Garden Flower Gardens 15 Rare Flowers That Will Make Your Garden Even More Unique From vining beauties to intriguing silhouettes, be the envy of your neighborhood with these elusive blooms. By Wendy Rose Gould Wendy Rose Gould Wendy Rose Gould is a veteran freelance lifestyle reporter based in Phoenix, Ariz. with over 10 years of experience. She covers home, wellness, beauty, and travel for outlets such as Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Insider, TODAY, Bustle, TripSavvy, The Zoe Report, and others. Whether ruminating about interior design with the influential leaders in the industry, on the ground at NYFW talking trends with beauty and fashion pros, or venturing to a new corner of the world, she’s always eager to report on the latest and greatest. Editorial Guidelines Published on July 26, 2024 Close Photo: mtreasure / Getty Images Roses are a timeless choice, and sunny marigolds will always add a burst of cheer, but sometimes you want to add a dazzling star to your garden—a rare flower that beguiles with its extraordinary silhouette or brilliant color. Whether you’re seeking a peculiar vining plant—like love-in-a-puff—or want to incorporate flora with an other-worldly silhouette like the passionflower, consider adding a few of these expert-recommended flowers to your garden. These Are the 25 Prettiest Flowers in the World, According to Gardening Experts 01 of 15 Mexican Shell Flower A yellow example of the Tiger Flower. Chiffanna / Getty Images This summer-blooming bulb (Tigridia pavonia) is grown as either an annual or tender perennial. "Native to Central and South America, its unusual-looking flowers come in vibrant colors with three large outer petals that surround a speckled center and a long showy stamen for an eye-catching display," says Janet Loughrey, a master gardener with Garden Design. Zone: 8 to 10Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 1.5 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; rich and well-draining soil; keep soil moist Find Your Gardening Zone 02 of 15 Love-in-a-Puff Getty Images For some vertical interest, add the rare love-in-a-puff (Cardiospermum) to your garden. "This is a climbing vine with petite white blooms that form beautiful balloon-like pods," says Kim Zimmerman, master gardener and owner of Rowdy Poppy. "It's such a fun and unique-looking plant and works exceptionally as a cut flower, too." She adds that the seeds that form in the pod are exquisite as well, with their perfectly round black heads featuring a small white heart. Zone: 9 to 11Mature size: 10 to 12 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil and provide it with a trellis; keep soil moist 03 of 15 Hoya Rebecca Courtest of Floraria Secret Garden The hoya Rebecca (Lacunosa Langawi Island x Obscura) is a creeping tropical plant that produces showstopping buds. "It often has leaves that have a faint multi-coloration of green, white veins, and sometimes orange," says florist Caroline Quinonez. "When it blooms, this plant shows off its pink and yellow flowers in clusters many times throughout the year." Zone: 8 to 11Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Bright, indirect light; well-draining soil; allow soil to dry between watering 15 Colorful Flowers That Will Turn Your Yard Into an Artist's Canvas 04 of 15 Tassel Flower AYImages/Getty Images Tassel flowers (Emilia coccinea) are an easy-to-care-for, versatile addition to any garden or floral arrangement. "In cottage gardens, their vibrant scarlet blooms add a pop of color and a whimsical touch as they weave among other summer flowers," says gardener Deborah Stone, founder and co-owner of Stone Hollow Farmstead. "Their historic charm also makes them a delightful choice for vintage-themed gardens or arrangements, evoking a sense of nostalgia and rediscovery." Zone: 8 to 11Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare Requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil; keep soil moderately moist 05 of 15 Painted Tongue aimintang / Getty Images For an exceptionally exotic-looking annual flower, add painted tongue (Salpiglossis sinuata) to your garden lineup. "The striking trumpet-shaped flowers occur in vivid hues of violet, blue, red, orange, chocolate, creamy white, and yellow, many with intricate veined patterns," Loughrey says. Zone: 2 to 11Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; rich and well-draining soil; keep soil moist 06 of 15 Black Ginger Courtesy of E Flora The black ginger plant (Kaempferia parviflora) produces medicinal ginger underground while putting on a show above the soil. "This plant grows beautiful purple and white flowers and has been known to help treat many ailments," says plant expert Jackie Pinkston. Zone: 10 to 11Mature Height and Size: 6-12 inches tall; 6-12 inches wideCare Requirements: Indirect light; loamy soil; let soil dry between waterings 07 of 15 Pineapple Lily Alex Manders / Getty Images Pineapple lilies (Eucomis) are a rare type of tropical lily native to South Africa. "Instead of the traditional lily shape that we think of, these bulbs produce a flower shaped like a pineapple," Dillon says. "What a welcoming addition to the summer garden! When not in bloom, I find the large foliage striking as well. Pollinators enjoy pineapple lilies for their rich nectar." Zone: 7 to 10Mature size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; rich and well-draining soil; keep soil moderately moist 08 of 15 Snake's Head Fritillary Robert Pickett/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images You are probably well acquainted with many varieties of lilies, but have you heard of the snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris)? "This perennial lily features checkerboard, bell-shaped flowers with grass-like foliage," says Nicole Dillon, a micro-flower farmer and owner of Breemar Flower in Ashland, Virginia. "These delicate purple, white, or gray patterned flowers are something out of a storybook." She recommends planting them at the edge of your garden so they’re more visible. Zone: 3 to 8Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Partial to full shade; rich, well-draining soil; keep soil moist 09 of 15 Indian Pink Donna Bollenbach "The Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a little-known ornamental perennial that is underutilized in home gardens," Loughrey says. Native to the southeastern United States, this unique wildflower produces vertical clusters of tubular flowers in late spring that are lipstick red with a yellow throat, resembling a miniature fireworks display. Zone: 5 to 9Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Partial shade woodland setting; rich and well-draining soil; keep soil moist 11 Colorful Perennial Flowers That Will Thrive All Summer 10 of 15 Passionflower Kriswanto Ginting / GETTY IMAGES For a flower that looks like it was born from a sci-fi movie set in the rainforest, look no further than the intriguing passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)—which is actually native to the southeastern United States. "The flower has bright purple petals with stringy filament and exaggerated stigma and anthers," Dillon says. "The vine produces edible fruit called maypops or passionfruit." Zone: 5 to 9Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; sandy or loamy soil; keep soil moist 11 of 15 Climbing Gloriosa Lily Passakorn_14 / Getty Images Another vining plant option is the climbing gloriosa lily (Gloriosa superba), a beautiful and rare flower that’s true to its name. "This climbing tuberous perennial uses tendrils at the ends of its leaves to climb surrounding plants or structures," Stone says. "Known for its stunning, flame-like petals, this exotic flower adds a touch of drama and sophistication to arrangements. Its unusual shape and vibrant colors make it a showstopper." Zone: 9 to 11Mature size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Partial to full sun; well-draining loamy soil; keep soil moist 14 Flowers That Will Make Your Home the Prettiest on the Block 12 of 15 Love in a Mist/Devil in the Bush Jacky Parker Photography / Getty Images This rare flower (known botanically as Nigella) goes by two names, which refer to its two primary stages. "They are love in a mist when in full bloom—showing off delicate white, blue, and sometimes pink or purple blooms among fern-like foliage (the mist)," Zimmerman says. "Once they shed their petals and form pods, they are referred to as devil in the bush with plum, striped, and green oblong pods topped with a crown of tiny horns." She says this rare flower also looks beautiful when dried and can add interest to wreaths and home décor. Zone: 3 to 9Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil; keep soil moist 13 of 15 Blue Sea Holly Trudie Davidson / Getty Images Steel blue in the garden is something that you don’t often see, but blue sea holly (Eryngium Ppanum) delivers. "The metallic blue color and unique flower shape make this an eye-catching addition to the garden," Dillon says. "They also attract butterflies and bees." She adds that this rare flower makes an excellent choice for your “something blue” in bridal arrangements and is a great candidate for drying. Zone: 5 to 9Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil; allow soil to dry between watering 20 Types of Blue Flowers That Add a Pop of Color to Your Yard 14 of 15 Monarda Courtesy of Jeff Epping "Monarda (bee balm) is one of our favorite 'weirdo' flowers for its layers of whorled petals that look like a series of bright jester caps and attract pollinators," says Zimmerman. "It also comes in many colors from lavender to magenta to bright red and smells amazing." For this perennial flower, she suggests cutting deep and expecting a second flush of blooms later in the season. Zone: 4 to 9Mature size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; rich, well-draining soil; keep soil moist 15 of 15 Persian Lily Yuliya Ivanova / Getty Images The Persian lily (Fritillaria imperialis persica) is a striking addition to any garden thanks to its tall, dramatic spikes of bell-shaped flowers in shades of plum to deep purple. "This elegant plant can serve as a stunning focal point in mixed borders or as a bold statement in a dedicated flower bed," Stone says. "Its unique coloration and towering height make it perfect for adding vertical interest and contrast among more traditionally colored blooms." Zone: 5 to 8Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining sandy soil; keep soil moderately moist Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit