Homebase has teamed up with Professor Martin Conway to prove that flowers can conjure up memories through their colours and smells.
Psychologist Professor Conway of City University London experimented with different flowers to find which ones got neurones motoring to evoke the strongest memories.

Through this research Homebase has developed a rating system which depicts how powerful certain flowers are at prompting memories.

This system ranks flowers in gold, silver and bronze categories depending on how well they trigger memories. The system has been named the Reflection Rating and will be piloted at stores across the UK.

Professor Conway said: "Plants and flowers form a big part of everyone's life and they affect the senses. Their bright colours and attractive scents mean they have the ability to create a great sense of memory."

During the research 2,000 people were surveyed about flowers and the emotions they evoke. The result showed 91% said they felt uplifted feelings when looking at flowers.

In addition, the research found that people tend to form their earliest garden-related memory at the age of four or five.

Professor Conway added: "The research clearly shows the significant role gardens and plants play in our nation's formative years. Horticulture offers stimulus and cues to a range of memories."

Trading director for garden at Homebase, Matthew Compton said: "Gardens are a point of pride in Britain and something its residents can enjoy at any age. We think customers will really appreciate our new reflections rating system."