Ever notice how many flowers in late summer show off in shades of yellow and purple? It’s not just a fashion statement — it’s a scientific strategy!
Energy Budgeting
As daylight hours and temperatures start to drop off, plants start prepping for winter. Yellow pigments are easy to make, and therefore, a thrifty choice for flowers trying to save up some energy for the cold season. Red, on the other hand, is harder to produce, costing more energy; with purple being somewhere in between.
Bees Love Yellow & Purple Late-Summer Flowers
Fun fact: bees can’t see red, but they can see ultraviolet, blue, and yellow super well. Those colors reflect UV light in patterns that act like “landing strips” to guide the bees in. So the purplish and yellow flowers act like neon signs for bees still out there doing their pollinating thing later in the season. They’re also complimentary colors that stand out for pollinators once the landscape starts fading to greens and browns.
Yellows in Stock
Here at Knapp Valley, Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) are bringing main character drama all over The Gardens with their golden petals and dark centers, while Tickseed (Coreopsis) brings the cheerful look of sunshine to the landscape. Coneflowers (Echinacea) come in a rainbow of colors but the ‘Golden Sun’ variety isn’t giving up any time soon. Together, they’re the golden girls of the late summer garden!
Purples in Stock
Ever reliable Catmint (Nepeta) is still going strong, as it blooms throughout the season. Lavender (Lavandula) is on a farewell tour beginning in August but that famous calming scent is still gracing us in The Gardens. Sage (Perovskia) is now taking over the spotlight with long-lasting purple blooms that dance well into fall. And the purple Hardy Cranesbill (Geranium) is a favorite of the bees.
Next time you spot yellow and purple flowers, you’ll know they’re not just trying hard to be pretty — they’re working hard to be seen.
