Monday, May 11, 2009

Why do certain flowers bloom in different seasons. I have noticed there are more blue flowers in winter!?

Photoperiodism ... short day versus long day plants. The different groups having different periods also aid in pollenation. Check out http://home.comcast.net/~john.kimball1/B... as a starting place. As for blue flowers I have not noticed that bias.

Why do certain flowers bloom in different seasons. I have noticed there are more blue flowers in winter!?
It's all about pollination. The color blue is an optical illusion that takes place in our vision. Pollinators such as insects see it differently and the flower color is probably evolved to allow them to see the nectarie markings that guide them to the nectar and thusly the pollen or pollen receptacle. as for more blue flowers in winter, that must be a personal observation based on your area. In thinking about the few flowers that open in winter in central Illinois, it seems they are mostly white and non native; like helebore and daphne.
Reply:Depends on their life cycles. A lot of annuals can't begin to grow until spring is warm enough, then reach a flowering stage by late spring/early summer. Some flowers need a particular daylength, as stated. Here in Australia, there are a lot fewer 'seasonal plants' especially in desert regions.


Rain in the desert is very unpredictable, as soon as there is heavy rain whatever the season a lot of plants flower so the seed will have some chance of moist soil.

long shoe horns

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