What are nectar guides?

Patterns, often ultraviolet, leading to nectar

Why do some flowers change color after pollination?

To signal they no longer have nectar

Why are true blue flowers relatively rare?

Making blue pigment is chemically difficult

Flower Colors Challenge – A 10-Question Trivia Quiz

A bright red poppy looks dull to a bee, yet bees see ultraviolet patterns invisible to us, and the flower colors challenge reveals what flowers are really signaling. Explore the pigments behind petals, the pea colors that helped Gregor Mendel discover genetics and why hummingbirds favor red.

Start Flower Colors Challenge

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Bees
Which color can bees not see well?
UV
What are nectar guides?
Anthocyanin
Which pigments give many flowers red, purple and blue colors?
Carotenoid
Which pigments give yellow and orange colors?
Mendel
Which scientist studied flower color inheritance in pea plants?
Birds
Which flower colors attract hummingbirds?
Night
Why are many moth-pollinated flowers white?
Change
Why do some flowers change color after pollination?
Black
Are there truly black flowers?
Blue
Why are true blue flowers relatively rare?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which color can bees not see well?
Answer: Red
They see ultraviolet instead.
Q2: What are nectar guides?
Answer: Patterns, often ultraviolet, leading to nectar
They help pollinators land.
Q3: Which pigments give many flowers red, purple and blue colors?
Answer: Anthocyanins
pH can shift their shade.
Q4: Which pigments give yellow and orange colors?
Answer: Carotenoids
They also color carrots.
Q5: Which scientist studied flower color inheritance in pea plants?
Answer: Gregor Mendel
He crossed purple and white flowers.
Q6: Which flower colors attract hummingbirds?
Answer: Red and orange
Birds see red well.
Q7: Why are many moth-pollinated flowers white?
Answer: They show up in the dark
They often smell strong too.
Q8: Why do some flowers change color after pollination?
Answer: To signal they no longer have nectar
Lantana flowers do this.
Q9: Are there truly black flowers?
Answer: Mostly very dark purple or red
Black petunias are very dark purple.
Q10: Why are true blue flowers relatively rare?
Answer: Making blue pigment is chemically difficult
Plants mix pigments and metals to make it.

Flower Colors Challenge – Signals in Petals

Flower colors are signals to pollinators. Plants produce pigments such as anthocyanins for red, purple and blue and carotenoids for yellow and orange, while white flowers reflect light. Some colors change with soil pH or after pollination.

Different pollinators see colors differently. Bees cannot see red but can see ultraviolet, so many flowers have ultraviolet nectar guides invisible to us. Hummingbirds favor red and orange, and moths visit white or pale flowers that stand out at night.

Flower colors also helped science. Gregor Mendel crossed purple- and white-flowered peas to discover the basic laws of inheritance. Today, breeders and genetic engineers create new colors, though true blue and black flowers remain rare.

What This Quiz Teaches

Science students and gardeners will enjoy these questions.

Why bees can't see red
What nectar guides are
Which pigments make color
What Mendel learned
Why blue flowers are rare

Did You Know?

Some flowers glow under UV light.
Hydrangea color depends on soil.
Butterflies see red well.
Green flowers often rely on wind.
Petal color can attract or deter herbivores.