Five Exotic Plants To See at the National Botanical Garden

The National Botanical Garden contains more than 30,000 species of native and exotic plants. The garden also boasts rare and endangered plants from different geographical regions of the world, a representation of 10 percent of the world’s plant species. But what are some of the exotic plants you can see there? Here’re some of our favorites.

Welwitschia – A Giant Octopus in the Desert

When viewed from afar, this plant, also known as tree tumbo, looks like a giant octopus stranded in the desert. The plant is native to the deserts of Namibia and Angola in Africa, where rainfall is minimal. Although it's easy to assume these plant won't live too long, as their leaves are always drooping,  they can actually live a long time. Some can even live more than 2,000 years if they are well taken care of.

Giant Corpse Flower – The King of the Flowers

Known as the king of giant flowers, the giant corpse flower is notorious for its rotting smell, which helps it attract pollinators when the plant is in full bloom. It is very rare to see the corpse flower bloom, but when it does, it only lasts for about 48 hours.

Coco de Mer – The Largest Seed in the World

The coco de mer is a national treasure of the Seychelles. The largest leaves can be seven to ten meters long, with coco de mer trees growing between 25 to 34 meters tall. The plant has the largest seed in the world, with a single seed reaching about 30 centimeters in length and weighing about 25 kilograms. Interestingly, the seeds of male and female coco de mer trees are distinct, with seeds from female plants resembling a buttocks, and seeds from male trees being long and phallic. Also of note: When a British general landed on the Seychelles in 1881, he was convinced the coco de mer was the forbidden fruit given to Adam and Eve.

Giant Water Lilies – The Big Plates of Ponds

Giant water lilies are known for their huge leaves. The plant has the largest leaves of any aquatic plant in the world, with a diameter of more than three meters. The leaves are smooth, and with the edges of the leaves rolling up, the plant looks like a lush jade plate floating on the water. Believe it or not, the plant can also bear up to 60 to 70 kilograms without sinking.

The Dawn Redwood – A Living Fossil of the Plant Kingdom

The dawn redwood is rare among the plants of the world. It appeared on earth as far back as the Cretaceous period (between 145 and 66 million years ago), and was widely distributed in the northern hemisphere. The National Botanical Garden boasts the largest dawn redwood in northern China.

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Images: Dianping