If you like birds and flowers, this article is just what you need. Picture walking into a garden where flowers look like birds, making the space bright and magical. In this article, we’ll talk about 12 flowers that resemble birds. Each petal has a story, like a special tribute to the world of birds. So, let’s go on this trip with us where flowers turn into pretty birds, and enjoy the amazing nature-themed show together!
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.
Parrot Flower (Impatiens psittacina)
Native to Southeast Asia, the Parrot Flower’s stunning purple blooms mimic a parrot in flight. While challenging to grow outside its habitat, accessible alternatives like parrot impatiens offer a vibrant display. It grows well in warm places (USDA zones 10 to 12) and adds a splash of tropical color to gardens.
Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis)
As a popular and easy-to-grow orchid, the Moon Orchid graces gardens with its versatile blooms in various colors. Resembling a bird up close adds vibrancy to both indoor and outdoor settings. Flourishing in warm climates (USDA zones 10 to 12) becomes a delightful focal point in any landscape.
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FAQ
How to care for an anthurium Flamingo Flower?
What is the common name for anthurium flower?
What are the pink birds that look like flamingos?
What do Flamingo Flowers look like?
The bright red anthurium flowers are surrounded by glossy green heart-shaped leaves. How to care for anthurium plants: To keep your flamingo flower healthy, place in bright, indirect sunlight and grow in acidic, well-draining soilless potting mix.
Are Flamingo Flowers a good houseplant?
Flamingo flowers are also known as anthuriums, laceleafs, or tailflowers. With their large, shiny leaves and colorful inflorescences, they are very attractive houseplants. No wonder they keep coming back into fashion again and again. Their cultivation can succeed well with a little attention.
Where do Flamingo Flowers grow?
Flamingo flowers grow as epiphytes in the wet mountain forests of Ecuador and Colombia. You can imagine they like a moist but well-draining environment. Anthurium andraeanum thrives in a chunky, well-draining potting mix that provides the ideal balance of moisture retention and aeration.
How to care for Flamingo Flowers?
The water requirement of the flamingo flowers is relatively high. So you should water it abundantly. However, it is also important not to create a permanent foot bath. Otherwise, root rot might occur. But still, make sure that the substrate is always moist. During the winter break, reduce the watering somewhat.