Top 10 Easy-to-Grow Flowers in the World
What’s the easiest flower to grow in the world? Which ones are suitable for beginners? Flowers can bring joy to the eye and purify the air. Many people enjoy growing…
The phrase ‘ephemeral as an Epiphyllum flower’ has indeed been a popular metaphor for short-lived beauty, but you’re correct in discovering that it’s not entirely accurate when considering the full spectrum of floral lifespans. Let’s explore the fascinating world of short-lived blooms, clarifying some misconceptions and highlighting truly ephemeral flowers.
Here’s a refined list of flowers with remarkably short blooming periods, arranged approximately from shortest to longest:
The wheat flower, a crucial component of one of the world’s most important cereal crops, is a perfect example of nature’s efficiency in plant reproduction. This bisexual flower, also known as a perfect flower, is meticulously structured for self-pollination. It consists of an outer glume (lemma) and an inner glume (palea), which protect the reproductive organs.
Within these protective structures lie three stamens (male parts) and one pistil (female part), along with two lodicules that aid in flower opening.
Wheat varieties exhibit morphological diversity, with some cultivars possessing awns – long, bristle-like extensions of the lemma – while others are awnless. These awns, when present, can play a role in photosynthesis and seed dispersal, though their presence or absence is primarily determined by genetic factors.
The flowering process in wheat, known as anthesis, is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly temperature. Under optimal temperatures (typically 18-24°C or 64-75°F), wheat initiates flowering 3-5 days after the emergence of the spike (ear).
Interestingly, in late-spiking varieties or under higher temperatures (above 25°C or 77°F), this process can be accelerated, with flowering occurring within 1-2 days or even on the same day as spike emergence. Conversely, if the wheat plant encounters lower temperatures (below 10°C or 50°F) after spike emergence, flowering may be delayed, taking 7-8 days or longer.
The actual blooming period of an individual wheat flower is remarkably brief, lasting only about 15-20 minutes. This makes the wheat flower one of the most ephemeral in the plant kingdom.
Despite the brevity of individual flowers, the entire wheat spike (containing multiple florets) completes its flowering process over a period of 2-3 days under normal conditions. In some cases, depending on environmental factors and cultivar characteristics, this process may extend to 3-8 days.
This rapid and efficient flowering strategy ensures successful self-pollination and minimizes exposure of delicate reproductive structures to potential environmental stresses or pests. It’s a testament to the evolutionary adaptations that have made wheat such a successful and widespread crop, capable of thriving in diverse climatic conditions around the globe.
Epiphyllum, commonly known as orchid cacti or night-blooming cereus, is an epiphytic succulent genus belonging to the family Cactaceae. Renowned for its ethereal, large white flowers, this ornamental plant has captivated gardeners and botanists alike with its unique nocturnal blooming habit.
These plants have adapted to bloom at night, typically opening after sunset and closing before dawn. This strategic timing allows Epiphyllum to avoid the intense heat and sunlight of daytime, thereby conserving water and energy – crucial adaptations for its epiphytic lifestyle. This nocturnal blooming also aligns with the activity patterns of its primary pollinators, night-flying moths, ensuring effective reproduction.
The spectacular flowers of Epiphyllum, which can reach up to 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) in diameter, have earned it the poetic epithet “Queen of the Night” or “Belle of the Moonlight.” However, the beauty of these blooms is fleeting, lasting only 1-2 hours in most species. This brief flowering period is an evolutionary strategy to minimize water loss and resource expenditure while still attracting pollinators.
The ephemeral nature of Epiphyllum blooms has inspired the Chinese phrase “昙花一现” (tán huā yī xiàn), which translates to “as fleeting as an Epiphyllum flower.” This expression is often used metaphorically to describe things of great beauty but short duration.
Cultivation of Epiphyllum requires mimicking its natural epiphytic growing conditions. They thrive in well-draining, organic-rich potting mixtures and prefer bright, indirect light. While they can tolerate some direct morning sun, too much intense sunlight can scorch their flattened, leaf-like stems.
For flower enthusiasts and horticulturists, the challenge of witnessing these short-lived blooms adds to the allure of growing Epiphyllum. The anticipation of the bloom, followed by the brief but spectacular floral display, creates a unique and rewarding experience for plant lovers.
Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.), a member of the Convolvulaceae family, is a fast-growing annual climbing vine known for its stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. This plant has earned the evocative nickname ‘Trumpet Flower’ in various regions due to its distinctive floral form. Typically, Morning Glory seeds are sown in spring after the last frost, and the vines bloom prolifically from midsummer through early autumn.
The ephemeral nature of Morning Glory blooms is truly remarkable. Individual flowers unfurl in the pre-dawn hours, usually between 4 and 5 AM, responding to the first light of day. These exquisite blossoms then wilt by midday, offering a brief but spectacular display lasting approximately 8 hours. This fleeting beauty places Morning Glory among the shortest-lived flowers globally, with each bloom completing its lifecycle within a single morning.
Morning Glory boasts an impressive diversity of cultivars, making it a popular choice for gardeners and landscapers. The flowers exhibit a wide color palette, including pure white, vibrant purple-red, and mesmerizing purple-blue hues. Some varieties even feature bicolor patterns or contrasting throats. The funnel-shaped corollas are typically 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) in diameter, creating a striking visual impact when massed.
The plant’s foliage is equally attractive, with heart-shaped leaves that can be simple or trifoliate, depending on the species. The entire plant, including stems and leaves, is often covered in coarse hairs, giving it a slightly rough texture. Morning Glory vines can grow rapidly, reaching lengths of 6-10 feet (2-3 meters) in a single season, making them excellent for covering trellises, fences, or arbors.
While primarily cherished for its ornamental value, Morning Glory also has practical applications. The ovate seed capsules, which develop after flowering, have been used in traditional medicine. The seeds contain compounds with potential psychoactive properties and should be handled with caution. In some cultures, the leaves and roots have also been employed for various medicinal purposes, although scientific validation of these uses is ongoing.
Morning Glory thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. It’s relatively low-maintenance but can become invasive in some regions due to its vigorous growth and prolific self-seeding. Gardeners often appreciate its ability to attract pollinators, particularly hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.
In conclusion, Morning Glory offers a perfect blend of fleeting beauty and robust growth, making it a fascinating subject for both casual gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts. Its brief but brilliant blooms serve as a poignant reminder of nature’s transient wonders, inviting us to appreciate the ephemeral moments that grace our gardens each day.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis), a species in the Onagraceae family, is renowned for its unique blooming pattern. True to its name, these flowers unfurl their petals at dusk and typically wither by dawn, with a blooming period of approximately 12 hours. This nocturnal flowering behavior, known as nyctinasty, is an adaptation that attracts night-pollinating insects such as moths.
The flowers of Evening Primrose are striking and distinctive. The petals are broadly ovate and typically pale to bright yellow, creating a luminous effect in the twilight hours. The flower structure includes four sepals, which are usually green but may sometimes display a reddish tinge, particularly along the edges or tips. These sepals reflex dramatically as the flower opens, revealing the vibrant petals within.
Each blossom contains eight stamens of nearly equal length, surrounding a prominent pistil. The ovary, located beneath the petals (a characteristic of the Onagraceae family), is green and elongated. At the base of each flower are leaf-like bracts, which can sometimes be confused with the plant’s actual leaves.
Beyond its horticultural appeal, Evening Primrose has gained significant attention in the field of nutritional medicine. The oil extracted from its seeds is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid with numerous potential health benefits. Scientific research has indicated that Evening Primrose oil may be beneficial in:
While these potential health benefits are promising, it’s important to note that further research is ongoing, and the use of Evening Primrose oil as a supplement should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
In garden settings, Evening Primrose is valued not only for its enchanting nocturnal display but also for its ability to thrive in various conditions, including poor soils. It’s a popular choice for moon gardens, wildflower meadows, and naturalized areas, where its tall stalks and bright flowers can add vertical interest and a touch of evening magic to the landscape.
The Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus undatus), also known as pitaya, is an exotic cactus species prized for both its striking flowers and delicious fruit. As an ornamental plant, it boasts a unique, epiphytic growth habit with triangular, succulent stems that can climb or cascade, making it a versatile choice for gardens and containers alike.
The flowers of the Dragon Fruit are truly spectacular, earning the plant its moniker “Queen of the Night.” These large, nocturnal blooms are among the most impressive in the plant kingdom, with a corolla diameter reaching up to 30 cm (12 inches) and a total length of 25-30 cm (10-12 inches). The flowers are composed of numerous white or cream-colored tepals surrounding a cluster of prominent yellow stamens, creating a visually stunning display.
Each Dragon Fruit flower is ephemeral, blooming for just one night. The process begins about an hour before sunset when the flower starts to unfurl. It reaches full bloom between 8-10 PM, releasing a sweet, vanilla-like fragrance that attracts nocturnal pollinators such as bats and moths. By sunrise the following day, around 6-7 AM, the flower begins to wilt and close.
The brief blooming period of the Dragon Fruit flower makes it a special event for plant enthusiasts. When cultivated in pots or trained along trellises, the plant can produce multiple flowers simultaneously, creating a magnificent nocturnal display. This fleeting beauty, combined with the plant’s ability to produce delicious fruit, has earned it various cultural significance in different regions, sometimes being associated with good fortune or auspiciousness.
For home gardeners, growing Dragon Fruit can be a rewarding experience. The plant is relatively low-maintenance, requiring well-draining soil, adequate support for climbing, and protection from extreme cold. With proper care, it can thrive in various climates, bringing both ornamental value and potential fruit harvests to the garden.
Cacti, renowned for their resilience and unique adaptations to arid environments, are popular potted plants that can produce strikingly beautiful flowers. While cacti are primarily cultivated for their intriguing forms and low maintenance requirements, their blooms are often considered a special treat due to the specific conditions needed to induce flowering.
The flowering period of cacti is highly variable and depends on several factors:
While May is a common blooming month for many cacti species, particularly in their native habitats, the exact timing can vary greatly in cultivation. Some cacti, like the night-blooming cereus (Selenicereus grandiflorus), open their flowers at night and close by dawn.
To encourage blooming:
While the ephemeral nature of some cactus flowers can be disappointing, it’s important to remember that these brief displays are an evolutionary adaptation to conserve energy in harsh desert environments. The fleeting beauty of cactus flowers makes them all the more precious to observe and appreciate.
The Corpse Flower, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum and commonly called Titan Arum, is an extraordinary perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Araceae family. It is renowned for its massive underground corm, which can reach up to 100 cm in diameter and weigh over 150 kg.
When in its vegetative state, the plant produces a single leaf with a petiole that can grow 3-5 meters tall, supporting an expansive leaf blade that can span up to 7 meters in diameter, covering an area of approximately 30 square meters.
The plant’s most notable feature is its inflorescence, which is not a single flower but a complex structure consisting of hundreds of tiny flowers arranged around a central spadix. This spadix can reach heights of up to 3 meters, making it one of the largest unbranched inflorescences in the plant kingdom. When in bloom, the inflorescence emits a pungent odor reminiscent of rotting flesh, hence its common name.
The blooming event is rare and ephemeral, typically lasting only 24-48 hours. Professor Wilhelm Barthlott from the University of Bonn, Germany, posits that the brevity of the bloom is likely due to the enormous energy expenditure required for growth, heat generation, and scent production. During peak bloom, the spadix can heat up to human body temperature, further volatilizing its malodorous compounds.
This brief but intense flowering period is an evolutionary strategy perfectly tailored to its pollination needs. The powerful stench, combined with the deep burgundy color of the spathe (the large leaf-like structure surrounding the spadix), effectively mimics carrion. This deception attracts carrion beetles and flesh flies from great distances, which serve as the plant’s primary pollinators.
While the flowering event is short-lived, it is remarkably effective. The first night typically sees the female flowers become receptive, while the second night is devoted to pollen release from the male flowers. This temporal separation of gender function (known as protogyny) helps promote cross-pollination between different individual plants, enhancing genetic diversity.
The Corpse Flower’s unique characteristics and rare blooming events have made it a subject of fascination for botanists and the public alike, often drawing large crowds to botanical gardens when specimens are about to flower.
The Amazonian Royal Water Lily (Victoria amazonica) is a magnificent aquatic plant native to the Amazon River basin. This giant water lily is a perennial species that flourishes in tropical climates, producing enormous floating leaves that can reach up to 3 meters (10 feet) in diameter. Its spectacular flowers bloom for just two days, offering a fleeting but unforgettable display.
On the first evening, the flower opens with pristine white petals, emitting a sweet fragrance reminiscent of pineapples or white orchids. This scent, along with the flower’s heat production, attracts pollinating beetles. The flower is female at this stage, with a chamber that traps the beetles overnight.
As dawn breaks on the second day, the flower begins a remarkable transformation. Its petals gradually shift from white to pink, eventually deepening to a rich crimson by the evening. This color change signals the flower’s transition to its male phase, releasing pollen-covered beetles to potentially pollinate other flowers.
The entire blooming process, from opening to closing, spans approximately 48 hours. Despite their brief lifespan, these flowers are a testament to nature’s ingenuity, showcasing a complex pollination strategy and stunning visual display. The Amazonian Royal Water Lily’s unique lifecycle and enormous size have made it a prized specimen in botanical gardens worldwide, where it continues to captivate visitors with its ephemeral beauty.
The Rafflesia, colloquially known as the Corpse Flower or Corpse Lily, is a remarkable parasitic plant genus, not a carnivorous “man-eating plant” as sometimes mistakenly believed. Endemic to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, this unique species lacks roots, stems, and leaves, existing primarily as thread-like filaments within its host vine.
Due to the consistent tropical climate of its native habitat, Rafflesia can initiate its reproductive cycle at any time of the year. However, the primary blooming season typically occurs from May to October, coinciding with the region’s wetter months.
The development of a Rafflesia flower is an extraordinary process. After months of growth within its host, a small bud emerges. This bud then undergoes a rapid expansion, taking approximately 9 months to reach its full size. The final opening of the flower is a relatively swift event, occurring over about 48 hours.
Fascinatingly, despite the enormous energy investment in producing the world’s largest individual flower (with some species reaching up to 1 meter in diameter and weighing up to 10 kilograms), the Rafflesia bloom persists for only 4-5 days. During this brief window, the flower emits a pungent odor reminiscent of decaying flesh, which gives rise to its common name.
This olfactory strategy, known as sapromyiophily, is crucial for the plant’s reproduction. While the scent repels most pollinators like butterflies and bees, it effectively attracts carrion flies and other insects that typically feed on rotting organic matter. These insects serve as the primary pollinators for Rafflesia, facilitating the transfer of pollen between male and female flowers.
The Rafflesia’s unique appearance and smell also deter larger animals, which might otherwise damage the delicate flower. This evolutionary adaptation ensures that the plant’s brief reproductive window is optimized for its specific pollination strategy, making every day of its short-lived bloom count towards its survival and propagation.
The Sleeping Fire Lotus, scientifically known as Nymphaea ignis dormiens and commonly referred to as the Purple Water Lily, is a mesmerizing member of the Nymphaeaceae family. This extraordinary aquatic plant is renowned as the most exquisite and delicate flower in the Grantiya region, captivating observers with its brief but spectacular annual bloom lasting precisely seven days.
The outer petals of the Sleeping Fire Lotus exhibit a rich, vibrant purple hue, creating a striking contrast against the water’s surface. At the center of the flower lies a corona of golden filaments, often mistaken for tentacles, which surround and protect the innermost structure – the stamen. This vital reproductive organ remains tightly closed throughout the blooming period, only unfurling in a fleeting moment just before the flower begins to wither.
The unique arrangement of the golden filaments encircling the dormant stamen has given rise to the flower’s poetic name. These filaments are believed to act as guardians, ensuring the stamen’s undisturbed rest until the critical moment of pollination, hence the moniker “Sleeping Fire Lotus.”
The life cycle of this perennial aquatic herb is intricately tied to the changing seasons:
This cyclical pattern of growth, bloom, and dormancy ensures the Sleeping Fire Lotus’s survival and contributes to its mystique as one of nature’s most ephemeral and enchanting floral displays.
Peggie was once a high school mathematics teacher, but she set aside her chalkboard and textbooks to follow her lifelong passion for flowers. After years of dedication and learning, she not only established a thriving flower shop but also founded this blog, “Flowers Library”. If you have any questions or wish to learn more about flowers, feel free to contact Peggie.
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