24 July 2018
From bluebells to rhododendrons, Wakehurst is awash with colour throughout the year. But what is colour in plants and how can we describe it?
By Anthea Gordon
Is a bluebell really blue?
Take a look at thisHyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the bluebell.
What colour would you say it is?
Obvious, isn’t it? It’s blue.
It’s right there in the name:bluebell.
But is it really that simple?
Colour brings the bees
Plants and flowers are full of colour. Its forms a huge part of our enjoyment of them. The beauty of plants in all their glory has inspired artists from Monet to Van Gogh.
And yet, plant colour is not just about aesthetics.
As Kew Scientist Paula Rudall explains, ‘colour has many different roles in plants, but perhaps the best-known is to attract pollinating insects to flowers.’
‘Flower colour is caused primarily by the presence and interaction of pigments such as anthocyanins, carotenoids and flavonoids, but I work with collaborators on a special aspect of colour – structural colour – that can enhance the colour caused by pigments.
‘For example, the coloured petals of most insect-pollinated flowers have conical cells on their surfaces that are thought to focus light onto the underlying pigments contained inside the cell.’
So, there is more to plant colour than meets the eye.
A silver, pink and yellow ‘bluebell’
Do you still think the bluebell is just blue?
Vicky and Eloise explain that ‘looking closely at something and with patience helps us to see that there are many nuances in natural colour’.
For them, a bluebell ‘has silvers and pinks and yellows all within its delicate textures, and the blue is something we see simply at first glance’.
Their desire to encourage people to look at colour anew will be reflected in their installation Colour Field at the Wonder Project.
Here’s what they expect will happen: ‘During the eight days, we will collect written descriptions of colour at Wakehurst.
We will ask visitors to reinterpret other’s descriptions, using water-colours to mix and create colours they feel are a match.
Each swatch of colour will be added to a growing field of hues. This new colourfield will be a twice-interpreted representation of the colours found at Wakehurst during the Wonder project.
We’re excited by the emergence of what we are thinking of as a ‘People’s Archive of Colour,’ which will, with absolute truth represent the colour scape, but without direct replication of original colour.’
Paula wonders ‘whether this experience will make people want to return to the beautiful gardens at Wakehurst to look at how they develop throughout the seasons.’
She hopes it will also make people think more deeply about the underlying structure of what they see.
Be part of the People’s Archive of Colour and help to develop a Wakehurst colour palette at the Wonder Project from 26July.
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I am a seasoned botanist and color science enthusiast with an in-depth understanding of plant pigments and the intricacies of plant coloration. My expertise extends beyond the mere aesthetics of plant color, delving into the scientific underpinnings that govern the vivid displays seen in botanical landscapes. I've dedicated significant time to studying the various pigments, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, and flavonoids, that contribute to the stunning array of colors found in flowers. Moreover, I have a profound appreciation for structural color, a unique aspect that amplifies the visual impact of pigments in plants.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts presented in the article from July 24, 2018:
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Plant Color and its Significance:
- The article emphasizes that plants and flowers exhibit a rich spectrum of colors, contributing to our aesthetic appreciation of them. Beyond aesthetics, the piece highlights that color in plants serves various functions, with a primary focus on attracting pollinating insects to flowers.
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Types of Pigments:
- The discussion touches upon key pigments responsible for flower color, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, and flavonoids. These pigments play a crucial role in determining the hues observed in different plant species.
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Structural Color:
- The article introduces the concept of structural color, which is presented as a special aspect of plant coloration. Structural color is described as enhancing the effects caused by pigments. The example given involves the conical cells on the surfaces of insect-pollinated flowers, which are thought to focus light onto pigments inside the cells.
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Perception of Color:
- The article challenges the simplistic view of plant color, using the example of a bluebell. It suggests that closer observation reveals nuances in natural color, indicating that a bluebell, for instance, contains silvers, pinks, and yellows within its delicate textures, not just the blue that is apparent at first glance.
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Artistic Interpretation of Color:
- Artists Vicky and Eloise express their perspective on color, advocating for a closer examination and patience to appreciate the subtleties. They share their installation, Color Field, at the Wonder Project, where visitors are encouraged to reinterpret and represent Wakehurst's colors in a growing field of hues.
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People's Archive of Color:
- The article introduces the concept of a 'People's Archive of Color,' a collection of written descriptions and watercolor representations of colors at Wakehurst. The aim is to create a twice-interpreted representation of the color scape found at Wakehurst during the Wonder Project.
In summary, the article goes beyond the surface level of plant color, exploring the science behind it, challenging preconceptions, and involving the public in creating a dynamic and interpreted archive of the colors found in Wakehurst gardens.
