<previous next>

Violet Cupflower

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

This large flower grows up to 4.2 feet (1.3 meters) tall. Its violet stem is very thick, and the miniature, gray leaves are crescent-shaped with toothed edges. The leaves alternate on the stem.

Each stem splits 4 to 8 times; a single medium-sized flower grows at the end of each split. The flowers are 13 cm (5.1 inches) wide, with solid olive petals and a pink central disk. The flower head is shaped like a cup with 21 tightly layered, narrow petals. They are sturdy.

It has the faintest scent that smells like rotten egg, and it has a modest amount of pollen; it does not cause any allergic reactions. It is pollinated by the wind.

It spreads easily and often blanket large areas.
It is suitable for creating flexible, durable textiles
It has impressive regenerative properties.
It absorbs an exceptionally large amount of water each day.