Natural Indicators

Roses are red, violets are blue—or are they? Red roses, as well as many other flowers and fruits, contain natural indicators that are sensitive to acids and bases. The color of a natural acid–base indicator depends on pH. One of the most well known effects of natural indicators in plants occurs in the hydrangea or snowball plant. Hydrangea flowers are blue when grown in acidic soils and pink or red in basic soils. How do the colors of natural indicators vary with pH?