Every now and then you run into something in nature so unique it screams to be noticed… and appreciated. The Silversword, or Argyroxiphium, is just such a plant. It’s in the sunflower family and it holds out to show you what it’s made of… every five to twenty years!!! Just once. It goes out with a bang.
You haven’t seen this unique plant around your neighborhood? Well they only grow on the islands of Maui and Hawai’i and even then only above 4,900 ft. of elevation. Talk about a rare bird! This leaves them growing in the poor soil of the volcanic mountains on those two islands, Haleakala and Mauna Loa.
They have to grow within reach of each other for the rare cross-pollination chance every 5-20 years. These plants are patient.
Each plant has approximately 30 – 600 flowers on them looking like small sunflowers ranging from purple to wine red to yellow.
What’s nature going to do next? Crazy good.
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