efficient than traditional roof solar panel systems, while its design makes it aesthetically appealing and discrete. Powered by @AnandDewangan
Read more

Sunflower

By
Image
  Sunflower The botanical name is Helianthus. The Greek word “helios” means sun and “anthos” means flower. It is aptly named after the sun which it resembles. Description Sunflowers have a large flower head, usually with a large, almost black central part which is made up of thousands of tiny florets that later become seeds set in a spiral pattern. The petals are typically bright yellow, although some varieties are orange or red. Its stem is rough and hairy while the leaves large and rough with coarse jagged edges. Sunflowers typically grow to between one and a half and three and a half metres, with some giant variants reaching up to eight metres. Habitat Helianthus originated in the Americas, where Native Americans grew it for years as a source of food. In line with its original habitat, it requires hot and dry conditions to thrive. Availability Sunflower seeds should be sown in fertile, moist, well-drained soil that contains heavy mulch. They need full sun to grow properly and develo
Read more

Claremont Flower Show still popular, but organisers hoping to attract a new generation of exhibitors

By
Image
  Claremont Flower Show still popular, but organisers hoping to attract a new generation of exhibitors   Josef Neuschwanger and Sister Frances McShane prepare their exhibits for the Claremont Spring Flower Show. Key points : The Claremont Flower Show has been running almost continuously since the end of World War II There are concerns about the future of flower shows, with exhibitors getting older and gardens getting smaller Hobart Horticultural Society president Andrea Gerrard says flower shows are a chance to share flowers with others When Josef Neuschwanger found himself looking after the garden owned by his then parents-in-law, he thought he had better learn a thing or two about camellias. "It had 160-odd camellias in it … I didn't know anything about them," Mr Neuschwanger said. It was the start of a love affair with the flowering shrubs. Mr Neuschwanger now has 173 camellias in his own garden, and has been a regular exhibitor at the Claremont Flower Show in Hoba
Read more