MadSci Network: Botany |
No, it is not possible to change the color of chlorophyll. Certain plants do have leaves that are light blue, blue-green, gray, purple, red, white, or yellow. Examples include coleus, caladium, croton, and blue Colorado spruce. Wyman (1986) has an extensive list of plants with nongreen foliage. Those colors are due to other pigments that dominate the green of the chlorophyll. Silvery or white leaves can also be the result of hairs. There is a blue fescue (Festuca ovina glauca) which is usually grown in clumps as an ornamental grass rather than as a lawngrass. It is possible to paint lawns as done on football fields. With genetic engineering, it might be possible to create lawn grasses with nongreen leaves. Reference Wyman, D. 1986. Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan.
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