Chelsea hits the headlines with it’s latest fashions, in plants, in landscapes and not least in colours. Large-flowered Tangerine Geum’s appear to be attracting a mass of gardeners attention as do brown Iris and a purple infusion from Salvia and Allium.
Whilst Chelsea was a blaze of colour this year the carpet of red woollen poppies was harmonised by the lush greens planting themes featured in many of the displays signalling a ferny revival.
Black flowers have always been popular, a rarity of shade found in flowers that get the pulses racing, but what’s next in the colourful world of plant breeding and colour therapy.
Tulips, Viola, Delphiniums and even Roses are tagged with the trendy shade of the night. Planting black flowers against lush light green foliage or alongside masses of frothy white flowers add to the contrast, creating a wow factor in your garden. No wonder it has been so popular for so long.
Perhaps it is time to consider a new vibrant colour but before we do let’s not forget that shades of Purple have certainly held the limelight for several years with the bold, bouncing globes of Alliums raising their heads above dense foliage.
Alliums inject a sense of fun into garden borders with their quirky star-filled, large ball-shaped blooms that retain colour for weeks and dry to form crisp-dry globes of architectural delight but I digress.
Try underplanting Alliums with shades of orange, Achillea for example a wonderful sun loving perennial who’s silver aromatic foliage is delicate and frilled, perfect for disguising the rather heavy strap like leaves of the Allium bulb.
Add a splash of colour to your pots and hanging baskets with Bidens “Fruit Punch” and Calibrachoa “Orange” both available from your local bedding plant stockist in a stunning array of colours. This year I have chosen orange, reds, yellows and a dash of red from a stunning scrambling Diascia for my Summer baskets.
Large Terracotta containers planted with tropical-tender perennials will also lend beautifully to the happy shades of orange. Choose perennials that have a dark solid background and contrast these with silvers and delicate cut foliage. Lilies are a perfect container plant, enjoy the free draining ability of terracotta pots your sure of a vivid display.
Aeoniums, Salvia’s and Artemisia are perfect candidates and in the foreground, a copper leafed Oxalis and tumbling Bidens and Calibrachoa for shots of colour. Height comes in the form of bronze leaf Canna a variety selected for it’s large stunning, yes you guessed it orange flowers.
You have probably already guessed I am going all out with orange this season but remember to add plenty of contrasting colours and shades of greens, silvers and not forgetting the mighty purple and midnight black.
Design Tip: Struggling for inspiration head out to your local garden centre of search the internet for Coleus. The rich colour combinations of the stunning foliage is a delight to behold, some you might fight to gaudy, others a will fill you with sheer joy. Use this as your palette for a selection of tender perennials to contrast and compliment, easy and such a good way to impress or irritate the neighbours.
In conclusion: Colour in your garden, like the furniture you chose, the paving you just had to have, it’s all down to personal preference. This year I’m crazy about Orange although that said I do have a pair of Orange pants that have never seen the light of day.
So today’s new trend will be surpassed by new and exciting colours, shades and tempting tones but in reality, it’s all pretty rainbows of sheer delight.
Don’t forget the wildflowers! Because dancing Golden Yellow dandelions and Vivid Blue, scrambling speedwell are also invited in our Garden.
“Remember a weed is simply a plant growing in the wrong place, if it is not hurting anyone leave it alone. The birds, bees and butterflies will thank you for it.”
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