Volkameria glabra flowers grow in congested terminal and axillary heads, from 3 cm to 14 cm in diameter. The white or pinkish flower is thinly tubular with four or five, spreading, pointed corolla lobes, usually strongly recurved. The tube varies in length from 4 mm to 10 mm, the lobes up to 4 mm long.

The cluster in picture has many creamy buds, pointed from the furl of the closed corollas. The open flowers have tall stamens on straight or curved filaments, tipped with purple-brown anthers. Volkameria filaments are often long-exserted.

While the crushed leaves exude an unpleasant smell, the flowers vary: they may have either an alluring verbena-like fragrance or… also an unpleasant smell. Flowering happens from summer to early winter (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; www.plantzafrica.com).