Colour-changing flowers for your garden

Flowering plants are popular additions to any garden, as they inject colour and beauty into a landscape.

- Wilson Wong

But colour is only one part of their charm. The sweet scent of these blooms not only delights the senses, but also attracts pollinators.

Few sights in nature are as captivating as flowers that change colour with age. These changes occur at different rates, but it is not unusual to see flowers with different colours in a single inflorescence.

The transformation can be attributed to changes in the chemical structures of their floral pigment compounds, enzyme activities, pH levels, successful pollination or a combination of these factors.

These changing colours play a key role in plant reproduction. The hue of a new bloom signals to pollinators that the flower is fresh and full of nectar. Once pollination has occurred or the flower begins to age, the fading colour acts as a visual cue that the flower is no longer fertile or rewarding — so pollinators can focus elsewhere.

Here are six flowering plants that thrive in the tropics. Grow them outdoors so they get plenty of direct sunlight, and keep them in well-draining soil.

YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW (BRUNFELSIA PAUCIFLORA)