Glowing Plants

Are they the next big thing?

By Jill VanDuyvendyk

After more than 20 years in the garden centre world, I still get a thrill every time I see the latest plant breeder catalogs, 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 catalogs 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.
 

How are these plants possible?

There are two main ways these plants are made. The first uses genetic modification (think petunias from Light.bio) to add bioluminescent genes from organisms like fireflies and fungi. The second involves treating plants with UV-reactive compounds (like Glow Plant’s houseplants) that hold a charge after being exposed to light. This one is newer to me and I'm excited to learn more about it this year.
 
What’s cool about this trend is how it might connect with the younger generation. Kids and teens today aren’t necessarily into gardening the way their parents were. They’re into quirky, unusual plants, asking “why” and “how,” and even naming their greenery (you know it’s true!). A glowing plant? That would absolutely grab their attention, and it might even bring in non-gardeners who’ve never thought about plants before.
 
In the garden centre world, it’s all about creating an experience. Glowing plants could be a showstopper — the ultimate conversation piece. Picture this: a glow-in-the-dark garden party. Sounds like fun, right?
 

Practical or just a gimmick?

But here’s where I slow down and ask myself some questions. In Saskatchewan, our long summer days mean it doesn’t get dark until about 10 p.m. And let’s be real — most of us aren’t staying up that late to enjoy our gardens (at least, I’m not anymore!). Most of us garden enthusiasts and designers are creating that luminous look by adding white and chartreuse colours that give a glow-like appearance. There’s also the price tag to consider: would someone drop $40 to 50 on a glowing petunia that is an annual? Sure, we see rare houseplants selling for high prices, but those are usually collector's items, not something you plant in your yard for one season. And since our temperatures fluctuate so much, I'm thinking the Glow Plants may have to stay as an indoor item for us Northerners — but who knows what the future holds; this is only the beginning.
 
And then there are the bigger questions: Is it ethical to play with genetics and create glowing plants? Should those research dollars go toward solving bigger problems in the world like food security or environmental issues? And what about the risks of releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment? All questions I ask myself and I’m sure others do too — and questions I don’t have the answers for.
 
All that said, I can’t help but be intrigued. Glowing plants are fun, they’re different and they’re making people talk about gardening in a new way. They challenge us to think outside the box. It reminds me of past trends that seemed a little out there at first. Remember when hybrid plants or vertical gardening were new? People doubted those trends, but now they’ve become staples. Who’s to say glowing plants couldn’t find their place?
 

The next big thing?

So, will glowing plants become the next ‘bubble gum petunia’? Probably not. Will they save the world? Definitely not. But they do what I think every good gardening trend should — they spark curiosity, creativity and conversation. And if they inspire more people to get their hands in the soil, I’m all for it.
 
I can’t wait to see where this glowing trend leads — and what other surprises the future of gardening has in store.
 

Jill Vanduyvendyk is a proud third-generation owner of Dutch Growers Garden Centre in Saskatoon. With a passion for the creativity and beauty plants bring to any space, she thrives on networking to introduce new ideas and trends.