Spiraea sp. [Vis UV IR]

Flowers of a Spiraea sp. plant (possibly Spiraea nipponica or Spiraea × vanhouttei) photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower has white petals with a darker yellow centre. The leaves are quite a dark green.

In ultraviolet the petals of the flowers are much darker, while the centres are very dark and appear quite glossy.

In infrared the centres of the flowers are only very slightly darker than the petals. The leaves appear much brighter in infrared, almost as bright as the flowers.

Bergenia crassifolia (Elephant's ears) [Vis UV IR]

A cluster of Elephant's ears (Bergenia crassifolia) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flowers have pink petals with slightly darker green stigmas and style. The anthers appear a darker red-brown colour, covered in lightly coloured yellow pollen grains.

In ultraviolet light the flowers appear very similar in terms of tonality. The stigma is slightly darker.

In infrared light the stigmas appear slightly brighter than they do in visible light. The anthers are brighter, while the pollen and petals remain roughly the same brightness.

Bergenia crassifolia flowers in late Winter / early Spring, and is also known as Winter-blooming bergenia.

Small cactus cultivar [Vis UV IR]

Comparison image of the flower of a small cactus (possibly a Mammillaria elongata cultivar) photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the flower has light yellow coloured petals, with light yellow stamens clustered in the centre. The cactus stem is dark green, but is covered with white spines. Around the top of this larger stem bearing the flower are also some longer brown spines.

The flower's appearance in ultraviolet is quite different to that in visible light. The petals appear much darker, making the flower stand out from the white spines covering the cactus. The anthers and pollen also appear much darker in UV. The rest of the cactus appears quite similar to how it appears in visible light, with a dark stem covered in light spines and some darker spines around the flower.

In infrared the cactus and flower appear much the same as they do in visible light, with the exception of the stem. The stem appears much brighter in infrared.

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop) flower [Vis UV IR]

Comparison looking up at the inside of a Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop) flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flower consists of three long white oval tepals, with three shorter petals around the centre. The petals are also white, but have darker green markings on the inside and a green V shaped marking on the outside. At the centre of the flower are six pointed yellow anthers.

In ultraviolet light the flower appears pretty similar. The three outer tepals remain a light colour. The three petals also remain lightly toned with the darker marking on the inside. The six anthers at the centre of the flower appear darker in ultraviolet. Bees and insects can see ultraviolet light, and the dark markings on the inside of the petals may help guide them to where the pollen / nectar are located.

In infrared the tepals and petals remain lightly toned. However, the darker marking inside the petals is missing. The anthers appear brighter than they do in visible light.

The snowdrop is a common flower throughout the UK, and is one of the first flowers to emerge in the new year. Typically they flower around February in the UK. They prefer damp, shady areas, and are often found growing in clumps in woodland.

Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) flower photographed in Visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom). The flower is growing near the end of the stem, with two flower buds yet to open below it.

In visible light the flower has five yellow petals with a stigma of a similar colour and tone to the petals. The unopened flower buds have green carpels and yellow petals, with some red markings. The stem is a dark green colour.

In ultraviolet the flower has a dark marking around the centre visible. This is commonly known as a 'nectar guide', as it is thought that it helps guide bees and other insects (which can see ultraviolet light) to the centre of the flower where the nectar and pollen are located. The sepals are much darker in ultraviolet, and the the stem also appears darker.

In infrared the sepals appear brighter, and the stem appears much brighter than it does in visible light.

Although native to China, Jasminum nudiflorum has been cultivated and is grown throughout the world. It flowers from November to March, one of the few plants that flower over the winter.

Crassula ovata (Money tree) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Crassula ovata flowers photographed in visible light, ultraviolet light, and near-infrared light.

In visible light the flowers are white, the pistils are white with a slight pink colouration. The flowers are quite bright. In ultraviolet the flowers do not appear greatly different, though the styles appear much darker.

In infrared the flowers do not differ much from their visible light appearance either. The base of the ovaries, where the nectar is located, appear slightly brighter.

Crassula ovata is also known by the common names Jade plant, Friendship tree, Lucky plant, or Money tree. It is native to South Africa but is commonly grown as a houseplant worldwide.

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.