Color Schemes for Flower Gardens

Color is usually the first thing people notice when they see a flower garden, and choosing plants in pleasing color combinations can be daunting to a new gardener. The color wheel is a helpful tool. It's based on three primary colors — red, yellow, and blue — and also depicts the colors in between.

The concentric bands show the colors in different degrees of saturation. Fully saturated colors are the most intense; as you move toward the center of the wheel, the colors become softer, more pastel.

Warm colors. Yellow, orange, red, magenta — these "warm" colors bring energy and excitement to a planting. When planted at a distance, they draw the eye in.

Cool colors. Purple, violet, and blue tend to be soothing and quieting. They can get lost at a distance and so are best for close-up viewing.

In complementary color schemes, two colors on opposite sides of the color wheel are combined.

• Brings energy and excitement to a planting
• Examples: blue and orange, yellow and purple, red and green
• Use varying hues (shades of blue, for example) to keep it interesting
• If needed, tone it down with quieter colors and foliage

To create an analogous color scheme:

• Select three neighbors on the color wheel (colors that are adjacent or near each other)
• Makes it simpler to choose plants that are attractive together
• Examples: yellow, orange and red; blue, purple and red