“The “Skeleton Flower” (Diphelleia grayi), is a white woodland blossom that turns transparent when it gets wet.
source: RocketNews24
This plant can be found in three parts of the world. The plant grows on moist, wooded mountainsides in colder regions of Japan, China and the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, and it’s very easy to spot by its large, umbrella-like leaves.
source: RocketNews24
source: RocketNews24
Once it’s dry… it turns back to white.
Watch these awesome flowers in the video below…
Are these plants sun, shade or combination lovers
Cheryl,
I don’t really know, this is an article that somebody else submitted to us.
I sure hope I can find skeleton flowers that grow in the Chicagoland area. Since we have moved here from the Columbus OH place known as Canal Winchester, the number of plants I can successfully grow has completely discouraged me. Our growing season is seriously two months long, most of it seriously hot!
If you think it’s hot in OHIO you should stick around in GA for the summer. It lasts for about 5 months. It is a problem to be outside in 100 degree temps so the flower bed suffers. I need to find some plants that take care of themselves.
I found an article that said the Skeleton Flower grows native in Japan and the United States in the Appalachians.
Does anyone know if they have very large leaves?
Thanks,
CA
Also known as the Umbrella Plant, Skeleton Flowers are related to Mayapples and Fairy Wings. I could not find a nursery that carries them at this time, but I find several that had a wait list for folks to be contacted when they were back in stock.
yes he said it had very large leaves, re-read the article it might have some tip to find that I missed.
if anyone can find these flowers the skeleton flower please let me know, I am not getting anywhere as I am looking for them.
It appears the flower is only in China and Japan. Probably not able to get it in the USA
Mike said you can get them in the Smoky Mountain
The article says it can be found in colder regions of Japan, China and the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, and it’s very easy to spot by its large, umbrella-like leaves.
They are native to the Southern Appalachians but are the species D. cymosa. The one from Southeast Asia is D. grayi..
D. cymosa is rather rare in the Smokies, and you can’t “get” them there, as they are very much protected there.
Amazon has them
You can purchase them through Amazon.com
Can you tell us where we might buy one – I’ve looked for 2 years and when I have found them at an online nursery they always say “unavailable” just point me in the right direction!
Thank you,
Catese
Catese,
At this point we don’t have a source for them, but if we find one, or somebody else does, we’ll post the source here.
wood love to have one . How can I get one . I live in zone 8
Gill,
Try searching online.
– where do you get them?
Pretty cool! These resemble what we call May Apple here in Tennessee. Only flowers grow beneath the leaves and a little green “apple” is the fruit. Squirrels like them.
How beautiful. The wet petals look like they are made of ice. Will they grow in zone 7 or zone 9? I’d love to grow some.
Diphylleia will die back in winter. If you live in zones 4 to 9, it should survive freezing temperatures with a light layer of mulch. Plants grown in USDA zones below 4 should container garden the plants and bring them indoors at the end of summer to overwinter. Wintering pots need less water during their dormant period. Increase watering as spring approaches and acclimate the plant over several days before installing outdoors full time.
In most cases, caring for skeleton flower plants is low maintenance. They will benefit from a diluted plant food in early spring and dead foliage should be cut off to allow new leaves to unfurl unimpeded.
Thanks for the great post Sharon! I looked up Diphylleia and found nurseries that offer it for sale and learned more about the plant.
🙂
Mike are there any “Skeleton Flowers” Become Transparent When It Rains left, I’d love to have one. Thanks, JC
Helo JC,
We do not sell Skeleton Flowers
I know you said you do not sell them, but do you know of any place we can buy them??
Thanks!!
Sheryl
Southern Illinois
Sheryl,
Sorry, I do not, you’ll have to search online.
Sheryl you can purchase Skeleton Flowers from Amazon.com
Thank you for having this website! It is awesome! : )