If you are a feline lover with a green thumb, these flowers that look like cats deserve a beautiful spot in your garden!
From delicate whisker-like petals to fuzzy tail-like inflorescence, these flowers that look like cats are sure to stroke the cat lover in you!
Flowers that Look Like Cats
1. Dwarf Chenille Plant
Botanical Name: Acalypha pendula
This unique plant features long, fuzzy red tassels that look like a cat’s tail, hence securing a rightful place on this list. It does best in the sunnier spots of the garden and emits a mild, earthy scent in the warmer months of the year.
2. Jade Princess Ornamental Millet
Botanical Name: Pennisetum glaucum ‘Jade Princess’
With its deep green foliage and purple-black cattail-like plumes, this ornamental millet is another choice for feline lovers. While the plumes are not fragrant, they look good along garden borders and are used in dry flower arrangements and bird gardens. Plus, the millet has great drought tolerance abilities, perfect for desert gardens or arid areas.
3. Dried Snapdragon
Botanical Name: Antirrhinum majus
When the Snapdragon flowers dry, they split open to reveal seed pods that eerily resemble a cat’s skull. Fresh Snapdragons come in various colors and have a mild, sweet fragrance. They are commonly used in fresh and dried floral arrangements and symbolize strength, grace, and protection as per the Victorian language of flowers.
4. Kitten Ears
Botanical Name: Veronica filiformis
These petite lavender-blue flowers have small, rounded petals with fine dark blue lines that look like cat whiskers. It has a low-growing habit and makes for fantastic ground cover along gardens or pathways. The flowers bloom mostly in the Spring and are not very fragrant.
5. Cattail
Botanical Name: Typha spp.
Cattails are native to wetlands around the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Known for their long, cylindrical spikes that keep up their namesake, they bloom in late summer. With a preference for wet feet, they thrive in marshy areas, providing habitat and food for wildlife. Apart from that, cattails are also used in traditional crafts and for making mats and baskets.
6. Cat’s Whiskers
Botanical Name: Orthosiphon aristatus
True to its name, the flowers of this plant features long, delicate stamens that resemble a cat’s whiskers. Often used in traditional medicine, particularly in Southeast Asian countries, these flowers emit a subtle, sweet fragrance that gets potent if growing in a sunny spot.
7. Black Bat Flower
Botanical Name: Tacca chantrieri
Native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, Malaysia, and southern China, the flower’s appearance absolutely justifies its name. The bat-like flowers have long, trailing ‘whiskers,’ making them an ideal addition to this list. Plus, these flowers come in deep purple to black shades, further cementing the gothic vibe they carry.
8. Pussy Willow
Botanical Name: Salix discolor
Known for their soft, fuzzy buds that resemble tiny cat paws, Pussy Willows are often used in crafts and ornamental purposes. Plus, they are a hardy choice with the ability to stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
9. Kitten Tails
Botanical Name: Besseya bullii
Kitten Tails are native to the prairies and open woodlands of North America that blooms in late spring to early summer. They produce long, fuzzy, cylindrical flower spikes that keep upto their common name. The nectar-rich blooms attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, making them not just beautiful, but functional for supporting the ecological balance.
