What Determines a Flower's Color?
Written by Rachel Downey
My Mission: To educate my customers on how to achieve the perfect lawn and landscaping.
This article is meant to educate others on the scientific reason why flowers are different colors. Kyle Downey, the owner of Downey Lawn Care LLC, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Truman State University. The author of our newsletters and articles, Kyle’s sister Rachel Downey, is also currently working on her biology degree at Truman State University as well.
Flowers can be all sorts of different colors: yellow, orange, purple, pink, red, white, etc. A flower's color can be what makes that flower stand out. But why are some flowers red while others are white?
The answer is pigments. Flowers contain pigments that determine their specific color. The two main pigments in flowers are anthocyanins and carotenoids. You may have heard of the pigment chlorophyll, which is also present in plants. Chlorophyll provides a green color to stems and leaves.
Pigments determine which colors are reflected and absorbed by the flower. For example, a red rose will absorb all colors besides red. Red will be reflected from the flower, which is what we see. The color that you see is the color that is reflected from the flower.
There are a few other factors that may affect a flower's color. The amount of light, the temperature, and the soil's pH can affect the color. Environmental stresses, such as a drought or flood, can also affect plants. These factors won't completely change a flower's color, but they can affect how bright the color is.
Flowers come in many beautiful colors. They attract pollinators that are needed to sustain our ecosystems. So plant some gorgeous, bright flowers in your yard as soon as you can!