15 Interesting Facts About Flowers

Introduction:

Flowers, the part of nature that has graced the planet earth for thousands of years, are undoubtedly treasured by all, naturalists or not. They are just as complex as they appear – with distinct textures, petal colors, and fragrances, and also with far more secrets than most would assume. To share the vast facts that make each flower special is nearly an impossible task; however, the following 15 interesting facts about flowers will demonstrate the amazingness of these beautiful blooms.

Fact 1: Some Flowers Change as They Age

Whereas some flowers will stay the same throughout its lifespan, other species change colors as they age. One example is the Passiflora, a passionflower that will bloom a magenta purple and gradually deepens in hue over the days. In addition, there are also some flowers that will bloom multiple colors at once, depending on the stage of their life cycle.

Fact 2: Some Flowers Glow in the Dark

While the majority of flowers flourish under the sun, there are a few special species that actually glow in the dark. The Evening Primrose is a wildflower native to parts of North America, and features night-shining white petals that will illuminate under low light. There are also some houseplant species that have this special power, such as golf ball plants, hairgrass, and crown of thorns.

Fact 3: Bees Have Favorite Flowers

Throughout the perpetual cycle of a bee’s life, they have developed a taste for certain flowers as their source of sustenance. Unsurprisingly, the most loved flowers by bees tend to be ones with a black or infrared hue, such as clovers, lavender, and black-eyed Susans.

Fact 4: Some Flowers are Trained to Grow Around Objects

This practice, appropriately named topiary, is achieved by carefully trimming and curling the stems and vines of shrubs and trees. Some popular shapes amongst topiary include letters, animals, and other creative sculptures.

Fact 5: People Have Celebrated Flowers for Centuries

For centuries, there have been festivities of all sizes dedicated to the admiration of flowers, most popular occurring during the springtime. Most notably, the culture of giving and receiving bouquets dates back to ancient Rome, originating as a gesture of loyalty.

Fact 6: Some Flowers only Bloom in the morning

After months of waiting, many individuals expect to observe the flowers they’ve planted to last throughout the day. However, a surprising number of flowers will only bloom for a few hours in the morning, such as the Morning Glory and the Datura.

Fact 7: Flowers can Help Save the World

Flowers, despite their delicate appearance, can have a major beneficial impact on our planet. For example, Sunflowers can help rid the soil of hazardous waste when planted near former landfills or mines. Moreover, sunflowers and marigolds can be ground up and portioned into small pellets to stand in as fuel.

Fact 8: Flowers can Express Emotion

It is no secret that colours, shapes, and petals can all work together to articulate an underlying emotion or message. Red roses, for instance, express love and admiration, whereas a bouquet of pink peonies can represent elegance and wealth. This thought-provoking communication created by flowers is often called floriography.

Fact 9: Flowers Contain Potent Toxins

Contrary to natural beauty that most flowers provide, several species contain toxins that are far beyond that of a harmless garden weed. Foxglove, for one, lays within the many plants that have been used for their poisonous qualities since ancient times. While all parts of the plant are considered poisonous, the seeds in particular are the most dangerous.

Fact 10: Flowers Encourages Species Diversity

The presence of certain species of flowers can lead to the return or arrival of different types of wildlife in town. Species such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats, all have been known to hanger around colorful flowers in search of their sustenance.

Fact 11: Flowers can Survive in Space

In 1982, space shuttle astronauts brought up a single arabidopsis seed. Before their return, they put the seed through a series of experiments to examine its clarity to space travel and radiation. To their surprise, upon their return the seed had successfully bloomed!

Fact 12: Some Flowers Have Very Short Blooms

The lily-of-the-valley is a flower with a blooming time of a mere 10 seconds. When it blossoms, a smell similar to Honeysuckle or jasmine will become most prominent. Other interesting flowers include the night-blooming cereus, squill, and flammula – all of which live incredibly short lives.

Fact 13: Flowers Can Die from Too Much Love

No matter the species, flowers tend to blossom most when provided with gentle and even amounts of sunlight and hydration. Too much or too little of either, along with other factors such as changes in temperature, can cause flowers to die prematurely or never open at all.

Fact 14: Some Flowers Fade Within Minutes

In order to show their undying beauty, some flowers take the concept of “fleeting” to the extreme. Species such as the Zephyranthes and White Bird-of-Paradise only live for a remarkable 15 minutes!

Fact 15: Flowers Have a designated Language

Last but not least is the interesting fact that a vast majority of flowers, when presented in the form of a bouquet, will symbolize a specific sentiment or concept. This dainty language is called floriography, and has been communicated through the centuries to impart secret messages.

Conclusion

These 15 different interesting facts about flowers present an entirely new side to blooms that most would not expect. From the complex emotions they can relay to their unique color changes, each special quality serves its purpose to better recognize the ingenious beauty of flowers.