Osteospermum ecklonis [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Osteospermum ecklonis flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flower head has white petals with a pink-purple tint, being more strongly coloured and darker towards the base of the petals. The centre is yellow with a darker purple section in the very middle.

In ultraviolet light the centre of the flower appears much darker. The base of the petals appears dark, the area that appears dark depends on the direction of the light on the petals.

In infrared light the petals are a single tone, the base of the petals is not dark. The centre of the flower has a similar tone to the petals, with the very centre being darker, similar to the flower's appearance in visible light but with a smaller difference in tone. the main difference visible in infrared is that all the foliage in the background is much brighter than it appears in visible light.

Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower is a uniform white colour.

In ultraviolet light a darker area around the mouth of the flower is visible. This may act as a nectar guide, aiding bees (which can see ultraviolet light) to the area of the flower where the nectar and pollen are located.

In infrared light the flower appears a single tone. The leaf of the plant appears brighter in infrared, having around the same brightness as the flower.

Aster sp. (Michaelmas daisy) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of an Aster (Michaelmas daisy) flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower head has a yellow centre with light purple petals. In ultraviolet light the centre of the flower is quite dark. In infrared the flower's appearance is not much different (in terms of tone) from in visible light. The stalk and foliage appear brighter in infrared.

Astilbe [Vis UV IR]

Astilbe cultivar flowers photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flowers appear a deep pink colour.

In ultraviolet light the tonality of the flowers appears to be pretty similar to their tonality in visible light.

In infrared light the flowers appear brighter, with very little variation in tone between the different parts of the flowers.

Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of the flower of Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flower appears a light violet colour with a white three lobed stigma in the centre.

In ultraviolet light the flower still appears pale, but the stigma is much darker.

In infrared light the flower's tonality is similar to that in visible light. The stalk and leaf appears brighter.

Epilobium palustre (Marsh willowherb) [Vis UV IR]

Epilobium palustre (Marsh willowherb) photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flowers appear pale pink with darker pink veins. The pollen in the centre of the flowers is pale yellow.

In ultraviolet light the vein patterns on the petals appear lighter than the petals. The centre of the flower exhibits a dark nectar guide.

In infrared the flowers have a similar tonality to their appearance in visible light. The veining on the petals is still visible, but not quite as pronounced. The seed pod, stalk and leaves appear much brighter.

Jacobaea vulgaris (Common Ragwort) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Jacobaea vulgaris (Common Ragwort) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the plant has bright yellow flower heads with slightly darker centres.

In ultraviolet light the centres are much darker.

In infrared light the centres of the flower heads appear brighter, as does the foliage.

Lobelia cultivar [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Lobelia cultivar flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom). The flower on the right is missing its top left lobe.

In visible light the flowers are a deep red.

In UV light the flowers appear much darker. Areas of damage on the petals show up quite visibly.

In IR light the flowers appear brighter, as does the foliage in the background. The damage on the petals is very difficult to make out.

Oxalis tetraphylla (Four-leaved Pink Sorrel) flowers [Vis UV IR]

Oxalis tetraphylla (Four-leaved Pink Sorrel) photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the plant has pink flowers with a green centre. The flowers are quite strongly veined, with the veins leading in towards the centre of the flower. The leaves appear green with a darker, red-green coloured area at the base of each leaf.

In ultraviolet light the centres of the flowers are quite bright, with a much darker centre. The veining present in visible light is also visible in ultraviolet. The leaves are a single tone.

In infrared light the flowers have little variation in tone. The same veining present in visible and ultraviolet light is visible, but only just. The leaves are a single tone, and also appear brighter than they do in visible or UV light.

Gladiolus × hortulanus 'Priscilla' flower [Vis UV IR]

Gladiolus × hortulanus 'Priscilla' flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower is pale pink with a yellow centre and deeper pink edges.

In ultraviolet light the area near the edge of the petals appears quite dark. The centre of the flower (roughly corresponding to the pale yellow area in visible light) also appears dark.

In infrared light the flower does not have much difference in tone across its petals, appearing very plain.

Buddleja davidii (Butterfly-bush) [Vis UV IR]

Buddleja davidii (Butterfly-bush) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flowers are purple with an orange centre. There is a slightly lighter area around the edge of the orange centre.

In ultraviolet light the flowers appear as roughly a single tone, with no lighter area around the centre.

In infrared the flowers also appear as roughly a single tone, with no lighter area around the centre.

Achillea ptarmica 'The pearl' [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Achillea ptarmica 'The pearl' flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flowers appear white with a pale yellow centre.

In ultraviolet light the flowers appear darker. The flowers were photographed when still covered with morning dew, the small water drops very noticeable in UV.

In infrared the flowers appear much the same as they do in visible light in terms of tone.

Montbretia (Crocosmia cv.) [Vis UV IR]

A comparison of how Montbretia flowers appear in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the flowers appear red with a yellow throat.

In ultraviolet the throat of the flower is much darker. These UV markings are often referred to as 'Nectar guides', as they can be seen by bees and other insects, and help them find the flower's nectar.

In Infrared light the foliage in the background, the stem of the flower spike, and the seed pods on the spike all appear much brighter (than in visible light), having roughly the same reflectance as the flowers.

Water mint (Mentha aquatica) [Vis UV IR]

Mentha aquatica (Water mint) photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (centre), and infrared (right).

In visible light the plant has pale pink flowers with darkish green leaves.

In ultraviolet light the flowers appear much darker.

In infrared light the leaves appear much brighter, exhibiting roughly the same level of reflectance as the flowers.

Silver Ragwort (Jacobaea maritima) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Jacobaea maritima (Silver Ragwort) flowers photographed with visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the flowers appear bright yellow, with the centres being slightly darker than the petals.

In ultraviolet light the centres appear quite dark, helping guide bees and other insects that can see in the ultraviolet spectrum to the area of the flower where the nectar and pollen are located.

In infrared light the petals and centres of the flowers have roughly the same reflectance.

Golden Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus') [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus' (Golden Mock Orange) in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the plant has white flowers and yellow leaves.

In ultraviolet light the area around the base of each petal appear quite dark.

In infrared there is not much of a difference (in terms of tonality) in how the flowers and leaves appear compared to their appearance in visible light.

Garden Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Garden Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) flower under visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the flower has white petals with a yellow centre.

In ultraviolet light the flower has quite dark petals with a very dark centre.

In infrared light the centre is brighter, appearing the same tone as the petals. The leaf of the plant also reflects infrared strongly, appearing brighter than it does in UV and visible light.

Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) flower in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the flower appears violet with a darker purple colour around the throat.

In ultraviolet light the flower appears very similar, with a darker area around the throat.

In infrared the flower's appearance is monotone. There is no dark area around the throat and the brightness of the flowers is matched by that of the plant's leaves.

Aquilegia caerulea 'Crimson Star' [Vis UV IR]

Photos comparing the appearance of a Aquilegia caerulea 'Crimson Star' flower in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

The Crimson Star cultivar is a star shaped flower with deep red spurs, white corollas, and a tuft of yellow stamens in the very centre.

Under Ultraviolet light the stamens appear darker, and the corolla around the stamens also appears much darker.

In infrared light the distinction between the darker coloured spurs and the brighter corolla is lost, with the whole flower appearing monotone.

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Siberian Red barked Dogwood (Cornus alba 'Elegantissima') flower in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (centre), and infrared light (bottom).

The plant has variegated leaves, but the variegation is not easily apparent in ultraviolet and infrared. In infrared the leaves appear much brighter.

The flowers appear much darker in ultraviolet. In infrared the flowers have a similar tonality to how they appear in visible light, except that the ovaries appear as bright as the petals.

Iris sibirica 'Tropic-night' [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Iris sibirica 'Tropic-night' flower in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (centre), and infrared light (right).

In ultraviolet light the flower's throat has clear dark markings along the centre, acting as a Nectar guide to bees and other insects that can see UV light.

In infrared light the flower appears quite monotone, lacking the contrasting patterns on the petals that are present in visible and ultraviolet light. The veins on the petals are just visible in infrared.

Orange Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica var. aurantiaca) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Orange Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica var. aurantiaca) flower in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (centre), and infrared light (right).

In ultraviolet the anthers and stigma appear much darker than they do in visible light. There are also UV markings at the base of the petals. These are known as nectar guides, and are thought to help bees and other insects that can see ultraviolet light to hone in on the area of the flower where the nectar and pollen are located. In turn, this helps the flower get pollinated.

In infrared light the poppy appears much the same (in terms of tone) as it does under visible light.

Orange Hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Orange Hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) flower in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (centre), and infrared light (bottom).

The flower appears slightly different in ultraviolet compared to visible light. In UV the flower gets darker towards the centre of the flower, with an area quite a bit darker than the rest of the flower around the centre. The very centre (possibly the tips of petals that have yet to unfurl?) is quite bright.

In visible light the flower gets lighter towards the centre, while the very centre is darker.

In infrared light the flower does not have much tonal variation other than a slight dark ring around the centre of the flower (also present in visible light).

Yellow Day lily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Yellow Day lily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus) flower in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (centre), and infrared light (right).

In ultraviolet light the flower's throat has clear dark markings, acting as a Nectar guide to bees and other insects that can see UV light. The anthers also appear darker in UV.

In infrared light the anthers appear brighter than they do in visible light. The foliage behind the flower appears brighter as well.

Wisteria flower [Vis UV IR]

A Wistera flower photographed in visible light (right), ultraviolet light (centre), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flower appears white with a yellow colouration around the middle of the banner.

In ultraviolet light the base of the banner has a darker area (nectar guide).

In infrared light the flower does not seem to have any markings visible.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) [Vis UV IR]

Spectral comparison of a Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) flower in reflected visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle) and infrared light (bottom).

The flower has a clear UV nectar guide pattern, with the petals appearing darker at the base in ultraviolet. The centre of the flower also appears much darker in ultraviolet.

In infrared the centre of the flower appears much brighter than it does under visible light.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Clematis montana cultivar flowers [Vis UV IR]

Spectral comparison of the flowers of a Clematis montana cultivar. The top image shows the flowers in visible light, the middle image in ultraviolet light, and the bottom image in infrared light.

The petals do not have any UV markings visible, but the centre of the flower does appear much darker in ultraviolet.

The leaves and flowers both reflect similar amounts of infrared light.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) [Vis UV IR]

Spectral comparison of Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) using reflected visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom). In ultraviolet light the flower's UV nectar guides) are visible, being darker near the centre of the flower than the edges.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Daisy flower (Bellis perennis) [Vis UV IR]

Spectral comparison of a Common Daisy flower (Bellis perennis) photographed with reflected visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom). The flower does not have any ultraviolet markings on its petals, but the centre appears much darker in ultraviolet. The tonality of the flower is much the same under infrared light as it is in visible light.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Forget me not flowers [Vis UV IR]

Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) flowers photographed using visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. The flower has a clear UV pattern (nectar guides), being darker near the centre than the edges. The old flowers appear much brighter than new flowers in ultraviolet.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Yellow Pansy [Vis UV IR]

A Pansy (Viola tricolor) flower photographed in visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. There do not appear to be any UV visible nectar guides, but damage to the flower's petals is more obvious in UV. The markings around the centre of the flower are most prominent in visible light, but can still be seen in ultraviolet and infrared light as well.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Red Gerbera flower [Vis UV IR]

Photos of a Gerbera cultivar taken with visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. This flower has red petals and a red centre when viewed in visible light.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Chrysanthemum yellow quill flower [Vis UV IR]

Photos of a Chrysanthemum cultivar taken with visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. This flower has quill type tubular petals and appears yellow under visible light.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Chrysanthemum cultivar white-yellow flower [Vis UV IR]

Photos of a Chrysanthemum cultivar taken with visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. Under visible light the flower has a yellow centre yellow-white petals.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.

Chrysanthemum cultivar white with green edged petals [Vis UV IR]

Photos of a Chrysanthemum cultivar taken with visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. Under visible light the flower has a yellow centre and white petals with green edged tips.

This image is free for you to use and is licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC-BY-SA 3.0. If you use this image please credit Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com.