It's real, however real seeds are hard to get to. Called a green birdflower or regal birdflower, this stunning plant belongs to the legume family (chickpeas and alfalfa). Scientifically known as Crotalaria cunninghamii, named after the 19th century botanist Allan Cunningham, the small green shrub is native to Northern Australia. According to the Australian Native Plants Society, aboriginal people often used the plant's sap to treat eye infections.
Looking directly at the entire plant, it’s as if a dozen green hummingbirds gathered together to enjoy a feast of flower nectar—beautifully suspended in mid-air. And when holding one of these flowers in your hands, it's easy to think it's the real thing.
This hummingbird-shaped flowers originate from Australia and plant lovers can not easily purchase seeds. While some seeds appear to be available in the US on a_mazon and a few other market places, one must be very careful to find a reputable source. Most seeds are offered from China are actually Crotalaria spectabilis seeds according to several of my plant collector friends, which is a yellow invasive rattlebox, toxic to some wild life, and the seeds look similar to Crotalaria cunninghamii. Be aware of this.
Below are a few reputable sources listed:
- Australia: Australian Seeds
- USA: Centerofthewebb Seeds
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