Looking exactly like deep red human lips, blooming only for a short time: Meet the rare rainforest flower 'Hooker's Lips' that fools almost everyone
ETimes | July 31, 2026 8:40 PM CST
Not all flowers attract with their fragrance, some do that with their unusual appearance. Deep inside the rainforests of Central and South America grows a plant so unique that many people mistake it for an AI image. At first, it appears to be a pair of glossy crimson human lips wearing bright red lipstick, just like in a perfect pout. This flowering plant is entirely real.
But more real is the unusual name which is Hooker's Lips or Hot Lips plant. Its scientific name is Palicourea elata (formerly Psychotria elata). But don’t go by its provocative nickname. The flower is as stunning as it can be. This tropical rainforest shrub is an extraordinary example of nature's beauty.
Why is it called Hooker's Lips?
There’s no price for guessing. A look at y and you’ll know the reason. Before it flowers, it develops a pair of vivid red bracts. It closely resembles plump human lips coated in lipstick.
However, what many think, these "lips" are not the flower itself. They are brightly coloured bracts that are meant to attract pollinators. Gradually the lips open and a tiny white or yellowish star-shaped flower hides inside. The unusual lip-shaped stage only lasts for a short time and that’s why the sightings are even more special.
Where to see them
Hooker's Lips is native to the tropical rainforests of
Costa Rica
Panama
Colombia
Ecuador
Southern Mexico
Central and northern South America.
Among these, Costa Rica is one of the best-known destinations for travellers hoping to spot this. The plant thrives in dense rainforest canopies. These places are perfect as humidity remains high throughout the year. But to spot them, visitors often need to explore protected rainforests with only experienced naturalist guides.
When does it bloom?
The famous red lips appear shortly before the actual flowers emerge. Flowering generally occurs between December and March. During this brief period, the red bracts are at their brightest.
Nature's clever marketing strategy
The brilliant red colour acts like a neon sign in the dim rainforest. It guides pollinators toward nectar-rich flowers hidden inside the bracts. Evolution has essentially turned the plant into a master of visual marketing. However, the species has become difficult to find because of deforestation.
More than a Hooker's Lips
Local communities have traditionally used parts of the plant in folk medicine for treating minor ailments. Its greatest importance today lies in its ecological role within rainforest ecosystems and its ability to draw attention to the need for tropical forest conservation.
For wildlife photographers and botanists, finding Hooker's Lips is similar to spotting an elusive rainforest animal, it requires patience, good timing and a little luck.
Sources: Kew-recognized botanical taxonomy via Palicourea elata records, botanical references on Palicourea/Psychotria elata.
But more real is the unusual name which is Hooker's Lips or Hot Lips plant. Its scientific name is Palicourea elata (formerly Psychotria elata). But don’t go by its provocative nickname. The flower is as stunning as it can be. This tropical rainforest shrub is an extraordinary example of nature's beauty.
Why is it called Hooker's Lips?
There’s no price for guessing. A look at y and you’ll know the reason. Before it flowers, it develops a pair of vivid red bracts. It closely resembles plump human lips coated in lipstick.
However, what many think, these "lips" are not the flower itself. They are brightly coloured bracts that are meant to attract pollinators. Gradually the lips open and a tiny white or yellowish star-shaped flower hides inside. The unusual lip-shaped stage only lasts for a short time and that’s why the sightings are even more special.
Where to see them
Hooker's Lips is native to the tropical rainforests of
Costa Rica
Panama
Colombia
Ecuador
Southern Mexico
Central and northern South America.
Among these, Costa Rica is one of the best-known destinations for travellers hoping to spot this. The plant thrives in dense rainforest canopies. These places are perfect as humidity remains high throughout the year. But to spot them, visitors often need to explore protected rainforests with only experienced naturalist guides.
When does it bloom?
The famous red lips appear shortly before the actual flowers emerge. Flowering generally occurs between December and March. During this brief period, the red bracts are at their brightest.
Nature's clever marketing strategy
The brilliant red colour acts like a neon sign in the dim rainforest. It guides pollinators toward nectar-rich flowers hidden inside the bracts. Evolution has essentially turned the plant into a master of visual marketing. However, the species has become difficult to find because of deforestation.
More than a Hooker's Lips
Local communities have traditionally used parts of the plant in folk medicine for treating minor ailments. Its greatest importance today lies in its ecological role within rainforest ecosystems and its ability to draw attention to the need for tropical forest conservation.
For wildlife photographers and botanists, finding Hooker's Lips is similar to spotting an elusive rainforest animal, it requires patience, good timing and a little luck.
Sources: Kew-recognized botanical taxonomy via Palicourea elata records, botanical references on Palicourea/Psychotria elata.
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