How to Use Different Color Flowers in Your Garden

Yellow brings cheers to a yard, and there are numerous possibilities for color combinations involving these "little pieces of sunshine." For example, the combo of yellow blooms and plants with dark foliage. 

When planting flowers, some color schemes work better than others for a particular bed, depending upon what you hope to achieve. Cool colors, such as blue, are best for encouraging reflection (as in a meditation garden). But if you wish to attract attention to an area, such as a walkway that visitors seem to have trouble finding, then red is an excellent choice.

How we use color in a garden can influence our moods when we gaze upon that space in our yards. Blue is considered a "cool color," which tend to have a relaxing effect. If your yard is used as a retreat in which to unwind and relax, blue flowers are a great choice.

Of course, our fondness for blue goes beyond its soothing effect. For many of us, blue is simply a favorite color. Truly blue blossoms are also relatively rare; and, as is so often the case in human life, we tend to place a higher value on that which is more difficult to find.

Every floral color has a fan base. There are gardeners who love yellows, reds, and oranges for their ability to light up an otherwise drab area of the yard with vibrant color. For others, looking for more subdued colors, soft pink or lavender may be favorites.

But purple blossoms seem to be in a league of their own when it comes to eliciting oohs and ahs from gardeners. Remember, purple was traditionally the color of royalty! Purple is also considered one of the cool colors that help relax us.

Orange, along with red and yellow, is considered one of the "warm colors." Blossoms in these colors will be the real eye-catchers of the yard. Orange is a born attention-grabber; if you wish to draw visitors into a space, create a focal point by planting plants with orange blossoms en masse.

There's no reason why green thumbs can't grow black plants. Many long-time gardeners seek so-called "black" plants for the novelty of it. Others, who love to play with colors to achieve interesting designs, appreciate the exciting contrasts that are possible with black plants. Imagine, for example, a spring planting bed featuring tulip plants with red, yellow and black blossoms. Still, others attribute their fascination with this color to their interest in the symbolism of plants such as black roses.

Like the Swiss, white is neutral. This means you can use it to transition between plants of stronger colors. You don't have to worry that white blossoms will clash with blooms of other colors. In addition, think of all the design possibilities (e.g., a black-and-white theme), including their use in ​moon gardens (gardens designed for nighttime viewing).

You've probably heard the saying, "All that glitters is not gold." It's true: some of it is silver! Just as shrubs like Gold Mops add color to a landscape with their golden foliage, smaller plants with silver foliage can please the eye month after month.

Plants grown mainly for their foliage—whether their leaves are silver, gold, green, or variegated—can add color throughout the year, unlike the ephemeral hues of flowers.  

Like lilac, lavender is both a color and a type of plant. Lilac and lavender are similar colors that are often confused. The difference is that lilac is warmer and tends toward pink or red, while lavender is cooler and tends toward blue. Examples of early blooming plants with lavender flowers include crocus, pasqueflower, and creeping phlox.

Pink flower blossoms, like red, can have a "notice me" quality yet often are more subdued than red. Light pink blossoms can approach a whitish color and function as a neutral, in a pinch. A deep pink color, on the other hand, attracts more attention and can be a focal point when planted en masse.