Consumers in the United States can now pre-order a genetically engineered plant for their home or garden that glows continuously. At a base cost of US$29.00, residents of the 48 contiguous states can get a petunia (Petunia hybrida) with flowers that look white during the day; but, in the dark, the plant glows a faint green. Biotechnology firm Light Bio in Sun Valley, Idaho, will begin shipping a batch of 50,000 firefly petunias in April.

Engineered petunia emits a continuous green glow thanks to genes from a light-up mushroom.

  • Radium@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    Cool! I bought my wife and I each one. I’ll probably try and propogate it into leca and grow it in my office year round under grow lights 🤞. The shipping hit hurts less for two plants

    • Steve@slrpnk.netOPM
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      9 months ago

      It’ll be amazing to see how these look in different settings! The company points out in their FAQ that the plant does require several hours of direct sunlight daily as they harvest energy for the bioluminesence from the sun.