26 Unique Flowers Will Surprise You

There are 300,000 species of plants in the world. You will suprise to see some extraordinary flowers because of the where they grew up. We all know Blueberry Ash, Dove Tree, Cradle Orchids and other commonly grown and sold flowering plants but did you know there are rare orchid species that resemble swaddled babies?

Etlingera elatior (Torch Ginger): Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) is a perennial tropical plant with distinctive colorful blooms. The entire shape of the bloom and flower stalk is said to resemble a torch, hence the plant's common name. These showy plants flower seasonally on bare flower stalks with cone-shaped flower heads surrounded by large, slightly drooping bracts (petal-like leaves). On the plant's upright stems grow leathery leaves that are around 3 feet long with a central groove. The flowers of torch ginger are used for floral arrangements, as well as in cooking for their sour-sweet flavor. It has a fairly quick growth rate and is best planted in the spring. In the warm, humid climate that it prefers, torch ginger grows quite large—up to 15 feet tall and almost as wide—and spreads in clumps.