Clinging Starflower

This short flower grows up to 3 inches (8 cm) tall. Its orange stem is very thick, and the huge, orange-yellow or yellow leaves are light pink-red on the underside and are broad, flat with toothed edges. The leaves alternate on the stem from about halfway up, up to the flower head.

Two medium-sized flowers sit at the end of each stem. The flowers are 8 cm (3.1 inches) wide, with petals that are generally intense red; each flower tends to be a variation of this colour. The flower head is shaped like a star made up of 15 tightly layered, narrow petals. They are hardy.

It has a soft scent that smells like bleach, and it has very little pollen. It is pollinated by insects , but is also visited by a small species of bird.