Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

"Plants With Two Different Colors of Flowers on One Stem

If you walk into your garden and see different colors of blooms on the same flower plant, you may start doubting your eyes or questioning your sanity, but don't panic. There are many reasons for plants to have two or more different colored flowers on the same stem, and they can give you extra color without having to plant additional plants.

Where Color Comes From

Just like eye or hair color in humans and animals, the genetic make-up of the flower determines the color of its petals. Color selection comes from the purpose of the bloom and its operations. Flowers are the reproductive repository of the plant, and their effectiveness controls the survival of the species. When insects and animals pollinate a plant, it generally has to have bright flowers that will attract the attention of bees and birds, while plants that self-pollinate most often have duller, less showy blooms.

Color Changes From Mutations

Known as "sports," genetic mutations can change the color of a single or of multiple flowers on a stem, so that one of your red tulips has a white streak down the center, while the rest are still pure red. These mutations are usually random occurrences, and they generally die out or revert to the original color. Breeders, however, will sometimes use stable sports, or "chimeras," to create new plants with the changes.

Plants With Changing Bloom Colors

Many flowers display one color and gradually change colors over their growing season. Since not all buds open at the same time, this can result in the same stem or plant having different hues at once. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow plants (Brunfelsia pauciflora "Floribunda") begin with deep purple flowers that gradually become lavender and then white over a three-day span. "Joseph's Coat" climbing roses (Rosa x "Joseph's Coat") display yellow, pink, orange and red blossoms over their flowering season. Brunfelsia grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 to 11, while "Joseph's Coat" is resilient in USDA zones 6 to 10. Hydrangeas may also have multicolored blooms, depending on the season or on the pH level of the soil. Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) will change from pink to blue or purple when the acidity of the soil changes. If you want to see pink blooms, you can add hydrated lime to the water you give the plant, while alum in the water will turn the blooms blue. Peegee hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata "Floribunda") will give you white flowers that gradually change to bronze in the fall. Hydrangeas thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9.

Multi-Colored Flower Clusters

Some plants produce groups or clusters of flowers that have different colors, as well. One example is lantana (Lantana camara), which grows in USDA zones 8 to 11. The 2-inch flower heads display white, ivory, yellow or darker hues, depending on the variety. "Athens Rose" will add deep pink and yellow blooms to your garden, while "Miss Huff" contributes orange, coral and gold. For deeper oranges, yellows and reds, try "New Red" or "Texas Flame," or choose "Patriot Honeylove" for paler pink, yellow and ivory."

Please, see the link....

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plants-two-different-colors-flowers-one-stem-65988.html

Please check the following link and PDF attachment.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/different-color-blooms-same-plant-65865.html

The insertion/excision of a transposable element into/out of specific gene (ex. for pigment synthesis) can result in the different colors of flowers in the same plants.

For example, the Mirabilis jalapa (you mentioned). See this article:

"Transposon-mediated mutation of CYP76AD3 affects betalain synthesis and produces variegated flowers in four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)"

Abstract

The variegated flower colors of many plant species have been shown to result from the insertion or excision of transposable elements into genes that encode enzymes involved in anthocyanin synthesis. To date, however, it has not been established whether this phenomenon is responsible for the variegation produced by other pigments such as betalains. During betalain synthesis in red beet, the enzyme CYP76AD1 catalyzes the conversion of l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to cyclo-DOPA. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis indicated that the homologous gene in four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) is CYP76AD3. Here, we show that in four o’clock with red perianths, the CYP76AD3 gene consists of one intron and two exons; however, in a mutant with a perianth showing red variegation on a yellow background, a transposable element, dTmj1, had been excised from the intron. This is the first report that a transposition event affecting a gene encoding an enzyme for betalain synthesis can result in a variegated flower phenotype.

[ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25151127 ]

Another example (see attached picture):

The picture shows that two mutant alleles in the anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) gene of the Japanese morning glory. The mutants r-3 and Shibori-chidori have transposon element Tpn8 and Tpn9 inserted into the ANS gene, respectively.

http://www.nibb.ac.jp/annual_report/2001/html/ann401.html

Stunning Morning Glory variety 'Carnevale di Venezia', Ipomoea purpurea:

Different flower color on the same plant.

"A vigorous climber producing masses of spectacular, striped blue and pink blooms with intricate markings, as if painted individually. Flowers all summer."

The pH value of soil can also affect the flower colors of a plant. But, I am not sure whether or not the color will be different on the same plants. See this example on Hydrangea:

link: http://www.finegardening.com/qa-some-flowers-can-change-color

Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

"How to Get Two Different Colored Roses on the Same Bush

Imagine a rose bush that sprouts normally in the spring, but when the roses bloom some of them are white, some are red and some are even orange or yellow. You might think this is the result of some strange feeding program, but you can create a bush just like this using a simple technique called grafting, cutting a small piece of one plant and attaching it to another plant. Each part of the grafted plant will retain its original characteristics such as the size and color of its blooms.

• Tip: Graft even more colors onto the same rootstock to create a multicolored rose bush."....

Please, see the link....

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/two-different-colored-roses-same-bush-41279.html

Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

"Plants With Two Different Colors of Flowers on One Stem

If you walk into your garden and see different colors of blooms on the same flower plant, you may start doubting your eyes or questioning your sanity, but don't panic. There are many reasons for plants to have two or more different colored flowers on the same stem, and they can give you extra color without having to plant additional plants.

Where Color Comes From

Just like eye or hair color in humans and animals, the genetic make-up of the flower determines the color of its petals. Color selection comes from the purpose of the bloom and its operations. Flowers are the reproductive repository of the plant, and their effectiveness controls the survival of the species. When insects and animals pollinate a plant, it generally has to have bright flowers that will attract the attention of bees and birds, while plants that self-pollinate most often have duller, less showy blooms.

Color Changes From Mutations

Known as "sports," genetic mutations can change the color of a single or of multiple flowers on a stem, so that one of your red tulips has a white streak down the center, while the rest are still pure red. These mutations are usually random occurrences, and they generally die out or revert to the original color. Breeders, however, will sometimes use stable sports, or "chimeras," to create new plants with the changes.

Plants With Changing Bloom Colors

Many flowers display one color and gradually change colors over their growing season. Since not all buds open at the same time, this can result in the same stem or plant having different hues at once. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow plants (Brunfelsia pauciflora "Floribunda") begin with deep purple flowers that gradually become lavender and then white over a three-day span. "Joseph's Coat" climbing roses (Rosa x "Joseph's Coat") display yellow, pink, orange and red blossoms over their flowering season. Brunfelsia grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 to 11, while "Joseph's Coat" is resilient in USDA zones 6 to 10. Hydrangeas may also have multicolored blooms, depending on the season or on the pH level of the soil. Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) will change from pink to blue or purple when the acidity of the soil changes. If you want to see pink blooms, you can add hydrated lime to the water you give the plant, while alum in the water will turn the blooms blue. Peegee hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata "Floribunda") will give you white flowers that gradually change to bronze in the fall. Hydrangeas thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9.

Multi-Colored Flower Clusters

Some plants produce groups or clusters of flowers that have different colors, as well. One example is lantana (Lantana camara), which grows in USDA zones 8 to 11. The 2-inch flower heads display white, ivory, yellow or darker hues, depending on the variety. "Athens Rose" will add deep pink and yellow blooms to your garden, while "Miss Huff" contributes orange, coral and gold. For deeper oranges, yellows and reds, try "New Red" or "Texas Flame," or choose "Patriot Honeylove" for paler pink, yellow and ivory."

Please, see the link....

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plants-two-different-colors-flowers-one-stem-65988.html

A curious aspect of M. jalapa is that flowers with different colours grow simultaneously on the same plant.

 Additionally, an individual flower can be splashed with different colours. Flower patterns are referred to as sectors (whole sections of flower), flakes (stripes of varying length), and spots. A single flower can be plain yellow, pink or white, or have a combination of sectors, flakes and spots. Furthermore, different combinations of flowers and patterns can occur on different flowers of the same plant. Another interesting point is a colour-changing phenomenon. For example, in the yellow variety, as the plant matures, it can display flowers that gradually change to a dark pink colour. Similarly white flowers can change to light violet.

 The flowers usually open from late afternoon onwards, hence the first of its common names. Flowers then produce a strong, sweet-smelling fragrance throughout the night, then close for good in the morning. New flowers open the following day.

Despite their appearance, the flowers are not formed from petals – rather they are a pigmented modification of the calyx. Similarly, the 'calyx' is an involucre of bracts.

The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued moths of the Sphingidae family, such as the sphinx moths or hawk moths and other nocturnal pollinators attracted by the fragrance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabilis_jalapa

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/different-color-blooms-same-plant-65865.html

Thanks for sharing.

The views of the colleagues are complete and very explanatory. In my opinion they have said it all.

Regards

https://www.google.gr/search?q=bougainvillea+with+different+colors+of+flowers+in+the+same+plant&biw=1280&bih=673&tbm=isch&imgil=DG5y7P3i5GlmCM%253A%253B7erjCu5c_rAfDM%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.pinterest.com%25252Fpin%25252F541065342709305371%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=DG5y7P3i5GlmCM%253A%252C7erjCu5c_rAfDM%252C_&usg=__Unw5r5jaLEU2viyEMS5FeZZoax4%3D&ved=0ahUKEwiujt2s5prOAhUEbhQKHS1zCuAQyjcIMA&ei=SmmcV67BB4TcUa3mqYAO#imgrc=aUIEIlJRmGmmWM%3A

 dear all

Plants occasionally produce sports or spontaneous genetic mutations that result in a single plant bearing flowers of more than one color, form or growth habit.

good day

https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc731/flower/flower3.htm

The attached paper above " Genes Controlling Flower Development in Plants - Floral Organ Identity Genes" describes the genes involving in the forming of flower 'organs'. It is similar to that the genes involve in the forming of human liver 'organ' or other organs.

The genes of flower colors generally involve in the synthesis of different pigments, such as anthocyanin, chlorophyll......etc.

Thanks all for your resourceful answers.

Sorry, this topic is out of my domain!!

As mentioned, flower colors can change due to environment, such as pH of soil. The weather can also play a role in the change of flower colors.

The black roses (see attachment), produced at a rare location in Turkey. The black color only maintains at Summer time. Cooler temperatures change them into crimson color. [ YouTube short movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hmEcY7r00M ]

Thanks Yuan.