There are many factors that influence the rarity of a certain plant. Some are difficult to breed or propagate. Others are so popular they are often gone before they even hit the shelves. Still others may be more susceptible to disease, decreasing the overall numbers.
Whatever the reason, rarity and uniqueness tend to go hand in hand with demand. If a plant is different from the norm and difficult to acquire, it becomes instantaneously more desirable.
This article details 31 of my favorite rare and unique flowering plants. Some are only slightly more difficult to come by, while others are just about impossible. In most cases, it’s all about how much you want one and what lengths you’re willing to go to get it!
Rose ‘Juliet’
The Sweet Juliet rose is one of the rarest roses in the world!
Pink roses aren’t hard to come by, but adding this one to a bouquet will cost a pretty penny. The Sweet Juliet rose is one of the rarest roses in the world! It took the breeder, David Austin, 15 years and $4.3 million to develop this stunning bloom, and it sold at the Chelsea Flower Show for an eye-popping $5 million! It’s quite possibly one of the loveliest roses I’ve seen, in the perfect shade of blush with just a hint of apricot in the center.
This plant can be difficult to find; it’s licensed as a wedding flower, but if you can get your hands on one, it’s well worth it. For now, unless you find yourself in the incredibly fortuitous position of obtaining one, maybe just treat yourself to a bouquet of these stunning blooms.
Chocolate Cosmos ‘Pinot Noir’
On warm, sunny days, these pretty blooms emit a rich chocolaty fragrance.
This flower is a bit more accessible, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding seeds to grow it in your garden. They tend to sell out early in the season from most sources, though, so if you see some, jump on it! Chocolate cosmos are a fabulous little species in the richest shade of Bordeaux you’ve ever seen. Cosmos are easy to grow and care for, and they make the sweetest addition to cut flower arrangements.
Once thought to be extinct in the wild, these flowers showed up in New Zealand via breeder Russel Poulter in 1996. Chocolate cosmos don’t get their name from their appearance although they are so deeply red they are almost cocoa-colored. On warm, sunny days, these pretty blooms emit a rich chocolaty fragrance. Butterflies find them irresistible, and you will, too!
Dahlia ‘Jane Cowl’
This rare beauty sells out fast, so if you’re a dahlia lover, grab one if you’re able.
Dahlias are one of my favorite plants to grow. They don’t produce quite the profusion of blooms that others do, but wow, some of them are so spectacular. ‘Jane Cowl’ is one of those cultivars that is unforgettable. The extra large (6-10 inch) blooms are a gorgeous ombre of deep coral in the center fading to pale apricot outer petals.
This hybrid, named after a famous actress and introduced in 1928, won’t breed true from seeds, you’ll need tubers or cuttings. This rare beauty sells out fast, so if you’re a dahlia lover, grab one if you’re able. If you’ve never grown dahlias, you’re missing out—these flowers are incredible. In Zones 3-7, you’ll want to dig up your tubers to store over the winter. They are not cold hardy north of Zone 8.
Black Bat Flower
Black bat flower is a tropical that likes to live under the canopy.
Unique is certainly the word for this interesting rare flower. Black bat flower is a tropical species that likes to live under a canopy. Don’t expose this one to any afternoon light, or it will singe the lovely leaves. I speak from experience, sadly. It’s resilient, though, and my black bat has bounced back from overexposure more than once.
It takes a bit of trial and error to find the right conditions for this plant outside its native environment. Once you get it right, it’s a vigorous grower and will produce many offsets yearly. If you find one of these, I highly recommend bringing it home. It’s fascinating to observe its blooming habit, and it is always a conversation piece.
Tulip ‘Crispa Purple Tower’
Tulips need some cold weather to initiate growth in the spring.
Crispa tulips are famous for their decorative, fringed edges, making them stand out among other spring bulbs. They come in a range of colors, but ‘Purple Tower’ is my favorite. This is no conventional tulip. The many-layered blooms have a stacked appearance, lending to its moniker. They fade from green at the base to a soft, rich plum toward the center.
Tulips need some cold weather to initiate growth in the spring. Plant these bulbs in the fall for a spectacular display in early spring. They look amazing alongside soft yellow daffodils and sweet-smelling hyacinth.
Daffodil ‘French Kiss’
Plant these in the fall for spring blooms.
Oh, la la! Speaking of daffodils, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill yellow cultivar. ‘French Kiss’ is a white daffodil with the most perfect pink pout. This mid-season bloomer was first introduced in 1984 and registered just over a decade later. They are available for purchase, but I’ve had a hard time finding them in stock.
There are similar varieties that are easier to find, but most have a more intricate petal form. The color combination and elegant simplicity of this flower is what makes it unique. Plant these in the fall for spring blooms. Their delicate fragrance makes them wonderful cut flowers.
Zinnia ‘Queen Lime Red’
They make the nicest cut flowers, lasting over a week in a vase.
Zinnias are one of my favorite easy annuals. They are almost too easy to grow. While their foliage tends to attract pests, they will draw them away from your other plants, acting as a trap crop. Their blooms aren’t commonly affected, and they make the nicest cut flowers, lasting over a week in a vase.
‘Queen Lime Red’ is a masterpiece of selective breeding. The entire Queeny series produces gorgeous flowers, but this lady is extra special. The double-petal form blossoms are green in the center and gradually shift to a stunning, deep pinkish red. These seeds aren’t terribly difficult to find, and they are just as easy to grow as any other zinnia. They are certain to draw admiring looks.
Petunia ‘Black Velvet’
As long as the weather is warm, they will be a dark, velvety black.
True black flowers are very rare, but the unique ‘Black Velvet’ comes mighty close. These petunias are perfect for your autumn front porch decor and pair perfectly with orange pumpkins. A cold snap can stress these flowers and cause anomalies such as purple blooms or breakthrough yellow streaks. As long as the weather is warm, they will be a dark, velvety black.
I’ve occasionally found these at my local nursery, so they aren’t impossible to find. They get snapped up quickly, so don’t wait for a different day if you come across some. Petunias are easy to care for; they like moist soil and sunshine, and they will bloom up to your first freeze.
Himalayan Blue Poppy ‘Lingholm’
Keep these out of the sun in the afternoon if possible, and they will last longer.
True black flowers are rare, but true blue flowers are the rarest of them all—that’s what makes ‘Lingholm’ so unique and noteworthy. Himalayan blue poppies are woodland plants that prefer cool weather and partial shade or dappled sun. Keep these out of the sun in the afternoon if possible, and they will last longer.
‘Lingholm’ has soft, sky-blue blooms with a sparkling crown of deep gold stamens in the center. This is a fertile hybrid that will breed true from seeds, so once you have them, you can collect the seeds and grow more. They aren’t easy to grow from seeds, but with some grit and determination, a seasoned gardener can do it. Poppies have interesting and attractive seed pods.
French Marigold ‘Strawberry Blonde’
You can directly sow them in flower beds or in the vegetable garden to help ward off pests.
Marigolds are a common plant that you will find at nearly any plant retailer throughout much of the growing season. What you are unlikely to find is the unique ‘Strawberry Blonde’ variety. You’ll probably need to grow these from seeds. The good news is, they are easy to germinate. You can directly sow them in flower beds, or the vegetable garden to help ward off pests.
‘Strawberry Blonde’ blooms in a striking combination of colors. All shades have rosy undertones, making these unique in a sea of more common red, orange, and yellow marigolds. Deadhead the spent flowers for continuous blooms from spring until frost.
Oxblood Ginger
The plant is pretty enough on its own, but the flowers are beautiful.
The striking, spiraling stems of oxblood ginger make this an eye-catching species. Its rarity makes it all the more appealing if you are a fan of ginger plants. Large, ovate leaves have a glossy finish. They are deep green on top and ruby red on the underside. This rare ginger is pretty enough on its own, but the flowers are extra beautiful and unique. Large, pink, and white confections have a delightful gingery fragrance.
Oxblood ginger makes a good houseplant. It prefers indirect light and consistent temperatures. Plant it in a container with ample drainage, and keep the soil moist but not soggy to keep this one happy and healthy. In the garden, this will be evergreen in Zones 9b-11. I’ve had success with gingers in Zone 9a, but they behave as deciduous plants here.
Sunflower ‘Ruby Eclipse’
They are easy to grow as long as the squirrels don’t find them before they harden off.
Sunflowers are a staple in the annual summer bed. They are easy to grow as long as the squirrels don’t find them before they harden off. They are imposing and beautiful, and when it comes to cut flowers, they are the king of the bouquet.
‘Ruby Eclipse’ will wow with its dusty rose-colored petals with just a touch of sunny yellow toward the center. A chocolate brown center contrasts beautifully, making this one of the most lovely sunflowers I’ve ever seen. As rare as they may sound, this branching variety is surprisingly easy to find in seed form. It has a reputation for being very easy to germinate.
Double Oriental Lily ‘Anouska’
The flowers are large and flashy, making an excellent addition to the summer cutting garden.
Double-oriental lilies can be hard to come by. They are very popular in floristry, but most don’t produce pollen, so they don’t produce fertile seeds. This makes them harder to propagate. Pair these factors, and you end up with flowers that are much more difficult to find. But oh my, are they stunning!
‘Anouska’ is a heavenly-scented variety with snow-white petals. The petals have a whisper of bubblegum pink around the margins, which gives them more definition. The flowers are large and flashy, making them the perfect addition to the summer cutting garden.
Rose ‘Black Baccara’
The velvety, blood-red blooms are large on this hybrid tea rose.
Black roses are exceptionally hard to come by—you might say impossible. Even the darkest of roses, like the Turkish ‘Halfeti.’ isn’t truly black but very deep red. ‘Halfeti’ is only available as a cut flower, but there is an alternative that is more accessible if you want to grow deep, dark, nearly black roses.
‘Black Baccara’ is among the darkest roses you’ll find. If you can find one, that is. These unique flowers are rare, hard to find, and sell out quickly. The velvety, blood-red blooms are large on this hybrid tea rose. They are lightly fragrant and have an excellent vase life of up to two weeks.
Peony ‘Pastelegance’
When growing peonies, make sure to cut the buds off before they open in the first year.
‘Pastelegance’ is peony perfection. Seashell pink and fully double-petaled, this is a bloom for the ages. It won the 2022 Gold Medal from the American Peony Society, cementing its special place in the world of flowers. Its incredible beauty and popularity as a wedding flower make this hard to come by, but not impossible. Roots fetch a hefty price though, this flower is an investment.
The warm glow of ‘Pastelegance’ is one you’ll not soon forget. When growing peonies, make sure to cut the buds off before they open in the first year. This will encourage more and larger blooms in subsequent years as it encourages healthy root development.
Chrysanthemum ‘Homecoming’
The outside of the petals are creamy yellow and open to a beautiful bronze.
For a spectacular addition to your fall garden, ‘Homecoming’ is an incredible chrysanthemum. A little on the pricey side, and frequently out of stock at retailers, if you can find this one, it’s worth the effort. It rivals any florist mum and will be a star in cut arrangements.
‘Homecoming’ is a large football-style mum. The outside of the petals are creamy yellow, and open to a beautiful bronze. Both colors are visible simultaneously in this wonderful bloom. It has long, strong stems, and attractive olive-green foliage.
Camellia ‘Look Again’
Nothing beats the winter blues better than a camellia shrub in full bloom.
Camellias are the star of the winter garden. These wonderful evergreen shrubs have great cold tolerance. Nothing beats the winter blues better than a camellia shrub in full bloom. ‘Look Again’ will have you doing exactly what it says; looking again and again.
The amazing peony form blooms on this C. japonica variety are large and highly decorative. Their dense petals are many shades of pink ranging from cotton candy to blush. Camellias are easy to care for, with spider mites being their main enemy. They prefer to grow in dappled sun or partial shade with morning sun.
Magnolia ‘Hirai Beni’
This small, shrubby plant is deciduous rather than evergreen, and the flowers are different.
Star magnolia is a very different plant from the giant, imposing southern magnolia tree. This small, shrubby plant is deciduous rather than evergreen, and the flowers are different. Instead of giant white confections, the rare ‘Hirai Beni’ has delicate, purple flowers that open to a unique starburst shape.
While star magnolias themselves are not rare, this particular variety is. It’s slow-growing and more difficult to propagate than other varieties. Its rarity makes it all the more desirable, and those big, sweet-smelling spring blossoms are worth every penny.
Columbine ‘Nora Barlow’
They make wonderful cut flowers with their slender stems and fernlike foliage.
‘Nora Barlow’ is a rare small flower with a big, unique personality. Columbines are delightful additions to the shadier spots in the garden. These are fully double-petaled, which is a deviation from the columbines most of us know and love. They make wonderful cut flowers with their slender stems and fernlike foliage.
This variety is the first of a series of similar flowers. All have fully double blooms and lack spurs. ‘Nora Barlow’ has rosy pink blooms with pointed petals tipped with white. A cluster of yellow stamens is visible when it is fully open.
Hydrangea ‘Blue Bunny’
What makes this variety special is that it remains blue regardless of the acidity of the soil.
You may already know that you can alter the color of your blue or pink hydrangeas by changing the pH of your soil. What makes this variety special is that it remains blue regardless of the acidity of the soil. ‘Blue Bunny’ is a rare bracted hydrangea, with extra unique, lace cap flower clusters in the most delightful shade of periwinkle.
Bracted hydrangeas form flowers on new wood, so pruning should happen in the early spring. You can pinch them once or twice for even more flowers. ‘Blue Bunny’ is very popular, which makes it difficult to find. It’s a true beauty and an easy addition to the landscape.
Clematis ‘Josephine’
Their large, flamboyant blooms come in waves from early summer to early fall.
Clematises are versatile plants that thrive in a wide range of climates. These climbing vines can turn an ordinary trellis into a work of art. Their large, flamboyant blooms come in waves from early summer to early fall. They are fast growers, and the rare-looking flowers give way to interesting and unique seed heads.
‘Josephine’ is a star among its peers. Its large, pink, double blooms are in a league of their own. They resemble a mix between a dahlia and a passion flower. This is a vigorous grower that is easy to care for. It needs moist soil and flowers on both old and new wood.
Sweet Pea ‘Three Times as Sweet’
They are delightful climbing vines that produce the sweetest-smelling blossoms.
Sweet peas are a cool weather favorite for many gardeners. They are delightful climbing vines that produce the sweetest-smelling blossoms. These sweet flowers have a rich and storied history dating back hundreds of years. Their cultivation is wide-reaching and diverse. ‘Three Times As Sweet’ is a newer variety introduced in 2013.
The low germination rate is the reason this unique flower variety is so rare. In the first run, only two of a hundred seeds germinated. Its unusual and striking coloring is what has made it endure. The flowers are tri-colored, white, purple, and magenta. They are exceptionally fragrant, and breed true from seeds, with very little variation.
Butterfly Amaryllis
Butterfly amaryllis stands about a foot and a half tall on a tall, strong stem.
It’s common to see amaryllis bulbs around the holidays. You can force these striking flowers to bloom indoors, which makes them a delightful holiday gift. There is a wide range of species and varieties, but the butterfly amaryllis is one of the rarest. It’s also incredibly beautiful, as luck would have it (or not).
Butterfly amaryllis stands about a foot and a half tall on a tall, strong stem. Two or three large, dramatic flowers bloom atop that stem, and they are gorgeous. A creamy white base sets the stage for a symphony of deep burgundy veining. It’s particularly dense on the two lateral petals, resembling the wings of its namesake.
Anemone ‘Mistral Plus Grape’
The petals are bold violet with slightly darker veining.
Anemones are native to the Mediterranean region and are related to buttercups. I remember finding them captivating as a child, but ironically, I have never planted any! This is not the rarest flower on the list, but I had to add it for its uniqueness. It’s not common, and local retailers are unlikely to carry it, but you can find it online with little difficulty.
Mistral Plus Grape is a wonder in purple. The petals are bold violet with slightly darker veining. In the center is a deep, nearly black heart with a ring of similarly dramatic stamens. It’s a striking flower and I might just have to fulfill that childhood dream and add these to my cart.
Coneflower ‘Butterfly Kisses’
It’s one of a series of double-petaled varieties, and it’s a major butterfly attractor!
Coneflowers are common enough, especially the purple ones. ‘Butterfly Kisses’ isn’t your run-of-the-mill purple coneflower. It’s one of a series of double-petaled varieties, and it’s a major butterfly attractor!
The fluffy pinkish-purple flowers have their signature back-thrown petals around the edges. But rather than a bright orange, spiky cone in the center, this one has a dense coating of bright pink petaloids. It’s unique and beautiful, though not as rare as some others.
Epiphyllum Orchid ‘Flamingo Gorge’
She is known as “Queen of the Night” or night-blooming cereus to many.
You may know her by another name, she goes by more than one. She is the Queen of the Night, and night-blooming cereus to many. Some call her an orchid cactus. Epiphyllum oxypetallum is her proper name, and she’s a rare beauty. “Flamingo Gorge’ is even rarer than the white varieties.
‘Flamingo Gorge’ has bright pink sepals that open to reveal orchid-pink petals and a dramatic cluster of pale yellow stamens. It’s an incredibly fanciful flower. These are not difficult to propagate; I’ve got a baby in my window gifted by the best neighbor I could ever wish for. Alas, it’s white, and that’s what makes this variety rare, its brilliant color.
Poppy ‘Pandora’
Soft, papery petals have splashes of silver over burgundy and rose pink.
If you’re looking for a poppy with unique flair, ‘Pandora’ is a box you should definitely open. Soft, papery petals have splashes of silver over burgundy and rose pink. They stand tall and sway in the breeze on their long, slender stems. Not as rare, but certainly unique, these poppies make a statement.
Gladiolus ‘Black Star’
They tower above other plants, bursting with large, colorful blooms with ruffled edges.
If you can catch these in season, they are an amazing addition to the cutting garden or any space you want to gaze upon their beauty. Gladiolus is an imposing figure in the flower bed. They tower above other plants, bursting with large, colorful blooms with ruffled edges.
‘Black Star’ is one of the darkest varieties, in a deep oxblood with nearly black edges. It’s a tall variety and very showy. Flowers bloom from bottom to top over two weeks.
Sacred Water Lily
It’s an aquatic plant that is a day bloomer, with the flowers opening for three to five days.
It’s time to get dreamy with the sacred water lily, also known as the sacred blue lotus or flower of intuitive ascension. This incredible, rare flower contains psychoactive alkaloids. It’s an aquatic plant that is a day bloomer, with the flowers opening for three to five days.
The sky blue color of these flowers is another factor in their rarity. Blue is the rarest color, not just for flowers but in all of the natural world. This flower is legal in the United States for growing purposes only. It is illegal to grow in several other countries.
Gloriosa Lily
It is known to be fatal when ingested.
Gloriosa lily is often referred to as a flame lily, as the flowers resemble a circle of flames. Red, yellow, and heavily ruffled, they look like torches when fully opened. This exciting plant is the national flower of Zimbabwe. It’s also extremely poisonous to humans and animals. It is known to be fatal when ingested.
In the places where it grows wild, this is not a rare flower. However, it is rather rare in cultivation, probably because of how deadly it is. If you’re a risk-taker, this one’s for you. Just make sure you wear gloves while tending to it!
Slipper Orchid ‘Rothschild’s Slipper Orchid’
This is the rarest orchid in the world and the most sought-after.
This rare and expensive orchid only grows wild in Borneo. You’ll find it on the list of critically endangered plants because of illegal poaching and international trade. Even rarer than the famed ghost orchid, this is the rarest orchid in the world, and the most sought-after.
Rothschild’s is a terrestrial orchid, growing on the ground, unlike most orchids which grow in trees. The price tag for a single plant can run close to $5,000 with most sales taking place for preservation purposes.
