THE WEIRD & WONDERFUL

Discover the beauty in the bizarre through extraordinary plants that dare to be different.

From carnivorous varieties to strange, otherworldly flowers, the plant world is full of surprises. Whether they deceive insects or resemble something from a sci-fi movie, these flora and fauna are sure to leave you both fascinated and amazed.

BLEEDING HEART

A plant after your very own heart, the Lamprocapnos spectabilis, otherwise known as the Asian Bleeding Heart, is a flower known for its puffy, heart-shaped pink blooms on arching stems. It produces about 20 flowers in spring that bloom for several weeks. As beautiful as they are from afar, they belong to the poppy family and are sadly toxic to people and pets, so don’t get too close. Varieties include ‘Alba’ (white flowers), ‘Gold Heart’ (pink flowers with yellow-gold foliage), and ‘Valentine’ (cherry-red flowers with white tips). These plants thrive in partial to full shade and prefer humus-rich, moist, well-draining soil if you considered getting one – although we would strongly advise against it.

OH SNAP

The Dionaea muscipula, more commonly known as the Venus Flytrap, is a carnivorous plant known for its unique ability to catch and digest insects. This is due to the hinged traps at the end of its leaves that snap shut. Each trap ranges from 1-8cm in length, with bristles that help prevent its prey from escaping. These traps are only able to open and close a few times before dying. At this point, a new trap grows from the plant’s underground stems. Taking three to five days to digest its prey, the Venus Flytrap can go months between meals. With a lifecycle of around 20 years or more, this unassuming predator is as resilient as it is beautiful.

EYE FOR AN EYE