Glowing plants
ARE THEY THE NEXT BIG THING?
BY JILL VANDUYVENDYK A fter more than 20 years in the garden centre world, I still get a thrill every time I see the latest plant breeder catalogues, visit plant trials or head to conventions to scope out what’s new. It’s like being a kid in a candy store. Over the years, I’ve seen trends bloom and fade, exciting new varieties emerge and plants bred to be tougher, more colourful and better suited for smaller urban spaces. But one thing creating a buzz lately isn’t a new flower colour or a hardier shrub — it’s glowing plants. Yes, that’s right. Plants that glow. So, are glowing plants just a fun gimmick, or could they actually take gardening in a whole new direction? I first came across these glowing petunias a couple of years ago, flipping through catalogues I picked up at an industry event. They made their U.S. debut last year, but we haven’t seen them in Canada yet. Still, they’re sparking plenty of chatter in horticulture and it’s beginning to reach consumers too.
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Photos supplied by Light Bio.
FEBRUARY 2025 | 29
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