Overview

• Researchers at South China Agricultural University injected succulent leaves with strontium aluminate phosphor microparticles to produce visible blue, green, red and blue‑violet afterglow without genetic modification.
• After minutes of sunlight, treated Echeveria 'Mebina' plants glowed for up to about two hours, with brightness dropping markedly after roughly 30 minutes and the effect remaining rechargeable for at least 25 days.
• The team built a 56‑plant green wall that emitted enough light to discern text, images and a person from about 10 centimeters away.
• Because strontium aluminate can decompose inside plant tissue, the researchers created a protective coating for the particles to reduce damage.
• Scientists unaffiliated with the study say the luminescence is currently too weak for practical lighting, and the research team notes long‑term safety studies are ongoing, including the fate of particles and potential risks if plants are consumed.