11 Unique Plants That Look Like Animals

Nature is an amazing place filled with beings and events beyond our imagination, and a part of this exciting place is some plants that look like animals. Whether due to natural evolution or adaptation, these plants exhibit the exact behavior of some other creatures. There are over 400,000 species of plants on Earth, each known for its different, shape, size, and color.

But in this article, we’ve rounded up some of the most unique plants you’ll see. These plants that look like animals range from orchids to flowering succulents and some can also be grown in your garden to create an eye-catching display.

Plants That Look Like Animals

1. Monkey Face Orchid (Dracula simia)

The monkey-faced orchids are found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru and grow 1200 to 2000 meters above sea level. Dracula simia which also translates to “little dragon monkey” is the perfect name for this plant as it fits its appearance. These plants can bloom at any time in their natural habitat and are not seasonal. The center of these flowers that look like animals resembles a monkey face while the Dracula reference is due to the two long sepals at the base of the plant. Moreover, when these orchids bloom they give the fragrance of ripe oranges.

Also, read Orchid Plant Care.

2. White Egret Orchids (Pecteilis radiata)

These are some of the best-known orchids in Japan. The delicate flowers of these orchids resemble wings in flight along with small green leaves. White Egret orchids are found in Korea, Japan, China, and Russia. These plants that look like animals are very rare and are only found in mountainous regions at an altitude of 1500 meters.

3. Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri)

The bat flower is one of the most stunning and at the same time bizarre-looking plants. The flowers of these plants are almost black with a little shade of purple and have the appearance of petals like ruffled wings with long sepals going to the bottom of the plant. The flowers look like a bat in flight. These plants that look like animals are native to the humid regions of Southeast Asia.

Related: Creepy Plants For Halloween Garden.

4. Dolphin Succulents (Curio × peregrinus)

The dolphin succulents are a hybrid between the candle plant and the string of pearls plant. The result is a plant with beautiful leaves that have the shape of a crescent moon with a fin on the top resembling dolphins. These plants can be an attractive addition to any indoor setup as the foliage creates a display of tiny dolphins jumping out of the pot.

Also, read Indoor Succulents.

5. Parrot Flower (Impatiens psittacina)

Native to Asian countries such as India, Thailand, and Burma these plants can grow up to 50 centimeters. The reddish-purple petals of these flowers that look like animals have one apex. When viewed from the side the flowers look like a parrot in flight. The sepal also makes up for the beak. The parrot flower despite having an orchid-like resemblance is a balsam. Moreover, these plants are a rare and protected species and only bloom for a few weeks between October and November.

6. Rabbit Succulents (Monilaria obconica)

The rabbit succulent or the bunny plant is a unique variety of succulent plants. These plants are native to South Africa and are cherished for their adorable foliage which when sprouts, produces two stems that resemble a pair of rabbit ears as the plant grows the ‘ears’ get longer.

7. Hummingbird Flower (Crotalaria cunninghamii)

The hummingbird flower also known as the green bird flower is a perennial shrub. These plants are a part of the legume family and grow along the sand dunes of inland Australia and blooms between January and April. And, as the name suggests these plants resemble a hummingbird in flight. Moreover, there’s also a beak-shaped stem at the base of these flowers that look like animals.

8. Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera)

The bee orchids are found in Europe and Western Asia. These plants that look like animals have created a clever trick to attract pollinators. The bee orchids have an appearance that resembles female bumblebees. This lures male bees in the hope of mating only to pollinate plants. These plants have an almost accurate resemblance to the bees with distinct markings and pink sepals that look like wings.

Read more on Pollinator-friendly Plants.

9. Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos)

The kangaroo paw is native to Australia (no surprise in that !). These plants come in a variety of colors such as orange, red, pink, and purple. Kangaroo paws have an appearance similar to the paws of a Kangaroo and these plants are also fairly easy to grow. The velvety flowers of these plants bloom from winter to spring.

10. The Red Butterfly Wing (Christia vespertilionis)

These plants are found in Southeast Asia and they are very easy to grow, These plants resemble the wings of a butterfly. Moreover, red butterfly wing plants bloom in a cluster which looks like a swarm of butterflies. These plants can be an amazing addition to indoor gardens and become a conversation starter.

11. Cobra Lily (Darlingtonia californica)

This plant is native to North America and can be found in bogs. These plants got their name due to their appearance resembling a striking cobra. These plants that look like animals are also carnivorous and trap insects inside their long and slender leaves just like pitcher plants. You can also grow these plants at home by providing the right conditions.

Conclusion

These are some of the most unique plants that look like animals. You can grow some of these plants at home as they are easy to care for and improve the appearance of your garden. Other than that, most of these plants are rare and endangered so it is recommended to not bother them if you come across any in the wild. Try to enjoy the uniqueness of these plants in their natural state.