Now Your Plants Can Double as Nightlights, Thanks to Science (and This New Product)

Bioluminescent flora and fauna seem like something that only exists in science fiction (looking at you, “Avatar”). But one French company has figured out a way to make your houseplants glow under black light just like those alien species from your favorite films and TV shows. 

Aglaé is a French start-up that came up with a nutritive serum that helps plants emit a gorgeous glow when put under black light. The biodegradable serum is made without any genetic modification or chemical additives and is absorbed by the plants without disturbing their lifecycle or the environment around them. Once absorbed, the plants will glow for up to three months.

The company is keeping its formula a secret but explains that the serum is absorbed into plants via capillary action and, by traveling through the veins in the plant’s leaves and petals, makes the plant grow from the inside out. Plus, the serum doesn’t affect the coloring of the plant in natural daylight.

“This technology enhances the beauty of flowers and foliage,” the team said in a statement to DesignBoom. “Thanks to it, they display a new aesthetic by revealing magnificent veins and colored shades, from purple to blue/green.”

Right now, the serum, which can be absorbed by rooted plants or cut foliage, is being used for artistic foliage displays. But the company notes that its formula could ultimately be used for greener forms of lighting to cut back on electricity usage. 

Imagine having your home lit by bioluminescent plants rather than electricity, or if sidewalks were lit with trees rather than street lamps — talk about mood lighting.