Nintendo once created a real Pikmin flower that you could grow at home – SlashGear

In collaboration with agricultural brand S&G Flowers/USA, a division of Syngenta Seed that has been growing plants since the early 19th century, Nintendo of America bred the Pikmin flower (and also gave it the funny name “Bacopa cabana”) from the plant Sutera cordata, it features five white petals and a yellow center. Sutera cordata, also known as Chaenostoma cordatum, is native to South Africa and blooms in tightly packed, small, rounded flowers when there is enough sunshine. Chaenostoma are short-lived evergreen perennials that grow every year in colder climates. They can make a charming addition to gardens and look great growing out of hanging baskets.

Like gaming, gardening is a hugely popular pastime, and by combining the two, Nintendo hoped to catch the attention of hobbyists who might never have considered picking up a controller instead of a trowel. “As America’s number one pastime, gardening is growing in popularity with people of all ages,” said Keith Cable, then vice president of sales and marketing for S&G Flowers. “With fun products like ‘Pikmin,’ Nintendo connects consumers outside of the living room.”

With the marketing campaign for “Pikmin” going back over two decades, it’s difficult to get hold of officially branded seeds for the Pikmin flower today. But it is quite easy to breed relatives of this breed from the same genus, whose flowers are very similar to those of the “Pikmin” characters. You can even find Bacopa seeds on Amazon, like this Pikmin-esque Snowtopia strain. However, it would be great if Nintendo started growing an actual piranha plant to promote the next Mario game, because that would be a really fun addition to your backyard.