Unique Plant and Flower Seeds

Sacred Water Lily (Nelumbo nucifera)

• The sacred water lily--a misnomer for the lotus flower--is a water plant that produces a unique seed. The plant's roots take hold in the soil of ponds or river beds and the leaves float along the top of the water. The sacred water lily's seeds are capable of producing plants after hundreds of years have passed. The oldest germinated and directly dated plants were produced from a 1,300-year-old seed found in China, according to the American Journal of Botany. The plant is also unique due to its ability to regulate the heat of its flowers like mammals, reports the New York Times.

Sugar Bush (Protea repens)

• The sugar bush produces large flowers that range in color from cream to red. The bush can reach heights between 3 to 12 feet. The bush has been in use for centuries as a sweetener, for firewood and for the cut flower industry, according to PlantzAfrica. This unique flower is composed of a flower head with several flowers in the middle. The seeds take seven months to develop and approximately 20 percent of the flowers produce viable seeds.

Firecracker Flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis)

• The firecracker flower is a plant that is cultivated for its ornamental value and is related to the Black-eyed Susan vine. The flower's seed pods produce an explosion when introduced to high humidity or rain. The plant produces flowers almost continuously and can survive in a large container suitable for a deck, balcony or patio.

Black-Bearded Protea (Protea lepidocarpodendron)

• The black-bearded protea plant offers a unique feature: hairy black and cream flowers that peak shyly from the plant's foliage. The flowers are grouped together and the "petals" of the flower are actually leaves. The plant flowers from April to August and the seeds need to remain on the plant for at least seven months to reach maturity. Unfortunately, this unique plant has lost approximately 30 percent of its habitat due to property development, according to PlantzAfrica, and may become extinct in the near future.