Asked on May 22, 2014

What in the world is this plant?

Lulu Dubin
by Lulu Dubin
I'm on a trip and I keep seeing fields of this crop. I think it's a vegetable but so far just this beautiful flower. Anyone know what it is?
Close-up of the flower
  18 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on May 22, 2014
    You must be in the south, because that's an okra flower. Can you tell okra is in the hibiscus family?
    • Joffler Joffler on May 22, 2014
      @Douglas Hunt You know everything. I wish you were my neighbor.
  • EvaJoy Irons EvaJoy Irons on May 22, 2014
    Okra. If you touch the leaves or the stake, you will itch like fire. Wash with cool water ASAP
  • Sally Roesner Fuhr Sally Roesner Fuhr on May 22, 2014
    okra. I hate the stuff in any form.
  • Cheryl Dopson Cheryl Dopson on May 22, 2014
    Okra it's used a lot in the caribbean,it is a must have if you want a good Callaloo wich is a local dish,or a delicious cookup with Salted fish,or salted pigs tail,it can also be stemed or fried and eaten as a Vegetable,I enjoy eating okra anyhow it is prepared.
  • Leslie Long Leslie Long on May 22, 2014
    Nature is amazing isn't it? Such a beautiful blossom but a horribly itchy plant....and to some, the okra is icky too! I love okra with black eyed peas or fried....yummy :)
  • Diab Hammad Diab Hammad on May 22, 2014
    This is Okra. In Palestine we use it in stew. To remove the slimy part, chop it to three pieces and y fray it in olive oil for few minute. If you are an anemic person eat Okra will increase the production of blood in your body.
  • Pepsigirl13 Pepsigirl13 on May 22, 2014
    I'm in northeast, but I like okra! never knew it was hibiscus relative. thanks.
  • Cheryl Cheryl on May 22, 2014
    I grew some in Jersey and yes it is Okra loved it in the south ,they pickled it
  • Pam Park Pam Park on May 22, 2014
    never had okra nor heard of it until I moved to Ohio. Love it fried the way WalMart used to sell it.
  • Sharron Sharron on May 22, 2014
    As others have already confirmed, this is an okra plant. I have a story that I have to tell about okra... About 41 years ago, my then fiance' (now husband of 40 years) and I went to visit for the weekend my married sister, Jean, who lived on some acreage out in the country. She told us not to eat dinner along the way, because she had planned to cook a roast and all the trimmings. Well, we got there, after a 3 & 1/2 hour trip, expecting to sit down to a full meal...Dan's mouth was watering just thinking about it...and Jean met us at the door. She then announced that she had not had time to go to the store, so instead of roast, she was serving okra...JUST okra... for dinner! She must have fried up enough okra from her garden to feed a small army...and proceeded to dish out 3-4 cupfuls of the stuff on each of our plates. I could have almost finished mine, because I grew up with Mama fixing okra quite often...but poor Dan was from the North and he almost gagged, trying to be polite & choke it down! It has become an old joke in the family...whenever we see my sister, she always asks Dan if he would like her to fry him up some okra!
  • Shira Shira on Jan 27, 2015
    Did you ever figure out what kind of plant this is
  • Cheryl Cheryl on Feb 03, 2015
    yes, this is an Okra flower I have some growing in my back yard, they grow well in summer in the North too
  • Bje8999448 Bje8999448 on Nov 28, 2016

    I think it is pretty . My sister use to dip in batter and fry it was delicous.

  • Jack Jack on Nov 28, 2016

    Could be okra

  • Lyn Buerger Lyn Buerger on Dec 19, 2016

    I hate OKRA. sorry okra lovers. My Mom thought okra belong in every dish she cooked. Gag me. But my son (who knows where he came from? )also loves okra and I try not to watch him eating and enjoying it.

  • Virginia Virginia on Dec 19, 2016

    I had no idea the blossom was so pretty.

  • Mel12608038 Mel12608038 on Dec 23, 2016

    It's an Okra blossom. They are so pretty, and the vegetable they produce is just out of this world. I love to saute them in a little olive oil with salt and white pepper.

  • Terry Meek Terry Meek on Dec 30, 2016

    I love Okra! When I was young, my mom always fixed it by boiling it and when I put it in my mouth, it just slid down. No chewing! I liked the taste but not the slimy stuff it made from boiling. I then found out it could be coated in corn meal and fried. Yum! I only eat it like this now . Fried Okra. I think I'll fix some today.