50 Astonishing Plants That Seem Straight Out Of Science Fiction

I wonder if plant enthusiasts ever think: “There’s not enough drama in this green garden! I need to add a little pep to make it edgier.” The world of plants can be surprisingly colorful and exciting. At least that’s what I found out after scrolling through this list of unique and interesting-looking plants. Yes, some exotic plants might try (although very unsuccessfully) to eat you, others can smell like straight-up death.There are also someplants you would never want to grow at home. Still,there’s so much interesting florato be discovered even if you’re not a garden enthusiast. For this post,Bored Pandaasked botany expert Douglas Justice and plant vlogger Ashley Anita to share some fascinating plant facts. Check out the unique plants below and let us know which ones look the most impressive to you!This post may includeaffiliate links.

There are also someplants you would never want to grow at home. Still,there’s so much interesting florato be discovered even if you’re not a garden enthusiast. For this post,Bored Pandaasked botany expert Douglas Justice and plant vlogger Ashley Anita to share some fascinating plant facts. Check out the unique plants below and let us know which ones look the most impressive to you!

This post may includeaffiliate links.

This Was Supposed To Be A Plant Progress Post Showing Off My Oxalis But Henk Stole The Show

Douglas Justiceis the associate director of the University of British Columbia’s botanical garden. He has agreed to lend his botanical expertise to us and share some of his favorite unusual plants.

Justice’s love for plants is immediately evident in the way he speaks about them: “I’ve come across many unusual and compelling plants in my years. It’s difficult for me to choose favorites (the lists are always expanding). I can usually find something that’s interesting in nearly all plants—the way some flowers, like poppies, for example, are unpacked from their buds."

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When asked what unusual flora he would recommend for growing at home, Douglas suggests leaf succulents and peperomias. They are easily grown and excellent windowsill subjects. “Speaking of peperomias,” Justice goes on, “on a magnolia expedition in Colombia some years ago I encountered a tree branch festooned with epiphytic peperomias so small they could fit into a thimble.“I have no idea what their names are. A day or so later in Jardin Botanico de Bogota Jose Celestino Mutis, we came across the exquisite blue-flowered bromeliad known as the ‘sapphire tower’ (Puya alpestris) and the Venezuelan coniferRetrophyllum rospigliossii, a tree with fern-like branchlets so regular and perfect they look like they were churned out in a 3D printer.” Reading about these botanical adventures gives me an urge for some plant expeditions.

“I have no idea what their names are. A day or so later in Jardin Botanico de Bogota Jose Celestino Mutis, we came across the exquisite blue-flowered bromeliad known as the ‘sapphire tower’ (Puya alpestris) and the Venezuelan coniferRetrophyllum rospigliossii, a tree with fern-like branchlets so regular and perfect they look like they were churned out in a 3D printer.” Reading about these botanical adventures gives me an urge for some plant expeditions.

The Plant Crotalaria Cunninghamii Mimicks Birds

My Echeveria Showing Me Some Love With Its Blooms

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Douglas has one more suggestion for excitement-seeking plant parents. “A somewhat less tropical Andean plant I have grown (though repeatedly lost), is blue angel’s trumpets (Iochroma australe). This plant is a knockout. Its purple-blue pendulous trumpets would be a welcome addition in any garden.”Justice then shares an adventure that suddenly makes me want to become the Short Round to his Indiana Jones. “[O]n a hillside in the Cocoro Valley (across from an expanse of Quindio wax palms) grew a huge red iochroma shrub (Iochroma gesnerioides), with ample clusters of hanging long-tubed flowers of a scarlet so intense it nearly burned the eyes.”

Justice then shares an adventure that suddenly makes me want to become the Short Round to his Indiana Jones. “[O]n a hillside in the Cocoro Valley (across from an expanse of Quindio wax palms) grew a huge red iochroma shrub (Iochroma gesnerioides), with ample clusters of hanging long-tubed flowers of a scarlet so intense it nearly burned the eyes.”

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Buds Of A Hoya Wax Flower

My Peperomia Letting Me Know She Appreciated The Love I Gave Her

Ourplant friend and influencer Ashley Anitais the go-to person for houseplant enthusiasts. Ashley has a YouTube channel where she shares excellent advice for beginners and pros alike. Her love for plants started early in her childhood growing up on the island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean.“Growing up there, I always loved exploring the tropical plants,” Ashley says. “I now live in Charlotte, NC and have for many years. A few years ago, during one particularly challenging period, I started to reconnect with my love for plants. I discovered that immersing myself in the world of plants was incredibly rewarding.““Whether I was plant shopping in a greenhouse, digging my hands into soil, or discovering new growth on a plant, I found it all immensely rewarding.”

“Growing up there, I always loved exploring the tropical plants,” Ashley says. “I now live in Charlotte, NC and have for many years. A few years ago, during one particularly challenging period, I started to reconnect with my love for plants. I discovered that immersing myself in the world of plants was incredibly rewarding.”

“Whether I was plant shopping in a greenhouse, digging my hands into soil, or discovering new growth on a plant, I found it all immensely rewarding.”

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Ashley also talks about the therapeutic advantages of gardening. “Nurturing and caring for these plants is what we call ‘plant therapy’ in the plant community. I also enjoy the challenge of constantly learning as there is always a new fascinating plant to discover.”

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She shares some care tips: “It thrives in indirect light while requiring minimal maintenance. Its rapid growth is rewarding for beginners, and it can be placed in various ways, from hanging baskets to climbing up a moss pole. They can be found at most plant nurseries at an affordable rate.”

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The other plant for beginners is silver satin (Scindapsus pictus). “Their leaves are beautifully shaped, but it’s the vibrant silver splash all over the leaves that makes them so unique-looking,” elaborates Ashley.“These stunning plants have many varieties and they are all wonderful houseplants. This makes them highly sought after for houseplant enthusiasts. They can also be found at many plant shops for an affordable rate.”However, Ashley’s all-time favorite is the “fishtail” hoya (Hoya polineura): “The leaves resemble a fishtail, making them one of the most unique and sought after hoya on the market.”

“These stunning plants have many varieties and they are all wonderful houseplants. This makes them highly sought after for houseplant enthusiasts. They can also be found at many plant shops for an affordable rate.”

However, Ashley’s all-time favorite is the “fishtail” hoya (Hoya polineura): “The leaves resemble a fishtail, making them one of the most unique and sought after hoya on the market.”

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We also asked both our experts to share some weird plant names that they’ve come across throughout their careers. Douglas goes with two South American species:Retrophyllum rospigliossii(the Peruvian feather grass) andBactris gasipaes(the fiercely spined peach palm).Ashley Anita chose three:Anthurium pedatoradiatum, “fingers” (the leaves look just like fingers);Peperomia prostrata, “string of turtles” (the petite round leaves resemble turtle shells); andHoya kerrii“heartleaf hoya”, whose leaves are perfectly heart-shaped.

Ashley Anita chose three:Anthurium pedatoradiatum, “fingers” (the leaves look just like fingers);Peperomia prostrata, “string of turtles” (the petite round leaves resemble turtle shells); andHoya kerrii“heartleaf hoya”, whose leaves are perfectly heart-shaped.

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In the beginning of 2022,Architectural Digest deemedvariegated versions of philodendron and monstera the most popular. “Variegated” means that they come with leaves that are colored irregularly, most often with white marbling and green patches.Most of them come from tropical climates and will be hard to find at your local store. Depending on their size and color patterns, they can cost anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars. You can learn to care for both of these plant world superstars onAnita’s channelorInstagram.

Most of them come from tropical climates and will be hard to find at your local store. Depending on their size and color patterns, they can cost anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars. You can learn to care for both of these plant world superstars onAnita’s channelorInstagram.

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If you’re looking for some cool indoor plants to decorate your home with,Home Edit suggestspebble plants. They’re succulents that resemble little rocks, but look super cute. If you’re more into flowers, there’s peace lilies. Their colors can vary from white to red and pink.

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