Why have flowering plants been so successful in surviving in a variety of habitats?

Flowering plants utilize insects to move genetic material from one flower to another. This if far more effective then pollination by wind. Getting insects to cross pollinate has forced flowering plants to diversify and exhibit many wavelengths of light that we see as color. They have forced insects to evolve to take advantage of the new food source.

This provides flowing plants with a greater exposure to different genetic material allowing for more mutation and diversity.