Flamingos are known for their vibrant pink plumage and long, graceful necks. While you can’t grow actual flamingos in your garden, you can cultivate flowers with similar exotic flair Certain tropical blooms match the vibrant colors and flamboyant forms of flamingos Adding these visually striking plants creates a tropical paradise no matter where you live.
These flowering plants have distinctive blossoms or foliage reminiscent of flamingos Let’s explore some top options for giving your garden a tropical punch
Anthurium
This tropical favorite has earned the common name flamingo flower thanks to its beak-like blooms. Oval-shaped bracts in shades of red, orange, pink or white protrude from a central spike resembling a flamingo’s slender neck and beak. These modified leaves last for weeks or months, while tiny true flowers hide underneath. Anthuriums bloom repeatedly when happy.
Though native to South American rainforests, anthuriums thrive as houseplants or in warm outdoor gardens. Their glossy, heart-shaped leaves flourish in filtered light indoors. Outdoors, they need shade in all but the warmest climates. Provide consistently moist, well-draining soil.
With proper care, potted plants produce exotic beauties year-round Plant in beds outside where hardy or grow in containers you can move indoors when temperatures drop.
Birds of Paradise
These architectural stunners conjure images of flamingos lifting their plumed heads. Native to South Africa birds of paradise (Strelitzia spp.) produce large blooms atop long reedy stalks. The orange and blue flowers with white heads resemble exotic birds in flight.
Grow bird of paradise in zone 9 or higher for flamingo-esque accents outdoors. Provide plentiful sunshine and well-draining soil. In colder areas, enjoy them as container plants you move indoors during winter. Indoors, place these sun lovers near bright windows.
Flamingo Flower
A go-to choice for replicating flamingo style, flamingo flower (Anthurium scherzerianum) is a close cousin of the classic anthurium. Outsized burgundy bracts with rippled edges give a flamboyant look. Each tulip-shaped bract sits atop a tall, slender stem extending well above the foliage like a flamingo lifting its head high.
Flamingo flower grows 3 to 4 feet tall in ideal conditions, making a dramatic statement in the landscape. Provide partial shade to full sun along with consistent moisture and rich soil. In zones 10 and up, flamingo flower blooms spring through fall in sheltered garden spots. Grow it in containers elsewhere.
Croton
Though not a bloom, croton’s wildly colorful foliage provides the same eye-grabbing impact. The leaves display every hue imaginable from brilliant reds to vibrant orange, gold, pink and purple. The coloration occurs in striking patterns like spirals, stripes and spots. Croton’s waxy leaves in myriad shapes add to the tropical allure.
Native to islands across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, croton thrives outdoors in zones 10 through 12. Provide plentiful light and well-draining soil. Grow them in containers you can move indoors during cool weather. Indoors, place crotons in bright, direct light for maximum coloring.
Flamingo Plant
Don’t let the name fool you – this delightful houseplant has lacy green leaves rather than showy blooms. But the ferny foliage does evoke images of flamingos and their feathered plumes. Flamingo plant (Anthurium crystallinum) has velvety leaves shaped like elongated hearts. New leaves unfurl in a striking pink or white before maturing to green.
Ideal as a houseplant, flamingo plant needs bright, indirect light and high humidity. Water when the top inch of soil dries out and mist often. Use pebble trays or humidifiers to keep the humidity around 60%. Limit outdoor growth to warm, humid environments like zone 11.
Flamingo Lily
Despite its name, this Australian native isn’t a true lily. But the scarlet-red blooms atop tall stems call to mind flamingos standing on one leg in shallow waters. Flamingo lily (Anigozanthos flavidus) produces flowers with tubular bases that flare open into ruffled cups shaped like flamingo heads. Airy clumps of grassy foliage complete the effect.
Hardy only in zones 9 through 11, flamingo lily thrives in containers that can move indoors when temps drop. Outdoors, provide well-draining soil and full sun. Indoors, place your flamingo lilies near sunny windows and water when the soil surface dries out. Fertilize monthly during growth.
Torch Ginger
Sometimes called wild bird of paradise, the spectacular blooms on torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) resemble exotic birds or flamingos in flight. Pineapple-like buds unfurl into large waxy flowers in shades of pink, red and orange. Narrow, light green foliage on reed-like stems completes the tropical look.
Torch ginger’s native Southeast Asia habitat offers clues to its cultivation needs: warmth, abundant moisture, sheltered conditions and filtered sunlight. Grow it outdoors only in zone 10 and higher. Elsewhere, enjoy it in containers with indoor winter protection. Provide ample water and humidity indoors.
With their vibrant colors and bold forms, these flamingo look-alikes lend a tropical vibe to gardens and patios. Their high-impact flowers and foliage command attention. Show off your inner flamingo fan by adding these exotic beauties to your plant collection.
What is a Flamingo Flower Plant?
This spectacular tropical is native to the South American regions and produces shiny, dark green, heart-shaped leaves. Flamingo Plants are complemented with a continuous display of bright waxy, red heart-shaped spathes with yellow spadices. On average, the flower lasts for a full two to three months. In their native rainforest environment, these houseplants flourish best in indirect, high light sources such as a southern exposure. They need this amount of light to produce blossoms. While this medium care plant requires a bit more attention, the overall rewards are worth the effort for how gorgeous it is.
Bright waxy, red heart-shaped spathes with yellow spadices delight the overall display of this indoor plant. The red spathes are so shiny that they often are said to look like plastic. While most commonly seen as red, they can also be seen in pretty pinks and rich purples. Some choose to snip off the central yellow flower to prolong the life of the red spathe. This also avoids the pollen that might fall on floors and tabletops. If put in the perfect conditions, Flamingo Flowers will bloom up to six times a year!
Keep away from pets because all parts of the plant are poisonous. If broken open, the plant will ooze a milky sap. This sap contains a toxin called calcium oxalate. Calcium oxalate is found in tiny crystals, which, when coming in contact with skin, cause itching, and burning. The plant’s sap also contains proteolytic enzymes that can produce histamines, causing a severe allergic reaction in some individuals.
The Flamingo Flower is excellent at absorbing airborne chemicals released by common cleaning products and general pollutants. The Flamingo Flower is particularly good at absorbing harmful chemicals like ammonia and formaldehyde from the air, and can help keep your house feeling fresh!
Get a Personalized Plant Recommendation
- Who need a hobby and like challenges.
- Who nurture their plants like children.
- Who don’t have pets at home
- Who like their homes warm.
- Who love the tropical vibe.
- With high humidity environments or climates
- That have low to high indirect light
- That need an exotic touch to their green corners
Ultimate ANTHURIUM (Flamingo Flower) Care Guide — Ep 195
FAQ
How do you care for Anthurium flamingos?
Anthurium “Flamingo Flower” care involves providing bright, indirect light, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, and fertilize with a diluted liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
How do I get my Anthurium to bloom?
To encourage blooming in your anthurium, provide it with bright, indirect light, consistent moisture, and a balanced fertilizer, especially one high in phosphorus. Maintaining adequate humidity and appropriate temperatures (ideally 70-81°F) is also crucial.
What are the pink flowers that look like birds?
Rarely seen, the three birds orchid (Triphora trianthophora) carries out most of its growth underground. However, the tuberous plant occasionally sends a shoot above ground, forming a flower stem that develops one or more petite white or light pink flowers that look like birds in flight or chicks begging for food.
What are the benefits of anthurium flower?
They can filter harmful substances, such as formaldehyde and benzene, commonly found in office settings. By reducing indoor air pollution, Anthurium plants contribute to a healthier work environment, minimizing the risk of respiratory issues and improving overall well-being.