Yes, I know Chrysanthemums go through color changes as the flower ages, I have dozens of varieties. Here I'm talking about fresh flowers, not aged or frozen. Nantyderry sunshine will not age to intense pink-violet, nor will Bronze Elegans. It is actually 'heard of' as several people reported it here on this forum and other fora. It is just the mechanism behind it that is not found/explained. I was sceptical too untill it happened to me. I bought a very big pot of a red Echinacea (do not remember whether it was Hot Summer or Tomato Soup). It was late in the season so I decided to overwinter it in my basement. As there was only one plant there was no possibility for confusion. Next summer the whole big plant was blooming in a colour of an ordinary E.purpurea. And it was NOT a seedling inside another plant. The whole big plant changed colour of the flowers, the rest of the plant(foliage , habit) did not change. I have also read reports from other countries , that people were experiencing it with Echinaceas.

Hi, I have recently read something about plants that are planted toghether they can change color and it is called a sport. I think it has something to do with roots touching. Could this be in your case? As an example a month ago I planted in pots some purple violets and some yellow violets, about two weeks later I noticed that the yellow violets had purple streaks in them they formed a sport. But Dahlias are hybrids so it could just be a that. I have a Dahlia Linda it blooms yellow but I noticed that one flower had a purple spot on it like someone dropped some ink on it and it ran. It was pretty cool looking. I think it happened because it is a hybrid. I bet yours are pretty Dahlias! Happy Gardening, Laura

The color has to do with the soil. Alkaline soil will produce pink, acidic soil, blue. A combo will produce purple depending upon the cultivar, of course. But I assume you are referring to the Endless Summer, Blushing Bride, etc. that are so readily available around here. I don't believe 'Annabelle' (which is white) can be color-changed. I also live NW of Chicago in Crystal Lake. The forumula I've been given to change my alkaline soil so that I get BLUE is: 1/4 ounce Aluminium Sulfate and 1/4 ounce Sulfate of Iron to one gallon of water. And each plant is to get one gallon. I've also been told this must be done in the Fall. That it will do no good now. I'm a neophyte when it comes to hydrangeas, so I'm sure there will be more and better information to follow. And if this is incorrect, I'm sure someone will help us out! Westy1941 PS Since I started fertilizing with 'Hollytone', I've seen a big improvement overall, though it won't affect color.

I just checked my handwritten database, since I can't walk out to the garden in the dark to check, and I see that I made the notation that the purple one above had a very strong, tall, thick scape - so it's got that going for it anyway. Well, I haven't been down this road long enough to be too attached to any of them; if they fail me next year, they're outta here, 'cause I'm going to need the space, I'm sure. Alex