The Koki'o Kokia cookei, is an extremely rare tree regularly found in Hawaii. It was discovered in 1860, at which only three specimens could be found. The tree proved difficult to propagate. By 1950, after the last seedling died, it was deemed to be extinct. In 1970 a sole survivor was found, but was sadly destroyed in a fire in 1978. Luckily one of the branches of that last remaining tree was saved, and grafted into 23 trees that exist today, all of which are found in various places in Hawaii. The Kokai is a small tree that grows to about 10-11 meters high, with a most striking feature of the hundreds of bright red flowers that mature trees produce annually. Unfortunately, it is a rarity which few will be privileged to see.

The Ghost orchid is a fascinating rare plant that was presumed extinct for almost 20 years, only recently did it once again reappeared. The plant is so rare because it is basically impossible to propagate. It has no leaves, does not depend on photosynthesis, and does not manufacture its own food. Like the Lady slipper, it needs a specific fungus in close contact with its root system to feed it. The Ghost orchid never grows leaves, and will always depend on the fungus for its nourishment. The Ghost orchid can live underground for years without showing any external signs and will only bloom when all conditions are optimum. This explains why some orchid enthusiasts search for years and years just to have a glimpse of this elusive flower.

Chocolate Cosmos is a dark red to brown species of Cosmos, native in Mexico. Sadly it has been extinct in the wild for over a hundred years. The species survives today as a single non fertile clone created in 1902 by vegetative propagation. The flowers produced by the plant are a rich deep red to brown color and grow to be about 3-4 cm in diameter. The flowers have a lovely vanillin fragrance in the summer, which makes it a wonderful ornamental plants.

The Parrot's Beak, Lotus berthelotii, have been classed as exceedingly rare since 1884. It is believed to be completely extinct in the wild, with only a few individuals that may have survived. This stunning plant is endemic to the Canary Islands and is believed to have originally been pollinated by sunbirds, which have also been long extinct in the Canary Islands. This extinction of sunbirds could help to explain the scarcity of this plant. Experiments have been undertaken to find new pollinators for the flowers, in hopes that they can successfully be reintroduced to the Islands. As of 2008, no fruit had been successfully produced. The Parrot’s beak is however cultivated in the horticulture trade, which can allow even you to own one!