On the surface, flowers seem fairly straightforward.

We even associate flowers with the colors in which they grow.

Lilac, for example, isa staple color in this fall’s fashion scene.

Lilac flowers bathed in sunlight

While we know a lot about flowers, there’s a lot we don’t know.

Lilac, then, is scientifically named Syringa Vulgaris and belongs to the Oleaceae family of olives.

Still, lavender petals are used in other applications, such as baking.

A field of lavender

Meanwhile, lilac natively grows in southeastern Europe and eastern Asia.

Neither plant is natively grown in the Americas.