15 outlandish indoor plants that look like alien
There are countless plants in the world of flora, each of which is unique in its own way. But among them there are special specimens that can surprise even experienced flower growers with their appearance. Some of them are so unusual that it seems as if they came to us from another planet or straight from a science fiction movie.
Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey through the world of strange indoor plants? Then hold on tight, because you will meet 15 plants that will turn your idea of flora upside down!
The homeland of this cute succulent is South Africa. At first glance, the young shoots of this plant resemble small bunnies, thanks to their long "ears". These "ears", in fact, are two fleshy leaves that grow upwards and eventually become flatter and wider. With each new sprout, a new "pair of ears" is formed, adding even more charm to the plant.
Over time, the leaves of the monilaria are stretched, and it's time for flowering. Its flowers resemble chamomile and can be white or pink, adding a bright contrast to the green color of the leaves.
This curiosity has become a special favorite among plant collectors and succulent lovers, as it adds a pinch of mimicry to any collection. In addition to its visual charm, Monilaria obovate, like most succulents, requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice even for novice flower growers.
Trachyandra was first described by researchers back in 1843. This exotic succulent is sometimes compared to dancing plants because of the unusual shape of its leaves, which spiral, creating unique and memorable silhouettes. Such mysterious curves give this plant an exceptional aesthetic value and make it a desirable specimen for plant collectors and lovers of unusual flora.
In nature, it is found in the east and south of Africa, in Yemen and on Madagascar. But it may well grow at your home, pleasing the eye with original curls. It is ideal for those who want to add something unusual to their collection of plants, but at the same time does not require special attention.
There are about 120 species of albucas in the world. They belong to the asparagus family and grow mainly in South Africa, some are found on the Arabian Peninsula. One of the most interesting species is the spiral albuca.
This type of albuca impresses with its unique spirally twisted leaves, which resemble hair neatly wrapped in curlers. This noticeable feature makes the plant especially popular among flower growers and lovers of unusual plants.
But spiral leaves are not the only thing that makes albuca so attractive. In its blooming state, it is a magnificent sight: its delicate flowers blooming at the top of the stem look especially beautiful against the background of curved leaves.
Just look at the photo to understand: this cactus is a perfectionist's dream. The very name "aselliformis" came from the similarity of the shape of the plant with the woodlouse, a small animal from the class of millipedes.
This cactus has an amazing texture, and it is often grown as a collector's plant because of its unusual shape and interesting appearance. In the wild, peleciphora prefers rocky areas and high-altitude deserts of Mexico.
With proper care, the woodlouse peleciphora can delight with its small pink flowers, which add even more charm to this amazing plant with an unusual texture.
Well, you can safely give this plant to the architect so that he is inspired to create new original forms. At first glance, its straight, cylindrical stems resemble columns or small columns strewn with small fleshy leaves. These "columns" are often arranged so tightly that it gives the impression of a miniature temple or a city from a fairy tale.
Krassula or tolstyanka "Buddha Temple" is a hybrid bred in 1959 by the famous botanist Miron Kimnach. To get such a miracle, Kimnach crossed a Perfoliate fat woman with a Pyramidal fat woman.
The leaves of the plant are narrow, dense and slightly leathery, they spiral around the stem, creating the effect of a miniature pillar. The flowering of the "Buddha Temple" is modest: small white or cream flowers appear on the tops of the columns.
This crassula will become a real decoration of the collection for lovers of succulents or those who are looking for an unusual plant for the interior.
This unique plant from the asphodel family surprises with its transparent and almost transparent texture. Its leaves are fleshy and transparent at the tips, like small glass beads or dew drops. This characteristic allows the plant to maximize the use of available light, even in low-light conditions, when the leaves are partially buried in the ground.
Cooper's Haworthia belongs to the Xanthorreaceae family and is a leaf succulent. In natural conditions, it grows in South Africa, where it is found in Eastern Cape Province.
The original texture of the leaves makes Cooper's haworthia a popular plant among succulent collectors and those who are looking for something unusual for their green corner.
The leaves of this haworthia, which are almost transparent at the top, easily let in light, which creates an almost magical effect. In indoor conditions, it requires minimal maintenance, preferring well-drained soil, rare watering and light, but diffused lighting.
This funny plant belongs to the Sitnik family and is also called the spiral sitnik or jinkus, with its curly, corkscrew-like stems. This type of reed grows in wet places and swamps, but has also become popular in gardening due to its unusual appearance.
The light green spiral stems of this plant create a dynamic and playful accent in garden design. Corkscrew grass prefers moderate moist conditions and a semi-shaded place. It looks especially impressive near reservoirs or in compositions with other plants that love moisture.
In culture, there are also varieties with straight, non-spiral stems, but it is the spiral shape that makes the plant so remarkable and desirable among garden plant lovers. If you water it well (because sitniks love water), the jinkus will quite take root in your house and amuse with funny curled leaves up to 30-45 cm high.
This mysterious green ball is scientifically called Egagropila Linnaeus (in honor of the Swedish naturalist and physician Carl Linnaeus). But most often it is called Japanese Marimo moss. This is not an ordinary plant, but rather a set of green algae forming spherical formations up to 12 cm in size.
This moss usually lives on the bottom of lakes and rivers in Japan, Iceland and several other places in the temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, where the water temperature in summer does not exceed 18-22 ° C. Moss creates green, dense, tennis-ball-sized balls.
Marimo has become popular as a house plant due to its unique appearance and relative ease of care. They are a great addition to aquariums or can be placed in transparent vases with water.
Interestingly, marimo balls slowly spin in the water, ensuring uniform growth on both sides. In addition to their unusual appearance, they also serve as an excellent filter for water, absorbing harmful substances and releasing oxygen.
Crassula umbella or Wine Bowl is an amazing and rare type of succulents, striking with its exotic appearance. Its leaves are arranged in such a way that they resemble an inverted wine bowl or umbrella. This plant grows vertically, reaching a height of about 20 cm, with leaves grouped at the top of the stem.
The flowers of the wine bowl are another of its remarkable features: they form beautiful yellow inflorescences that look like small stars.
The plant got its name due to its unusual design, which, as many believe, resembles the shape of a wine bowl.
In natural conditions, this succulent grows in South Africa and is listed in The Red Book of South Africa as a very rare species. But he is definitely not in danger of extinction, because thanks to his spectacular appearance, he has become popular among succulent lovers all over the world.
If you adore roses, but do not like to take care of any plants — greenovia is just created for you! Its leaves are gathered in tight rosettes, surprisingly similar to rosebuds. It is not surprising that greenovia is also called the "mountain rose".
Its leaves fit snugly together, forming spiral rosettes that can reach a diameter of up to 15 cm. Most often, the leaves have a pale green color, which can turn pink or purple with enough sunlight.
Greenovia dondrentalis grows naturally in the Canary Islands, where it is found in mountainous areas, preferring cool, shady places.
At home, this succulent is a rather rare and desirable specimen for collectors because of its magnificent appearance and unusual shape. Most importantly, the care comes down to a rare watering.
The peculiarity of this plant lies in its unique leaves, the shape of which resembles small dolphins, as if jumping out of the water. These "dolphins" are located along the long stems, creating the effect of a stream of marine mammals.
Senecio is also called a krestovnik. At the same time, there are about 3,000 species of crossworms of a wide variety of life forms: from annual grasses to trees found all over the world.
This succulent is ideal for hanging pots or containers where its wavy stems can hang down freely. In addition to its unusual shape, Senecio Peregrinus also has all the advantages of succulents: they require minimal maintenance, are resistant to drought and are perfect for home decor.
Dwarf conophytum plants are naturally found in South Africa and Namibia, and in homes all over the world. This genus has about 100 species, each of which is amazing. Ernst's conophytum (Conophytum ernstii) looks like small fluffy pads through which flowers eventually make their way.
The leaves are protected from the hot African sun due to their miniature size and the ability to reduce water consumption during periods of drought. Conophytums bloom in autumn, representing small but bright flowers that can be white, yellow, orange or even red. The contrast between miniature leaves and bright flowers looks especially beautiful.
This succulent is often used as a decorative element in mini-gardens or terrariums because of its unique appearance and unpretentiousness in care.
Who scattered the gooseberries? Oh, sorry, it's Conophytum burgeri…
This succulent from the Mesembryanthemaceae family grows in southern Africa. Its rounded, thick leaves form compact "pads", and in autumn the plant is decorated with honey-fragrant, bright flowers.
Conophytum flavum looks like a sea pebble, into which someone stuck flowers for some reason.
Its light yellow flowers, appearing in the autumn months, resemble small bright stars against a background of fleshy and dense green leaves.
And Conophytum vanzylii is generally difficult to describe…
How would you describe this exotic succulent? Share in the comments.