HTA New Plant Awards 2024

Firefly Petunia: The world’s first glow in the dark plant available to gardeners

The creators at Light Bio have harnessed the glowing effects of mushrooms to develop the first commercially available plant that glows at night.

Imagine strolling through your garden at dusk without the need for pathway lights. Thanks to decades of research, this could soon be a reality for some. Light Bio, co-founded by Keith Wood alongside scientists Karen Sarkisyan and Ilia Yampolsky, has introduced the Firefly Petunia, a cultivated ornamental plant that emits a soft, natural glow after dark.

This innovation marks a major milestone in plant biotechnology. For decades, scientists have experimented with ways to make plants glow, from inserting jellyfish DNA into tobacco plants to using bioluminescent bacteria such as Vibrio fischeri. Until now, these efforts remained largely experimental and, while you can buy bioluminescent mushroom grow kits, this is the first time a glowing plant has been made available to the public.

How Does It Work?

The Firefly Petunia owes its glow to genes borrowed from a bioluminescent mushroom, Neonothopanus nambi. Researchers inserted these genes so the petunia could produce luciferase, an enzyme that converts caffeic acid into oxyluciferin. As oxyluciferin breaks down, it releases light energy as a by-product, creating the plant’s gentle luminescence.

Petunias were chosen for their popularity as ornamental plants and their non-invasive nature in the US. The result is a plant that in day looks like any other petunia, but at night the new growth and flowers of the plant transform into a glowing spectacle.

Can it be grown in the UK?

Currently, the Firefly Petunia is only available in the United States. The UK and EU have strict regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), particularly plants. These rules focus on environmental safety and protecting our natural ecosystems. Because the Firefly Petunia is an ornamental plant rather than a food crop, there is potential for future discussion about its introduction, but this would require regulatory approval and public consultation. For now, UK gardeners will need to admire this glowing wonder from afar.

What’s Next for Glowing Plants?

Light Bio’s Firefly Petunia launched to the public in 2025 after earning a spot on TIME’s Best Inventions list in 2024, and this is only the beginning. The company is exploring how to make these glowing plants even brighter and in different colours with the possibility for use in urban areas.

Could glowing plants one day replace garden lights or illuminate city streets? For now, the Firefly Petunia is a glimpse into a future of plants and technology.

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