Planting with colour: a gardener’s guide to confident combinations
Colour in the garden isn’t just decoration - it’s a design tool. It shapes how we feel in a space, draws the eye, and even influences how big or small a border feels. Used thoughtfully, colour can transform a garden into something truly memorable.
Why colour matters
Colour creates atmosphere. Blues and purples are calming, reds and oranges are energising, yellows feel cheerful, and greens are grounding. The right balance can make a garden feel peaceful, playful, or dramatic - depending on what you want from the space.
Using the colour wheel
The colour wheel is a simple but powerful guide:
Harmonious schemes: Choose a colour and the ones next to it - for example, purple with blues and lilacs. This creates a soothing, restful look.
Contrasting schemes: Use opposites - yellow with purple, orange with blue. These bring vibrancy and a sense of excitement, with the brighter colours really popping through.
Monochrome schemes: Stick to one colour in different shades – pinks from pale blush to deep magenta, for example. Elegant and timeless.
Practical examples for Scottish gardens
For calm borders: Nepeta, lavender, and Veronicastrum for purples and blues.
For drama: Rudbeckia with Salvia ‘Caradonna’, or Crocosmia with Agapanthus.
For elegance in small spaces: A monochrome pink scheme with Roses, Astrantia and Dianthus.
For autumn impact: Rich plums and oranges with Heleniums, Asters, and ornamental grasses.
Beyond flowers: the role of foliage
Colour isn’t just in the blooms:
Heucheras in purples, limes and bronzes
Acers with fiery autumn foliage
Grasses that glow gold in low light
Stems like dogwood (red) or willow (yellow) for winter
These keep borders interesting long after flowers fade.
Design tips for success
Limit your palette - 2–3 main colours feel intentional, more can feel a bit too busy.
Use repetition - repeat colours across the border to create flow.
Think about backdrop - a purple border with gold grasses looks stunning with green hedging, but may be lost against dark fencing.
Use seasonal succession - spring bulbs, summer perennials, autumn foliage. Colour can last all year with planning.
Final thoughts
Colour is one of the most joyful tools in garden design. It’s not about sticking to rules, but about creating atmosphere and harmony.
This winter, take time to dream about the colours you’d like to see in your garden - bold contrasts, soothing harmonies, or elegant simplicity. Come spring, you’ll be ready to bring those palettes to life.
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Nicola
The Bonnie Gardener
nicola@thebonniegardener.co.uk
