Red Cupflower

This large flower grows up to 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) tall. Its beige and drab yellow stem is thick, and the tiny, beige or blue leaves are wispy with smooth edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves grow in pairs along the length of the stem.

Each stem splits 5 to 8 times; a single giant flower grows at the end of each split. The flowers are 29 cm (11.4 inches) wide, with petals that are generally muted red; each flower tends to be a variation of this colour. The flower head is shaped like a cup made up of several widely spaced, narrow petals. They detach easily.

It has a delicate scent that smells like soap, and it has lots of pollen,but it does not cause many allergic reactions. It is pollinated by insects and is particularly attractive to butterflies.