flowers

Topic description and stories

Flowers use adjustable ‘paint by numbers’ petal designs to attract pollinators

13 Sep 2024

Flowers like hibiscus use an invisible blueprint established very early in petal formation that dictates the size of their bullseyes – a crucial pre-...

UK plants flowering a month earlier due to climate change

02 Feb 2022

Climate change is causing plants in the UK to flower a month earlier on average, which could have profound consequences for wildlife, agriculture and...

Top: petals of Ursinia speciosa, a daisy, contain a dark pigment that appears blue due to 'disordered' striations. Bottom: close-up top and side view of microscopic striations. , Credit: Tobias Wenzel/ Edwige Moyroud

Petals produce a 'blue halo' that helps bees find flowers

18 Oct 2017

New study finds “messy” microscopic structures on petals of some flowers manipulate light to produce a blue colour effect that is easily seen by bee...

Opinion: The flower breeders who sold X-ray lilies and atomic marigolds

24 May 2016

Helen Anne Curry (Department of History and Philosophy of Science) discusses the history of our fascination with floral novelties.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden Festival of Plants

10 May 2016

Cambridge University Botanic Garden is holding its annual Festival of Plants on Saturday 14 May 2016, offering something for everyone to enjoy: from...

Flowers tone down the iridescence of their petals and avoid confusing bees

25 Feb 2016

Latest research shows that flowers’ iridescent petals, which may look plain to human eyes, are perfectly tailored to a bee’s-eye-view.

Festival of Plants at Cambridge University Botanic Garden

16 May 2013

A garden event with a difference, the Festival of Plants brings together horticulture and plant science in a day devoted to all things plant, from...

Bumblebee foraging from a Hebe inflorescence

Blowing in the wind: how hidden flower features are crucial for bees

29 May 2012

New research reveals that velcro-like cells on plant petals play a crucial role in helping bees grip flowers.

Why buttercups reflect yellow on chins

14 Dec 2011

Scientists discover why buttercups reflect yellow on chins – and it doesn’t have anything to do with whether you like butter. The new research sheds...