Although even the most common garden plant can bring immense joy, sometimes it’s fun to branch out and try something unusual. A unique show-stopping plant can serve as a stunning specimen, wowing visitors and passersby. And while some of the unusual plants on this list provide a fun challenge, others are deceptively easy to grow. Take a look!
1. Joseph’s Coat rose
Joseph’s Coat (Rosa ‘Joseph’s Coat’) is a climbing rose with clusters of fragrant semi-double blooms. What sets it apart is the fact that these flowers are multicolored, with red, orange, yellow, and pink blossoms appearing all on the same plant.
Hardy in USDA zones 5-10.
Check out these tips for growing beautiful roses.
2. Elephant ears
Named for its enormous arrow- or heart-shaped leaves, elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) can bring a wow factor to any garden. Even if you live in a cooler region, you can easily grow elephant ears in a pot and move them indoors over winter.
Hardy in zones 8-11.
3. Pineapple lily
Though true pineapple plants require warm, humid environments, the pineapple lily (Eucomis spp.) has a very similar appearance while being a bit hardier. Mulch it well in zone 7, and dig it up over winter in cooler areas.
Hardy in zones 7-10.
4. Passionflower
Despite their exotic appearance, many passionflowers (Passiflora spp.) are actually native to the US. These unique vines have stunning multicolor flowers with a ray of rounded petals, a circle of fringe-like filaments, and prominent styles and stamens. Fleshy yellow, orange, or dark blue fruits follow. Hardy in zones 5-10, depending on species.
5. Cotton
A cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum, G. thurberi), usually reserved for agricultural fields, is sure to turn heads in a backyard garden. This surprisingly attractive native perennial shrub has large, yellow to white, cup-shaped flowers followed by the fluffy seed-containing cotton boll. Hardy in zones 8-11 and grown as an annual in cooler climes.
6. Angel’s trumpet
Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia spp.), a tropical evergreen shrub, is known for its large, pendulous blooms. These impressive funnel-shaped flowers reach up to a foot long and come in shades of white, yellow, or pink.
Well adapted to containers, Angel’s trumpet is hardy in zones 7b-10.
7. Voodoo lily
Belonging to the same genus as the famous giant corpse flower, voodoo lily (Amorphophallus kiusianus, A. konjac) is a smaller, more accessible version for home gardens. The speckled flower stalk emerges in spring, opening to single showy but pungent, vase-shaped flower.
Hardy in zones 6-11, depending on species.
8. Hibiscus
One of the more well-known flowers on this list, hibiscus is a large genus of both annual and perennial flowering plants. Almost all have some form of the characteristic large, showy blooms with papery petals and a decidedly tropical appearance. While some are native to the US, others, like rose of Sharon (H. syriacus) are invasive, so always check before planting.
Hardy in zones 4-11, depending on species.
Check out these landscaping with hibiscus ideas.
9. Persian shield
Persian shield (Strobilanthes auriculata var. dyeriana) is grown for its stunning foliage. Its purple elliptical leaves have dark green veins and a silvery, iridescent sheen.
Often grown as an annual, it is a perennial in zones 8-11.
10. Crown of thorns
Named for its numerous thick, black spines and historic presence in the Middle East, crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) makes for a striking container specimen. Vivid red, salmon, or yellow cup-shaped flowers bloom throughout the year against bright green foliage.
Hardy in zones 9-11.
More Unusual Plants
The above is just a tiny sampling of unusual flowers, but you could grow many more unique flowers in your garden. Here are a few more:
- Flowering cabbage and kale
- Jewels of Opar (pink baby’s breath)
- Moonflower
- Red hot poker plant
- Black bat plant
- Corpse plant
- Bird of paradise
- Queen of Sheba
- Loofah
- Himalayan blue poppy
