Tinnea barbata flowers grow solitary, scattered and pendulous on the often erect branches. There is a bulbous calyx around the flower base that later also envelops the fruit, a winged, bladder-like nutlet.

They are tubular, blue-purple from erect branches. The two-lipped flower has a four-lobed upper lip, the lower one larger with white blotches and purple stripes, the nectar guides. The flowers are pale to deep blue or mauve with yellow stamens (www.plantzafrica.com).