As you enter the Garden this spring, you may be greeted by a striking bloom with an equally intriguing name. The Medusa flower, Strophanthus preussii, earns its common name from the tapered, trailing petals that spiral into tails, reminiscent of the serpent hair of the mythological Greek goddess, Medusa. The flowers feature white or orange petals with red stripes or spots toward their center. Their sweet, delicate scent is a favorite among hummingbirds and butterflies.
Over the centuries, this storied plant has harbored the potential to help and harm: Its sap offers medicinal benefits used to treat sores, while its seeds produce a toxin historically used as arrow poison. The Medusa flower is native to the tropical regions of West and Central Africa.
Where: Along the boardwalk of the Chabraja Visitor Center, Irma’s Garden.
When: See Strophanthus preussii in bloom late spring to summer.
More Blooms to Discover
Plumeria (Plumeria sp.)
Kapnick Caribbean Garden and along the lake trail
May – September
Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)
Kapnick Caribbean Garden
March – August
Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia chrysotricha)
Kapnick Brazilian Garden
Early spring – April
Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum)
LaGrippe Orchid Garden
April – August
This article first appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of Cultivate, the Garden’s magazine.
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