The Weird and Wonderful Botanical Wonders of Africa

Nov 24, 2025 0

Diverse and vast, Africa boasts some weird and wonderful botanical wonders. The continent hosts fascinating plants, from giant trees that are not trees, to tiny pebble plants, corpse flowers, and nondescript living fossils over 2000 years old! Many of these plants are nondescript survivors of the arid landscapes of the Richtersveld and the Namib desert, while others are tropical wonders that thrive along the east coast.

Here are some of the most fascinating plants native to Africa:

1. Welwitschia

The Welwitschia is a living fossil of the Namibian desert and a strange-looking plant, described by some as an “octopus-looking pile of dried out leaves”.

In Afrikaans, the Welwitschia is called “tweeblaarkanniedood” which means two leaves that cannot die, an apt description for a plant that has only two leaves that will grow throughout its life. As the leaves lengthen, the ends wither and die but living sections can be up to 9 meters in length. These leaves grow out of a small woody stem.

The Welwitschia plant has deep roots that access subterranean water. They grow in a narrow coastal mist belt, no more than 100km inland and are pollinated by the Welwitschia beetle.

Read also: A closer look at Africa

Welwitschia mirabilis

2. Hydnora

The Hydnora looks like a monster from a 1950s horror movie, often mistaken for fungi due to its bizarre appearance. Found in Africa, Madagascar and on the Arabian Peninsula, this rare plant exists mostly underground and only occasionally flowers, emitting a stench of rotting flesh.

When its strange flower opens, it traps insect pollinators to ensure pollination before releasing them once the job is done.

3. Halfmens Plant

The Halfmens plant, native to Namibia, is a quirky and fascinating succulent. Picture a cactus that looks like it's halfway through a yoga stretch, and you've got the Halfmens. Its name, which means "half-human" in Afrikaans, fits perfectly due to its oddly human-like silhouette.

Growing in the rugged Richtersveld desert in the northern Cape of South Africa and southern Namibia, these plants stand tall, with their spiky tops reaching towards the sun. The Halfmens is the subject of local myth and folklore.

One of the most fascinating tales linking the Halfmens to the people of Namaqualand is the legend of their origin. According to Nama folklore, a tribe, once living in a gentler part of southern Namibia, was driven south after a fierce conflict. As they fled to the harsh Richtersveld, some paused to look back at their beloved homeland.

Halfmens Plant

4. Baobab

Africas Baobab Tree: Iconic tree becomes fruitful commodity

The baobab of Africa, often called the "upside-down tree," is one of Africa’s most fascinating natural wonders. Unusually for a tree of this size and stature, the baobab tree is not a tree at all, its a succulent and stores water in its trunk.

These iconic trees can live for thousands of years, storing water in their enormous trunks to survive the harsh dry seasons. The baobab commands respect and in Madagascar where they call it Renala, “the Mother of the Forest”. These huge trees are the traditional resting place of ancestral spirits and must be treated with reverence.

In Africa, the baobab is steeped in folklore, and the usefulness of the baobab has led to its second moniker, the Tree of Life. The seeds of the baobab dry on the tree and are enjoyed by animals and humans alike and have several remarkable properties.

Read also: Plants of Nigeria

5. Giant Groundsel

The giant groundsel, found exclusively in the montane regions of central and East Africa, is a sight to behold-think of a pineapple wearing a sweater! Closely related to daisies, giant groundsels won’t grow below 2100 meters and can reach up to 10 meters in height.

There are 11 distinct species, often called rosette plants due to their leaf arrangement. New leaves grow from the top and open outwards, while old leaves die but stay attached, insulating the stem from the cold nights and giving the plant its unique look. At night, these plants form a “night-bud” by curling their leaves inward, reopening during the day.

Although they flower infrequently, they can display synchronized flowering, with many plants blooming at once. Some giant groundsels may even be up to 250 years old.

6. Knob Thorn Tree

The Knob thorn tree is a forest species that grows from Zimbabwe south to the Western Cape. The trunk of the Knob thorn tree is covered with protrusions that look like teeth, or the scales on a dragon's tail, giving the forest an aspect of mystery and fantasy.

The tree is a popular medicinal plant that contains chemicals that are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. The Knob Thorn has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by the Zulu and Xhosa people of South Africa. In South Africa, the Knob thorn is a protected tree.

7. Living Stones (Lithops)

Living stones, or Lithops, are delightful little succulents that have perfected the art of disguise. Native to southern Africa, these plants look just like the pebbles and rocks around them, making them uniquely camouflaged.

Living stones range between 10 and 50mm, grow close to the ground, and can live for decades. The name "Lithops" comes from Ancient Greek, meaning "stone face," which fits their stone-like appearance perfectly.

Their leaves are fenestrated and come in shades of cream, grey, and brown, with intricate patterns of dots and lines for remarkable camouflage. Lithops blend seamlessly with their environment but their unique appearance has made them hugely popular with succulent enthusiasts and plant collectors.

To see them in their natural habitat you must visit the northern Cape Karoo of South Africa and southern Namibia.

8. Quiver Trees

Quiver Trees, or Aloidendron dichotomum, are fascinating wonky plants that grow in the arid regions of southern Africa. The name “Quiver Tree” comes from the San Bushman who used hollowed-out branches to make quivers for their arrows.

Despite their name, these "trees" are actually a type of aloe, that can grow up to 10 meters tall. Quiver Trees have white waxy bark that protects them from the harsh desert environment but it is another unique ability that pushes them into the weird and wonderful botanical realm.

When disease strikes or the plants are particularly distressed during a drought, the Kokerboom can cut off nutrients to certain limbs and self-amputate, thus saving the rest of the plant from disease and living to flower another day. Usually growing alone, there is a Kokerboom Forest near Keetmanshoop in Namibia which was declared a National Monument in 1995.

Visiting the Quiver Tree Forest, you'll see young trees sprouting from rock crevices, with the oldest estimated to be 200-300 years old.

9. Medusa’s Head Euphorbia

The genus Euphorbia is home to many fascinating and beautiful plants, but the Medusa’s Head euphorbia stands out as one of the most unique. Native to the Cape region of South Africa, these plants feature numerous greyish-green, snake-like branches that radiate from a central hub, which supplies them with moisture and nutrients.

Medusa’s Head succulents can spread up to 1 meter across. In spring and summer, yellowish-green blooms appear around the hub, adding to its striking appearance. Euphorbias are widely collected for medicinal purposes and sold in traditional ‘muthi’ markets.

10. Flame Lily

The Flame Lily, Gloriosa superba, is a rare flower native to southern Africa and Asia. Its fiery red or orange flowers with yellow edges and wavy, flame-like petals are stunning, though lethally toxic.

This spectacular shrub climbs using coiling tips and can grow up to 1 meter high from a tuber. The flame lily is Zimbabwe’s national flower, symbolizing national pride. When Queen Elizabeth visited Zimbabwe as the crown princess in 1947, she received a gift of a diamond brooch designed in the shape of a flame lily during her visit.

Despite its beauty, all parts of the plant are poisonous. The seeds are used as decorative beads, and the plant - in proper dosages - is used medicinally to treat intestinal worms and disinfect wounds.

Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba)

11. Aasblom (Carrion Flower)

The Aasblom, carrion flower, corpse flower, or starfish flower for a more pleasing moniker, refers to a diverse group of succulents that grow throughout southern Africa. Belonging to the genus Stapelia, Orbea, and Huernia, these intriguing succulents are renowned for their star-shaped flowers and unusual pollination methods.

These weird succulents produce multifarious blooms, large, small, and brilliantly coloured. They are a favourite of collectors for their stunning appearance, but come with a small caveat, the flowers stink.

To be precise, the flowers smell of rotting flesh or carrion, an adaptation to ensure that they are pollinated by flies. One of the most impressive members is the Zulu Giant. The Zulu Giant, Stapelia Gigantia, is the largest of these plants and the blossoms bloom to an impressive 35 cm (14 inches) across.

Popular Houseplants with African Roots

You may be surprised to learn that some of the most popular houseplants in the world are actually rooted in the motherland, that’s right, Africa.

Sansevieria (Snake Plant): One of the most favored houseplants for its easy low maintenance and care, the Sansevieria has roots native to Africa and can be found from West Africa to Madagascar. Some of the 70+ plant varieties can also be found in Southern Africa. Snake Plants are renowned for their air purification qualities, as they remove toxins such as formaldehyde and xylene from the atmosphere. They make perfect bedroom plants, too, as they remove carbon dioxide and produce oxygen mostly at night.
Zebra Haworthia: The Zebra Haworthia is also named Zebra Cactus, although it's a succulent and not a Cacti plant. It was introduced to Europe in 1600 by a group of adventurous collectors and is now a famous household beauty around the world. The Haworthia is a large genus of small succulents native to southern Africa.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): Before 1996, the ZZ plant was probably not known to anyone outside of the continent of Africa. Flash forward to today, and that plant has become one of the most popular indoor and office plants around. The ZZ Plant is known by many names, including Zanzibar Gem, Zuzu Plant, Emerald Palm, and the Eternity Plant. It is a tropical perennial plant native to south-eastern Africa- from southern Kenya to north-eastern South Africa. This is where the plant grew outdoors in its natural habitat for years.
String-Of-Pearls (Senecio Rowleyanus): Senecio Rowleyanus, commonly known as String-Of-Pearls or String-Of-Beads, is the Aster family’s leafy succulent vine.
Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is probably one of the most popular plants when it comes to the Black household due to its medicinal purposes, which date back thousands of years. The Aloe family is found all over Africa, with many species indigenous to South Africa.
Spider Plants (Chlorophytum Comosum): Spider plants are called this not because they attract and harbor spiders, but rather because of the little plantlets or offshoots at the ends of long wiry stems resembling spiders.
Fiddle Leaf Figs (Ficus Pandurata): Fiddle Leaf Figs was one of the most popular plants of 2020 and can grow up to 10ft indoors. The story of the Fiddle Leaf Fig plant starts along the West African coast. For millions of years, it has been growing in the wild of several West African countries. A native species of Sierra Leone and Cameroon, the plant flourishes in the lowland tropical rainforest.

Other Notable African Plants

Africa is a huge continent with many different types of terrain and climate. Did you know that there are over 65 000 different species of plants in Africa?

Quiver Tree (Aloidendron dichotomum): Also known as the quiver tree, this is a type of aloe that grows in the arid regions of southern Africa.
Encephalartos woodii: It is a species of African cycad that is found in the forests of eastern Africa. The leaves of the Encephalartos woodii are dark green and can grow up to 2 meters in length.
Hoodia: This is a type of flowering plant that is native to northwestern Namibia, southwestern Angola and northwestern Botswana.
Pelargonium: This is a type of geranium found in the mountainous regions of South Africa.
Adansonia suarezensis: Found primarily in the rainforests of Madagascar, this tree is related to the baobab. Adansonia suarezensis is a large tree, up to 25 meters tall, with a thick trunk shaped like a bottle. The Suarez baobab is endangered by habitat loss and is little known in cultivation.
Euphorbia caput-medusae: This is a type of succulent native to the Cape region of South Africa.
Dioscorea elephantipes: Dioscorea elephantipes is a type of yam native to southern Africa. The roots are a food source for many animals, including elephants and baboons.

Southern Africa is a botanical hotspot attracting plant enthusiasts from around the world. Many plants are rare and grow only in the arid areas of Southern Africa.

African Plants That Changed the World

Some of the African plants were known, valued and traded since pre-history. Others became known outside of the continent through the Grand or Colombian Exchange, when the world became one in 1492. Many of the African plants are grown in the tropics, in regions far from their original homeland.

Banana: These were domesticated in Africa some 4,000 years ago. Bananas can be eaten many ways depending on the food culture. For example, in the Caribbean boiled green bananas are like the potato in the diet. Plantain is a variety of banana, but must be cooked before it can be eaten. It is a kitchen staple in Africa, the Caribbean and South America.
Coffee: This is drunk in every country in the world, especially first thing in the morning. The plant is originally from Ethiopia and Yemen. It spread to the Arab world through trade, and from there to the Ottoman Empire and its coffee houses.
Guinea Pepper: Grains of paradise is the other name for this plant. For thousands of years it was traded from West Africa, across the Sahara to the Middle East, and then to Europe. Where the guinea pepper grows in West Africa was known as the pepper coast, before it became infamous as the slave coast. Up to the 1880s guinea pepper was used to flavour gin, beer and sausage in Europe.
Kola: Each time you open a can of coke or cola, you are drinking the flavours of the African kola nut. Coca Cola is the quintessential American drink, but has its roots in Africa.
Okra: Okra is also a staple in Caribbean cooking. My friend from India prepared it, without the slime. This is how it is eaten in her food culture. It was tasty. Rice is also native to Africa.
Palm Oil: The African palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. The centre of the palm nut is also used as a traditional soap. Palm oil is native to west and central Africa, yet the world’s top three producers of palm oil are Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Rice: This is native to both Africa and Asia. It was African rice that initially made the USA rich. It was more lucrative that the other bitter crops of slavery - tobacco and cotton. African rice spread to the rest of the America and the Caribbean. Rice and banana are both native to Africa and Asia.
Shea: Where would the world’s cosmetics industry be without shea butter? It is used in skin cream, lip gloss, and hair conditioner, just to name a few. Shea is in the top twenty ingredients used in the multi-billion dollar beauty industry. The top three shea producers are Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda.
Sorghum: This is one of the top five grain crops in the world. It was domesticated in the Sudan some 5,000 years ago. The top three sorghum producers are the USA, India and Mexico. The crop came to the USA via the slave ships.
Yam: This is a staple in all Caribbean cuisine. There are many different varieties including yellow, white and sweet yam. The tuber did not take off in African American food culture in the same way. Yet, they still use the word, to refer to sweet potato, which serves the same role as yam in their diet.