The Rarest Flowers in the World

An estimated 400,000 different flower species exist on Earth. Some species of flowers have yet to even be discovered and documented by humans. While many flowers are prevalent and grow freely, there are other species that are rare, endangered, and nearly extinct. Without proper care and conservation, some of these rare flowers might not survive. Appreciating rare flowers is one way to raise awareness of these delicate species.

Middlemist's Red Camellia

Unspecified Camellia

The Middlemist's Red Camellia has the title of rarest flower in the world.
It's named after John Middlemist, who brought it back to England from China in 1804.
It's believed that only two Middlemist's Red Camellias exist in the world today, one in the United Kingdom and the other in New Zealand. They are extinct in the wild.
The flower blooms in a deep pink color in late winter, but harsh weather conditions may delay the bloom.

Flame Lily

Gloriosa superba

The flame lily is native to southern regions of Africa and Asia.
This flower may grow up to 10 feet tall.
Do not touch or eat the flame lily if you see one. Touching the flame lily can cause skin irritation, and eating the flower can cause death.
The flame lily is the national flower of Zimbabwe.

Ghost Orchid

Dendrophylax lindenii

The ghost orchid grows natively in the Bahamas, Cuba, and southwest Florida.
The plant has dwindling numbers because it is very susceptible to cold temperatures and it is losing its habitat and pollinators.
With no foliage, the ghost orchid doesn't depend on photosynthesis for survival. Because it doesn't manufacture its own food, it depends on specific trees growing nearby, which act as its hosts.

Belin Sweet Pea

Lathyrus belinensis

The Belin sweet pea was discovered in 1988, and it grows natively in Turkey.
Its unprotected status makes this sweet pea endangered. At one time, there were 5,000 of the plants growing near the village of Belin. Bulldozing the area for a new police station reduced this number to about 1,000.
To avoid total extinction, people are trying to raise awareness of the Belin sweet pea to have gardeners grow it themselves.

Sinai Wild Rose

Rosa arabica

The Sinai wild rose grows in a very limited area that is only about 15 square miles in size in the mountains of Sinai, Egypt.
There are only about 90 Sinai wild rose flowers left.
Long-term drought and unexpected flooding are the two main threats to Sinai wild roses. This rose also produces only a few viable seeds each year, which keeps the plant isolated in its location.

Franklin Tree Flower

Franklinia alatamaha

The Franklin tree flower is native to the state of Georgia in the United States. This flower has been extinct in the wild since the beginning of the 1800s.
John Bartram and his son discovered the tree and were instrumental in saving it from extinction. Bartram collected seeds from the tree and started growing it in his garden, which may be the first botanical garden in America.
The Franklin tree was named after Benjamin Franklin by the men who discovered it.
The Franklin tree blossoms with showy white flowers that have yellow stamens.

Corpse Flower

Amorphophallus titanium

The corpse flower might reach heights of 12 feet, and it is one of the largest flowers in the world.
This native Indonesian flower is named the corpse flower because the smell of its blossom reminds people of a rotting corpse or rotting meat. The plant uses the strong smell to attract pollinators.
Fewer than 1,000 corpse flowers grow in the wild, and its population has declined 50% over the past 150 years. Logging and loss of habitat are responsible for the plant's decline.

Cooke's Koki'o

Kokia cookei

Cooke's koki'o is native to Molokai, Hawaii, and it is grown in protected areas on Maui and Oahu.
Cooke's koki'o is actually a small tree that is part of the hibiscus family.
The flower was discovered in the 1860s. During the 1950s, it was thought to be extinct, but a plant was found growing at a private residence in 1970. After a fire destroyed the privately owned plant, pieces of it were grafted onto other kokia plants to save the species.