20 Most Beautiful Flowers in the World
Whether we’re buying them for ourselves or for a loved one, flowers have magical powers. They liven our spirits, make us feel joyful and can even help us recover from a bad day. Mother Nature has endowed our profuse planet with hundreds of exquisite flowers. Some are famous for their flamboyant appearance, others are better-known for their perfume. Regardless, all flowers are unique and captivating in their own way. Here are 20 of the world’s most beautiful flowers.
1. Bird of Paradise
Originally from South Africa, this exotic flower is spectacular. Commonly known as the crane flower, the plant is featured on the back of the South African 50 cent coin, and it’s also the official flower for the City of Angels (Los Angeles). Featuring the most vibrant colors, bird of paradise doesn’t have a scent. Nonetheless, it is incredibly attractive. Dominant colors are yellow and blue, but some species also have hints of red. Extremely popular as a house plant, the flower prefers warm climates and a lot of natural light.
2. Passion Flower
Passion flower is typical roadside weed and a perennial vine with 50 species. The flower is part of the Passifloraceae family and it highlights the cutest blue and purple blue shades. Over the years, holistic practitioners have proven that the plant has increased medicinal value. Apparently, the Aztecs used passion flower as a pain reliever and sedative. Nowadays, herbalists still recommended it for muscle tension. The flower is absolutely gorgeous since it has the most interesting shape and structure.
3. Black Petunia
Generally speaking, petunias are considered extremely popular flowers. They usually come in lively colors of pink, purple, white, and blue, and they’re ideally grown in the garden during springtime. As for the black petunia flower, the class is new and it was developed by a flower breeding company. Unique and absolutely breathtaking, the black shade makes this flower one-of-a-kind. Petunias emit the loveliest scent and they have the power to beautify any sort of gloomy environment.
4. Canna
Often called the “canna lily”, this beautiful flower has the most flamboyant tropical appeal. As a perennial plant, cannas feature many different colors and paddle-shaped, immense leaves. They bloom from late spring until winter, and they’re incredibly easy to grow and care for. In terms of color palettes, we can see cannas in yellow, red, and orange but we can also see bespeckled cannas. Based on the exact variety, the color of the foliage differs from bronze to maroon to green. If you’re looking for a special flower to plant in or outside your home, these are good choices because they’re not overly pretentious to soil and sun.
5. Lily of the Valley
Lilly of the Valley is a highly poisonous but sweetly scented flower native from Europe and Asia. The herbaceous plant is perennial and it forms extensive colonies by scattering underground stems known as rhizomes. The stems are called pips and they look like tiny little white bells. The ideal time of the year for this lily to bloom is in late spring, and they’re often grown outside in the garden. Because of the flower’s adorable appearance, some call it “Lady’s tears”.
6. Bromeliad
Once grown exclusively in greenhouses, bromeliads can finally be adapted to home growth conditions. If you’re a houseplant enthusiast, you’ll adore this beautiful flower. Featuring an astonishing variety of textures and colors, bromeliads are foliage plants with lots of thick, strappy leaves in color combinations of green, red, purple, stripes, spots, yellow and more. Out of many subfamilies, the Spanish moss and Pineapples are the most common. Bromeliads like warm climates and plenty of natural light. You don’t have to water the plants too often as they’re used to drought conditions.
7. Chocolate Cosmos
The Chocolate Cosmos flower is one of the rarest on Earth. Indigenous to various Mexican regions, the plant comes in dark red and brown shades. Regrettably, it doesn’t exist in the wild anymore. The species still survives as a non-fertile clone created by vegetative propagation in 1902. In the summer, the buds have the loveliest vanillin flagrance, which makes the Chocolate Cosmos an ideal ornamental plant for your home.
8. Jade Vine
Scientifically known as Strongylodon Macrobotrys, the Jade Vine flower is exquisite. Extremely rare and originally found in the Philippines, it has a fascinating characteristic – the Jade Vine features chaw-shaped petals and its turquoise and baby blue shades make it truly unique. The stems of the flower can easily reach 20 m and the plant’s ideal growing place is beside streams, in the tropical forests. The flower looks like a cluster of grapes and each separate bloom looks like a butterfly with pleated wings.
9. Bleeding Heart
The bleeding heart flower comes from the poppy family Papaveraceae and it is scientifically known as Lamprocapnos spectabilis. Originally from Siberia, this incredibly delicate bud highlights pink heart-shaped flowers that usually bloom in the spring, between April and June. If you’re looking for a delicate type of flower to liven your garden in the warm season, the fairy-like bleeding heart flower is an excellent choice. Another common name for this elusive flower is “lady in a bath” because from a certain position, it actually looks like a woman in a bath.
10. Corpse Flower
The Corpse Flower is one of the largest and rarest flowers on Earth. It’s a fascinating carrion plant that can be seen in Indonesia, in the tropical forests. When in full bloom, it emits a strong rotten flesh smell to lure flies; however, in spite of the stinky odor, we must admit it is absolutely gorgeous.
11. Ghost Orchid
This incredibly unusual perennial epiphyte is part of the orchid family and it is native to the Bahamas, Cuba and Florida. Also known as the “white frog orchid” or the “palm polly”, the Ghost Orchid is a delightful plant. It was assumed that the plant vanished from the face of the Earth 20 years ago; surprisingly, it reemerged but it’s still incredibly rare. Even though we call it a beautiful flower, the orchid is a plant without leaves. What’s really interesting about this flower, is that it doesn’t use photosynthesis to produce its own food and it can live subversive for years.
12. Oriental Poppy
The Oriental poppy is scientifically known as papaver orientale and it is a native plant that originated in northeastern Turkey, in the Caucasus. In the spring, when the flower is in bloom, it reveals the most spectacular hairy purple foliage. As for the leaves, these comes in various shades of orange, light pink, and red. Out of all perennial poppies, the Oriental type is the most striking. It lasts from spring until late summer, and it’s amazing because of the huge flowers, which can easily reach 6 inches crosswise on the stems and up to 4 feet tall.
13. Cala Lilly
The Cala Lilly is native to Lesotho, South Africa, and its technical name is Zantedeschia aethiopica. It is such an elegant, round-shaped flower however it’s poisonous. The plant is available in a wealth of colors, although the most common is sheer white. Ideally grown in containers or outside in the sun, calla lilies are excellent house plants. Plant them in well-drained soil and make sure they get enough natural light.
14. Rose
The rose is without a doubt the world’s most famous flower. It carries a lot of emblematic meanings, and over the centuries it has been a symbol of beauty, love, politics, hate and war. The rose comes in a variety of types and colors, starting from the purest shades of white to the deepest shades of red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, even blue. The flower has many different purposes, however, its main role is to delight the eyes and senses of women in love. If you’re a man looking for the perfect flower for a loved one, the rose is a perfect choice. Growing roses is not that complicated either; first, you must decide on a type and assess the space you have available. Perfect for the home and garden, the flower will instantly add freshness and purity to your private space.
15. Tulip
Tulips are extremely diverse flowers. The bulbous, perennial plant comes from the Tulipa genus and its origin stretches from the Iberian Peninsula to North Africa, Greece, and all the way to the Balkans. Tulips are highly appreciated flowers, and in some European countries they’re symbolic of the spring season. They have the most aromatic smell and highlight a wealth of different colors. From shades of purple, pink, yellow, red to more unusual mixes and hybrids, we must admit that tulips are truly special. As for the general appearance of the flower, the tulip has large, soft petals that reveal the most delicate stems. Depending on the species, the size varies from 10 cm to 70 cm in height.
16. Dahlia
The Dahlia flower was named after Andres Dahl, an 18th century botanist. It is Mexico’s national flower and it comes from a genus with more than 30 species. In terms of color, Dahlia exhibits a wealth of hues starting from yellow, red and white to bronze and purple. The perennial, bushy flower has a lot of meanings, too. It can be a warning sign or a signal of infidelity. In the Victorian age, the dahlia was considered a surviving plant that expressed sentiments of elegance and dignity. In some cultures, it is a strong symbol of pledge and commitment. That’s why many couples choose dahlias for their wedding decorations.
17. Sunflower
The Helianthus, or the sunflower, is one of the most imposing and gracious plants in the world. Grown in crops, the flower is famous for its edible fruits (seeds) and oil. The first sunflowers appeared in South and Central America, but now the species is scattered all over Europe, too. It’s the perfect combination of utility and beauty; sunflowers have the most unique appearance. The characteristic colors of the petals are deep yellow, and as the plant matures, the seeds turn from yellow to orange and ultimately, to brown and black. Sunflowers have straight, rough-hairy stems with standard heights of 3 meters. They symbolize longevity, warmth, adoration, and happiness.
18. Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus or carnation, is one of the world’s most common flowers used in flower arrangements. Additionally called the clove pink, carnations are available in a wealth of colors and color mixes. Standard flowers are pink and purple, and rumor has it that each color has its very own meaning. Red for example, evokes love and admiration whereas white symbolizes innocence. With an incredible history that dates over 2,000 years, carnations were born in the Mediterranean region and they’re rich in mythology and symbolism. Some suggest that the name comes from “corone” or “coronation”, a word used in ceremonial crowns in Greece. Leaving aside the meaning and historic symbolism, coronas are famous for their scent, too. Sweet and incredibly aromatic, this delicate flower deserve to be named one of the most beautiful in the world.
19. Gazania
Gazania is a beautifully colored flower native to the South African regions where it is also called the “treasure flower”. Signature shades are deep yellow and orange, however we can also see gazanias in light purple, red, pink and white. Similar to a daisy, the flower emerges in spring and it usually blooms until late summer. Greatly influenced by the sun, gazanias need as much light as possible to be able to open up their petals.
20. Marigold
Marigolds are common flowers that can be grown indoors throughout the year. They bloom in different shades of yellow, orange, white and gold, and they’re perfect for gardens, too. The beautiful flowers are connected to the sun and they’re supposed to deliver a cheerful, positive meaning. Nonetheless, in some cultures, the marigold flower symbolizes grief, jealousy, sorrow and even death.
The world is packed with incredibly unique, exquisite flowers. Some are bright and colorful, others are poisonous and even lethal, but they still manage to allure us with their irresistible scent, delicate structure and sweet texture. Out of hundreds and hundreds of species scattered throughout the world, we believe that the 20 types we mentioned above are the finest. Which one’s your favorite?
