We’re making color changing flowers.
This is an entirely new type of garden plant; an entirely new type of garden experience. The science behind the idea is straightforward: Flowers are colored by small molecules called anthocyanins. These molecules are sensitive to their environment, and we can change that environment with the same machinery the plant uses to track the sun. We are calling this flower Petunia Circadia , in honor of the way it keeps time, and we’re designing it to change color throughout the day, from red to blue and back again.
The flower is familiar, the humble petunia. Petunias are a garden favorite - we buy 11 million of them each year. They are a laboratory favorite too! They’re easy for scientists to work with and have been studied for decades. As plant scientists fascinated with color, petunias are the perfect choice to build a whole new garden full of new and engaging experiences.
And this is just the beginning - imagine petunias that are purple on the kitchen table, and pink on the windowsill. Or being able to change the color of a flower depending on your mood. What will your garden look like? Join us in building this beautiful new garden - click here to sign up for our newsletter, or find us on Facebook or Twitter .