HydrangeaFor example, flowers can change color depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil, while Morning Glory and Hibiscus Flowers change color as they age or in response to environmental conditions. These changes aren’t just for aesthetic appeal—many flowers use color changes to attract pollinators or signal that they’ve already been pollinated.
This fascinating process demonstrates the complexity of nature, as flowers adapt their appearance to better survive and reproduce, providing an ever-changing beauty to those who view them.
How do flowers change their color?
The phenomenon of flower colour change is caused by a combination of biological, chemical and environmental factors. Let’s find out how these interesting changes occur:
pH Levels
Many flowers, such as hydrangeas and butterfly peas, change color according to the pH level in the soil or other environmental conditions. In hydrangeas, acidic soils (pH less than 6) produce blue flowers, while alkaline soils (pH above 7) give them pink. pH changes the availability of aluminum ions, which in turn affects the pigments in the petals, called anthocyanins.
Age of flower
Some flowers, such as hibiscus and lantana, change color as they age. This is due to the breakdown of pigments in the petals. For example, bright pigments can deteriorate over time, causing a change from a bright red or pink to a duller color, such as pale yellow or white.
Temperature and light exposure
Morning glories and magnolias change color throughout the day due to fluctuations in temperature and exposure to light. Cooler temperatures and increased sunlight can affect pigmentation, especially in flowers that contain anthocyanins, which are sensitive to environmental conditions.
pollination signal
Color-changing flowers such as lantana use their changing colors to signal pollinators. Young flowers may display a color attractive to pollinators, such as yellow or white, and once pollinated, they change to another color, such as pink or red. This change signals to pollinators that the flower has already been visited, allowing them to focus on unpollinated flowers.
Pigment production
Many flowers contain pigments such as anthocyanins and carotenoids, which give them their color. These pigments can change due to chemical reactions triggered by various environmental factors. Anthocyanins, responsible for red, purple and blue colors, are highly responsive to changes in pH and temperature, leading to color variations seen in flowers such as petunias or daylilies.
List of flowers that change color
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are famous for their ability to change color depending on the soil pH. In acidic soil, their flowers turn blue, while in alkaline soil they bloom pink. This incredible variety allows gardeners to experiment with soil treatments for different colors.
morning Glory
Morning glory flowers are known for their daily color change. They typically bloom in a bright shade of blue or purple in the morning, changing to a pink or lavender hue by the end of the day due to changes in light and temperature.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus flowers can start out one color and then change to another. Some varieties change from bright red or pink to pale yellow or white, a change that adds beauty to their already attractive flowers.
at four o’clock
As their name suggests, Four O’Clock flowers bloom after noon and display different colors on the same plant. One flower can display several colors at once, ranging from yellow to pink and red.
lantana
Lantana flowers start out as one color, such as yellow, and slowly turn to pink or orange as they age. This color-changing quality makes them a dynamic and vibrant addition to any garden.
Rose of Sharon
This relative of the hibiscus changes color throughout the day. It may be pink in the morning, then turn blue or purple by evening. These subtle changes add to its charm.
bougainvillea
Bougainvillea color doesn’t change as dramatically as other plants, but their bracts (leaf-like structures) can turn from pink to magenta or orange to red depending on the maturity of the plant and environmental factors.
Iris
Some varieties of iris, especially hybrid varieties, are known to change color as they age. The color of a flower can vary from pale yellow to deep gold, adding complexity to their beautiful appearance.
Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea)
The butterfly pea flower is another plant that changes color depending on the pH. It starts out bright blue, but when exposed to acidic conditions, the flower can turn pink or purple, making it a popular choice for teas that change color when lemon juice is added.
dark blue
Some varieties of petunia gradually change color as they bloom. Starting with bright colors like white or yellow, they can turn to pink or purple, creating an ever-evolving display in the garden.
Magnolia
Magnolia flowers, especially some hybrids, change color from white or pale pink to deep pink or purple as they age. These subtle color changes add to their beauty.
Virginia Spiderwort
The flowers of Virginia spiderwort can vary in color from blue or purple to bright magenta, depending on temperature and soil conditions. This makes it an interesting choice for gardens.
Balloon Flower (Platycodon)
This unique flower begins as a large balloon-like bud in white or light blue. As the balloon opens, the flower can turn dark blue or pink, depending on the variety and environmental factors.
Daylilies
Many daylilies have color-changing blooms that start out one color and change to another by the end of the day. Depending on the variety, you may see a color change from yellow to peach or orange to pink.
Carnations
Some carnation varieties, especially hybrids, can change color as they mature. They may start out with lighter colors like white or light pink and gradually turn into darker pink, red or purple, providing beautiful layers of color.
Also read: List of flowers that have no fragrance
