Florigene: A rose by any other color

Florigene is on a quest to make and sell blue roses, a feat it hopes to accomplish next year. In the meantime, the company is shipping unique mauve and violet carnations around the world and has developed techniques for keeping cut flowers fresh longer.

The company is using genetic engineering to modify colors, extend shelf life and expand the variety of cut flowers available to consumers beyond the five species that account for three-quarters of the $25 billion worldwide retail flower market...