By Rimple Verma
We tend to think of flowers as dainty, petite, pretty little things, but there are a surprising number of oversized blooms that smash this stereotype completely.
Here is a look at a few of the largest flowers on the planet and the places you will need to visit if you want to see them in person.
Image Source: Pixabay
Rafflesia arnoldii, Indonesia
If you are willing to trek into the middle of the Indonesian rainforest then you might be in with a chance of spying the Rafflesia arnoldii, a flower that measures as much as three feet in diameter and can tip the scales at close to 15lbs.
Aside from its enormous size, which makes it officially the largest flower in existence today, it is intriguing because it is essentially a parasite, and relies on being affixed to other plants in order to survive and thrive.
As you might expect, the Rafflesia arnoldii is incredibly uncommon and difficult to find in its natural habitat, so you are better off taking advantage of a flower delivery service if you need blooms in a hurry. The Bouqs deliver flowers on the same day, albeit none as large as this jungle giant.
Amorphophallus titanum, Indonesia
Indonesia continues to impress with its native flora, as the Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the Corpse Flower, is another huge plant. And while it may not be as wide as the Rafflesia, it is definitely taller, towering up to 10 feet high when it is in its full splendor.
As the name suggests, the scent that is given off by the Corpse Flower is similar to that of decaying flesh, and while this is unpleasant to humans, it is intoxicating to all sorts of pollinating insects, which are tricked into visiting the plant and thus helping to spread its pollen far and wide.
Puya raimondii, Bolivia
Pick any point along with the Andes range of mountains in Bolivia and you will be in with a chance of seeing Puya raimondii, often referred to as the Queen of the Andes for its imposing stature and impressive vital statistics.
This plant is a bromeliad, and is capable of sending up a stalk that measures 30 feet and which has the sole purpose of supporting thousands of flowers that bloom all at once in a fabulous display after the Queen of the Andes has stood for around a century or so.
By their very nature, bromeliads tend to die off once they have flowered, and this is certainly the case with Puya raimondii. So as well as having a giant display of flowers to offer, it is also all the more alluring for its swansong performance after decades of growth.
Victoria amazonica, Guyana
Water lilies come in all shapes and sizes, and the Victoria amazonica is the largest of the bunch. Not only does it have huge pads which measure up to 8 feet across, but it also produces brilliant white blooms that are equivalent in size and shape to a basketball.
The flowers are also noteworthy for being the polar opposite to the Corpse Flower in terms of scent; they give off a pineapple aroma, and they only open their petals when darkness falls for a short period each year.
Sunflower, Worldwide
Native to the American continent but now grown in many parts of the world, sunflowers as a species are actually associated with the broader daisy family, and yet are far larger and more widely enjoyed thanks to their sheer size.
Standing on stalks of up to 30 feet in height, their heads may look like a single flower but are actually made up of hundreds of smaller flowers. And if you want to see one, why not grow your own?
