By Katie Goulbourne, Master Gardener In Training, SCMG
There is no denying that colour influences our everyday life. Colour selection has the ability to shape our well-being and mood. Many decisions we make, either consciously or unconsciously, involve colour. Think of how many times you choose “things” based solely on colour: what you wear, what you eat, how you decorate, your vehicle and house selection and what you plant in your garden. Most gardeners have a favourite colour in the garden and will make a plan around a particular colour or colour palette for plantings. It is interesting though to stop and think about these colour selections. How are they affecting the tone and mood of the space? Have we chosen certain colours to convey a message? Are we using colour selection to contribute to the beneficial aspects of the garden?
Ask any gardener, even many non-gardeners, and they will attest to the the therapeutic and healing properties gardens provide. Watching a child connect with nature in a garden is a sure sign of how grounding a garden space can be. The benefits of just spending time in a garden space can include stress relief, fresh air, exercise and food security to name a few. But what if these benefits could be elevated or tailored to meet specific needs? This is where colour selection in the garden and landscape come in. Since 2022 has been designated “Year of the Garden” and we have been encouraged to plant RED, lets look at the benefits and considerations to planting red in the garden. By choosing to plant red in the garden you are selecting from the warm colour group on the colour wheel. This includes reds, oranges and yellows.
Red and this group of colours tend to be vibrant and grab your attention. A red tree like a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum atropurpureum ‘Bloodgood’) is usually planted in a landscape as a focal point, to draw your attention to an area. They are rarely seen planted en mass.
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum atropurpureum ‘Bloodgood’)
https://www.plantingtree.com/blogs/gardening/bloodgood-japanese-maple-for-sale
The colour red is very attractive to hummingbirds and pollinators. Hummingbirds tend to be drawn to colours from the warm group on the colour wheel and tend to prefer the red varieties of several flowers including Bee Balm (Monarda Didyma), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Columbine (Aquilegia), Hibiscus and Penstemon to name a few. Attracting pollinators to the garden is an added bonus, contributing to the therapeutic benefits of the garden.
When selecting red for the garden, the tone of red is also significant for setting the mood. Darker tones of red will send the message of power and authority while lighter shades of red will be softer and more subtle.
Because red is such a strong and vibrant colour that draws attention in the garden there are some things to consider. Dark reds can be heavy and overpowering. To keep it from not overwhelming a space, use it to break up the green in a garden space so there is not too much red or green. Seeing that red is opposite green on the colour wheel red foliage and flowers will create balance. The red you choose will also set the stage for the other colours you choose. If the red you choose is a blue-red a chartreuse, yellowish green or purple will work well with it in the landscape.
The possibilities of incorporating red into the garden are endless. You might even be surprised to find out the impact of adding red to your garden space!
