<previous next>

Desert Trumpet Flower

Flower type: Perennial (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This short flower grows up to 5 inches (13 cm) tall. Its pink-red stems grow in bunches of 6 and are wispy with a curved tip, and the small, burgundy leaves are very thick with jagged edges. The leaves alternate on the stem.

6 to 8 large flowers grow on alternate sides up the length of the stem. The flowers are 7 cm (2.8 inches) wide, with solid hazel petals decorated with cream dots and a purple central disk. The flower head is shaped like a trumpet made up of 18 widely spaced, round-tipped petals. They are hardy.

It has a weak scent that smells like musk, and it has a modest amount of pollen; it can cause severe allergic reactions. It is pollinated by the wind.

The sap is florescent blue.
It is suitable for creating tough, hard-wearing textiles
It has impressive regenerative properties.