They’re one of the first signs of summer: fireflies blinking out lime-green signals to their friends, potential mates, and spellbound humans. But you don’t have to go outside to watch a nightly light show. Now you can bring that biolumenescent magic inside your own home—in flower form.

The Firefly Petunia—developed and launched last April by Ketchum, Idaho-based Light Bio—gives off “an ethereal aura at night,” glowing in the dark most brightly through its tight, light-filled buds. Light BIo said a team of 26 scientists working across 9 research organizations created the flower by optimizing genes isolated from multiple species of luminous mushrooms. 

The night-glowing flower made TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 list—and even appeared on the cover.

“Designed purely for enjoyment, the Firefly Petunia marks a shift from biotechnology’s traditionally utilitarian path,” Light Bio said in a statement. “It offers a reminder that cutting-edge science need not only be practical; it can also bring beauty to our world.”

Light Bio’s Firefly Petunia glows in the dark and will be sold at Calloway’s Nursery locations in North Texas [Photo: Light Bio]

Today Calloway’s Nursery, headquartered near Fort Worth in North Richland Hills, announced that it’s launching sales of the flower this Friday, March 15, across its North Texas locations. The flower will also go on sale at Calloway’s subsidiary Cornelius Nursery in Cedar Park, Houston, and Galveston.

“Our team thrives on making gardening a fun, rewarding experience, and in my 38 years with Calloway’s, I’ve never seen a plant as thrilling as the Firefly Petunia. It is truly remarkable and flourishes indoors by a sunny window here in Texas,” Calloway’s Nursery CEO Marce Ward said in a statement. “It adds a unique touch to any space, and you’ll love showing it off to friends and family.”

After-hours event this Friday

At an after-hours event this Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at all Calloway’s locations, gardeners will have the chance “to be among the first to experience its glow,” the company said. Attendees can watch the Firefly Petunia’s glow come to life through a bright, illuminating display. Expert care tips will be offered by Calloway’s certified nursery professionals, and a collection of “exclusive swag and goodies” will be offered while supplies last. 

Selfies and photo ops with the glowing flower—priced at $39.99—will be on the agenda too.

Enhancing bioluminescence by ‘up to 100 times’

Light Bio has said its genetic modifications enhance bioluminescence in a variety of plants by up to 100 times. Its new research built on an earlier discovery that led to continuously glowing plants via the insertion of DNA obtained from luminous mushrooms. The earlier researchers had revealed a surprising similarity between mushroom bioluminescence and plant metabolism, allowing for more visible light than was previously possible. The 9-organization team ramped up that impact by adapting the inserted genes “to further boost luminescence,” Light Bio said.

Petunias provided the brightest bioluminescence, especially in the flower buds, Light Bio noted. 

“This milestone—and the magical experience we’re bringing to people across the country—has been decades in the making,” Light Bio CEO Keith Wood said in a statement last year. “As part of the scientific team that discovered the bioluminescence genes from fireflies, I helped create the first glowing plant in 1986 which has inspired scientists worldwide. In the forty-odd years since, we’ve discovered a new bioluminescence technology that now allows us to bring these delightful plants to consumers. We can’t wait to see their reactions and to discover the bright future ahead for this incredible technology.”

Working in collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), Light Bio said last year that it anticipates future plants will be at least 10-fold brighter. “The teams believe that insights gained from this research will bring meaningful advancements across critical areas like food security and nutrition,” the company said.

Calloway’s noted that as heavy feeders, Firefly Petunias “require regular fertilization to support their glow and need six to eight hours of bright sunlight daily.”