Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
There are about 350 thousand different types of flowering plants on our planet. They cover all continents of the globe, even Antarctica is no exception, where they grow on the slopes of mountains in a relatively warm season. The world of flowers is rich in its variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and it is far from being fully explored by people. Most of these amazing plants are quite small, but there are some among them that can be called real giants. Here are the ten largest flowers in the world.
Ranking of the largest flowers in the world
| Nomination | a place | name | rating |
| An overview of the largest flowers in the world | 10 | Peonies | 5.0 |
| 9 | Hibiscus | 4.9 | |
| 8 | Clematis | 4.8 | |
| 7 | Hydrangeas | 4.7 | |
| 6 | Sunflower | 4.6 | |
| 5 | Puia Raimondi | 4.5 | |
| 4 | Giant stapelia | 4.4 | |
| 3 | Umbrella corypha | 4.3 | |
| 2 | Rafflesia Arnold | 4.2 | |
| 1 | Amorphophallus titanic | 4.1 |
Peonies
Rating: 4.1
Peonies are plants from the genus of perennials, they are herbaceous, shrub or semi-shrub. The flower diameter ranges from 15 to 25 centimeters, grows singly, sometimes reaching a height of one meter. Distributed in the subtropical and temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. These plants have been used for decorative and medicinal purposes for many centuries, new varieties of peonies were first bred by gardeners in the imperial palaces of China about two thousand years ago. And to this day, they are highly respected in the territory of the Middle Kingdom – every year in the urban district of Luoyang (Henan province), a peony festival is held, which attracts more than 210 million tourists from all over the world. The name of peonies comes from the name of the healer Peon, who, according to myths, was able to heal not only people, but also gods from wounds. This type of flower is often used for garden decoration and landscape design. They are unpretentious, do not require complex care, and during the flowering period they delight with beautiful large buds. Peonies bloom in late spring or summer, depending on the variety.
Hibiscus
Rating: 4.2
Depending on the variety, hibiscus can be either woody or shrub. In the largest of them, flowers can reach 25 centimeters in diameter, while the height of the plant itself is from two to four meters. Each flower grows separately and has a vibrant, rich color. Hibiscus are most often found in Asian countries and the Polynesian islands, from where they have already been brought to other countries. In Malaysia, they are considered a national symbol. They belong to the mallow family; there are more than two hundred species of these plants. In favorable warm conditions, hibiscus blooms profusely from the last month of spring until the very end of the summer period.
Clematis
Rating: 4.3
Clematis, also called clematis, is a genus of perennials from the buttercup family, numbering about 300 different species. Found in temperate latitudes on all continents with the exception of Antarctica. It grows on rocky rocks, in gorges, along river banks, on hillsides, sometimes in steppes. The use of clematis as a garden and greenhouse plant in Western Europe began in the 16th century, in Russia it appeared in the 19th century. Most of its varieties are climbing vines with a powerful root system, the weight of which sometimes reaches 5 or more kilograms and large flowers with a diameter of 20-25 centimeters. The flowering of clematis lasts 3-4 months in a row. Plants are in demand by gardeners who use them to create hedges.
Hydrangeas
Rating: 4.4
Hydrangea owes its name to the French botanist Philibert Commerson, according to the most common version, he decided to give the new flower the name of Princess Hortense, who was the sister of the Prince of the Roman Empire of Nassau-Siegen. The plant is widespread in the east of Asia, over time it was brought to other countries for decorative use. Most hydrangea species are shrubs that grow up to three meters in height. Plants are both evergreen and deciduous, although deciduous species grow in the temperate zone. They bloom in late spring and continue to bloom until the very end of summer. Inflorescences are in the shape of an umbrella or a ball, their diameter sometimes exceeds 25 centimeters. Hydrangeas are quite demanding on the soil, for good development they need moist soil with a high level of acidity.
Sunflower
Rating: 4.5
Sunflower or sunflower is an annual plant from the Astrov family. It came from Central America, from where it was later brought to Europe by the Spanish conquerors. Judging by archaeological finds, the Indians who cultivated this plant almost two thousand years ago, the sunflower was revered as a symbol of the sun god. For a long time, European residents used sunflowers to decorate their gardens, and it was only in the 19th century that the widespread production of vegetable sunflower oil began. On the territory of Russia and a number of other countries, they are the main oilseed crop. The sunflower owes its name to its ability to turn as an inflorescence following the movement of the sun across the sky. The stem height is usually one and a half to two meters, flower baskets are up to 40 centimeters in diameter. Sunflower seeds contain significant amounts of minerals and vitamins, in addition to oil extraction, they are also widely used in the culinary industry.
Puia Raimondi
Rating: 4.6
The plant is found in the Andean mountains, as well as in reserves in Bolivia and Peru. It is remarkable both for its unusual shape and gigantic size. The inflorescence of Puja Raimondi can reach 10 meters in height, while its diameter is about two and a half meters. It belongs to the family of bromeliads flowers, first discovered in 1830. It is named after the Italian-Peruvian scientist and naturalist Antonio Raimondi, who carefully studied the unique plant and devoted his scientific work to it. Puia Raimondi grows in dry and rocky areas, survival in such harsh conditions is ensured by a powerful, branched root system that absorbs moisture from the soil. Thanks to the DNA analysis carried out by scientists, it became known that the plant has survived to this day almost unchanged since prehistoric times. Puya has a lifespan of 50 to 150 years. It blooms only once at a time, after which it fades within a few months.
Giant stapelia
Rating: 4.7
Stapels grow in dry semi-desert areas in the south and southwest of the African continent. These are succulent plants belonging to the Kutrovy family. During flowering, several five-petal flowers with elongated edges bloom among the long fleshy shoots. They are completely covered with light pile, and their diameter is about 35 centimeters. Like all types of stocks, the giant one emits an unpleasant rotten aroma, reminiscent of the smell of spoiled meat. It serves to attract flies, which are the main pollinators of this plant. However, in the giant staple, the smell is not as pronounced, unlike other varieties, therefore it is she who is most often found in greenhouses.
Umbrella corypha
Rating: 4.8
The monocarp plant, also known as the talipot palm, is found in India, Sri Lanka, and several other countries in Southeast Asia. Some specimens are capable of growing up to 25 meters in height, and the diameter of the base of their trunk reaches one and a half meters. Palms are adorned with huge fan-shaped leaves, and during the flowering period above the leaves, at the top of the trunk, an impressive yellow-white inflorescence appears about five meters in size. The plant blooms only once, in the interval between 30 and 80 years of life. About a year after the flowers appear, it bears up to two tons of small yellow-green round fruits, and soon after the end of the fruiting process, the palm dies. In Sri Lanka, the umbrella-bearing corypha is considered a national tree, and the locals make umbrellas, fans from its leaves, or use them as roofing material.
Rafflesia Arnold
Rating: 4.9
For the first time, Arnold's rafflesia was described by the English naturalist Joseph Arnold, a member of a scientific expedition to the island of Sumatra. In honor of him, this flower was named, known among the locals as “bunga patma”. In addition to Sumatra, rafflesia grows in tropical rainforests in Indonesia and Malaysia, the Philippine Islands and the island of Borneo. The plant does not bloom for long, only a few days, with huge flowers weighing from 8 to 11 kilograms and up to one meter in diameter. Each flower consists of five rounded petals, three centimeters thick. Arnold's rafflesia has no stems, leaves and even roots, since it parasitizes on vines of the genus Tetrastigma, receiving all the necessary substances from the host. The flower is pollinated by flies, to attract which it exudes a fetid, rotting aroma.
Amorphophallus titanic
Rating: 5.0
Another huge plant with an unpleasant odor is titanic amorphophallus. Initially, it grew in the tropics of Sumatra, but at this time it is almost completely exterminated by people, and you can most often see it in botanical gardens around the world (in total, there are no more than 125 specimens of the species). The flower is striking in its size – it can grow from two to three meters in height, and its weight is about 75 kilograms. It is interesting that the plant also has a record growth rate; in the period before the first flowering, it adds 7 centimeters daily. But the amorphophallus blooms and fully opens only for a few days, after which it goes into a long hibernation. The pollination of the flower occurs due to flies and beetles, which is actually the reason why the giant produces an aroma reminiscent of the smell of rotting meat.
Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
