Garden Color 101 (2024)

Learning to Use Color in Your Garden

There are few rules in gardening, and that's especially true when it comes to color – anything goes! In the garden, there are as many different ways to use color as there are gardeners.Flower and foliage colors can be chosen to complement the exterior of your home, to make a creative statement or to create a mood that’s exciting, soothing or somewhere in between.

Knowing a little about how your eyes see color makes it easier to select combinations that will be pleasing to the eye. A color wheel is a great tool for understanding the relationships between different colors.

On a color wheel, colors appear in the same order as they do when a prism splits sunlight into a rainbow. Here are several ways you can use a color wheel to suggest appealing color combinations. Experimenting with color harmonies as suggested below – analogous, complementary, monochromatic and split complementary – is a great way to discover new color combinations that will be pleasing to your creative eye.

Analogous Colors

Colors that are located adjacent to each other on the color wheel are called analogous colors. An analogous color combination might include three colors, such red, orange and yellow, or just two colors, such as violet and purple. Analogous colors always work well together and create a pleasing visual harmony.

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ComplementaryColors

Complementary colors are positioned directly opposite from each other on the color wheel. When two complementary colors are combined, they create visual tension because they are so completely different from each other.

Examples of complementary color pairs include yellow and purple, orange and blue, and red and green. Using complementary colors in the garden conveys boldness, energy and excitement.

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Monochromatic Colors

A monochromatic color scheme features lighter or darker hues of the same color. Exampleswould be red, rose and pink, or navy, cobalt and sky blue. Using monochromatic colors in the garden is soothing to the eye and creates a sense of calm.

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Split ComplementaryColors

This color scheme combines the energy of complementary colors, with the harmony of analogous colors. An example would be orange and yellow with purple.

To learn more about how to use color in your flower garden, read:

6 Tips for a More Colorful Flower Garden

How to Use Black Flowers and Dark Foliage

How to Use Burgundy in Your Flower Garden

How to Use Orange in Your Flower Garden

How to Use Pink in Your Flower Garden

How to Use Red in Your Flower Garden

How to Use White in Your Flower Garden

How to Use Purple in Your Flower Garden

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Garden Color 101 (2024)

FAQs

How to choose colors for a garden? ›

Start with a Main Color

Whether it's a dark, bright or pale color, choosing this main color will help determine a color scheme to expand upon. Choose blues for a more serene garden feeling, dark colors for a moody garden design or vibrant, bold colors like red for an energizing feeling.

What colours go well together in the garden? ›

An analogous palette is also a good way to create garden color harmony. In this scheme, hues that are next to each other on the color wheel -- red and yellow, yellow and green, even fuchsia and purple as in this photo -- mix well together.

What are complimentary garden colors? ›

Examples of complementary color pairs include yellow and purple, orange and blue, and red and green. Using complementary colors in the garden conveys boldness, energy and excitement.

What is the best color for a garden bed? ›

Warm colors include red, orange and yellow. They tend to make flowers appear closer than they really are. Cool colors such as blue, violet, silver and white lend a calming effect and make plants appear farther away in the garden.

What is the best color scheme for landscaping? ›

A classic color scheme would include violet blue, soft rosy red, lavender, and yellow plantings. Avoid using too many bold colors. An abundance of white or pastel blue, yellow, and pink plants will unify the house and landscape. Avoid only dark, rich colors because they will look harsh against white.

What flower colors compliment each other? ›

The 3 complementary color pairs shown here are violet and yellow, red and green, and orange and blue. Here are some photos that illustrate the use of complementary colors in the landscape. The color duos below are orange and blue, violet and bright yellow, and violet and light yellow.

What are the 3 best colors that go together? ›

If you're looking for a few basic but perennially popular 3 color combinations to kickstart your color palette, think about combinations like:
  • Yellow, red, and blue.
  • Green, orange, and purple.
  • Teal, magenta, and gold.

How to mix colors in a garden? ›

Complementary plant combinations

Complementary colours sit directly opposite each other on the colour wheel, or sometimes they're evenly spaced around the wheel. These colour combinations create a more dynamic effect with a punchier feel than harmonious shades. Examples include purple and yellow, and orange and blue.

How to arrange flower colors in a garden? ›

This one's super-easy: pick plants in colors that are direct opposites from each other on the color wheel, like orange and blue, yellow and purple, or red and green. Flowers always look brighter when paired with a complementary hue!

What are the calming colors for the garden? ›

Pastel pinks, baby blues and pale yellows are gentle, soothing colours. They're undemanding and somehow innocent. Pastel colours create a lovely backdrop to all kinds of garden activities from reading a book to entertaining friends or picnicking on the lawn.

What are calming earthy colors? ›

Green is classically known as a comforting harmonious color. Blue is calm and soothing hue. Soft neutral tones help us relax. Even purples, pinks, and yellows can be peaceful colors when used in soft shades.

What color does not help plants grow? ›

Green light is generally reflected away from plants (which is why they appear green), but plants will absorb a small amount of green light throughout the photosynthesis process. Yellow and white light have the lowest effect on plant growth.

What are complementary colors in landscaping? ›

Complementary colors are directly opposite from each other on the color wheel. These are powerful combinations and very vibrant in the garden. Examples are red against green, orange and blue, and yellow and violet. Polychromatic color schemes combine every color in the rainbow next to each other.

What is the best color for garden planters? ›

For instance, if your outdoor area features a lot of greenery, a neutral or earthy tone such as brown, beige, or grey would be an ideal choice. On the other hand, if your garden features a lot of vibrant and colorful flowers, you can experiment with brighter hues such as red, blue, or yellow.

What color compliments pink in a garden? ›

Teal blue is warm pink's complementary color (opposite on the color wheel), so plants with blue-green foliage always make good companions. Examples include juniper, lavender, fothergilla, blue hostas and dianthus.

What color should I paint my garden? ›

Garden paint colours like Jasmine White, Ash White, Pale Slate, Green Ivy are great for outdoor spaces. But steer clear of blinding colours and true whites.

What is the ideal color of garden soil? ›

Generally speaking, colors that indicate good soil are dark brown, red and tan. Dark brown suggests that the soil has a good percentage of organic matter. Red reflects the oxidized iron content of the soil, while tan indicates a combination of organic matter and iron.

What are the best colors for landscape? ›

Color Choice

Strong and bright colors like reds, yellows, and greens are said to make people feel more energized. They can also be attention-grabbing and really stand out from the rest of the landscape. But colors that are more muted like lighter pastel shades, pinks, and whites can make people feel calmer.

What is the color code for garden party? ›

The RGB values for Dulux Garden Party are 110, 183, 111 and the HEX code is #6EB76F. The LRV for Dulux Garden Party is 38.28. The LRV stands for Light Reflectance Value and measures the percentage of light that a color reflects.

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