The beautiful zebra plant would have you believe it boasts beautiful bright yellow flowers which lasts all through the winter. You’d be mistaken.

Now a common indoor plant, Aphelandra squarrosa is native of Brazil. It gets its common name from its striking striped foliage which gives no clues at all to those wonderful non-flowers.

The non-flowers are actually called ‘bracts’ and are a special king of leaf associated with the flowers. The flowers themselves appear only briefly and have since gone.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Day 515, Zebra Plant’ 1/1250s f/2.8 ISO640 100mm