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Indigo Petal

Flower type: Perennial (Grows along the ground or other low surfaces.)

This huge flower grows up to 10.3 feet (3.1 meters) tall. Its moss green stem is wispy, and the large, red leaves are 7 pointed with wavy edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves alternate on the stem from about halfway up, up to the flower head.

6 to 9 small flowers grow on alternate sides up the length of the stem. The flowers are 49 cm (19.3 inches) wide, with petals that are either amber or indigo, with a yellow center. The flower head is largely flat with handfuls of widely spaced narrow petals. They detach easily.

It has a scent that varies in strength that smells like warm milk, and it has very little pollen. It is pollinated by insects and is visited by a large variety of them.

It spreads easily and often blanket large areas.
The leaves are excellent for making pulp fibers.
It is said to be able to live for hundreds of years.
It is suitable for making paper