Hop on the Pantone Bandwagon with These Purple Potted Pleasures
If you agree that Ultra Violet is the colour of the year, here are 10 plants to get your garden on trend
Karla Rey
17 January 2018
Houzz Contributor. Landscape architect in another life. I have a fervent affair with travel, books, photography, films, design, and architecture. I think having great company to share stories with over good food are essentials to a happy life.
Author and co-editor of 'Makisawsaw: Recipes x Ideas' book, published by Gantala Press.
Houzz Contributor. Landscape architect in another life. I have a fervent affair with... More
The Pantone Color Institute declared 2018 as the year of Ultra Violet. Described as a colour that is “associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground to those seeking refuge from today’s over-stimulated world,” the striking hue is altogether brilliant, contemplative and elegant.
How to make violet work?
The colour pairs well with greys and silver. As a contrasting colour, it works well with light yellows, golden browns, pale oranges, turquoise and mint green – colours we see in nature.
That said, here are 10 plants to look into if you are looking into incorporating this mystical shade into your space, whether outdoors or in.
The colour pairs well with greys and silver. As a contrasting colour, it works well with light yellows, golden browns, pale oranges, turquoise and mint green – colours we see in nature.
That said, here are 10 plants to look into if you are looking into incorporating this mystical shade into your space, whether outdoors or in.
1. Echeveria
An easy addition is an Echeveria (shown here is the ‘Afterglow’), an evergreen succulent that resembles roses.
Bonus: Being a succulent, this is a great plant to practice growing a greenthumb goal. You can propagate this plant using just its leaves.
An easy addition is an Echeveria (shown here is the ‘Afterglow’), an evergreen succulent that resembles roses.
Bonus: Being a succulent, this is a great plant to practice growing a greenthumb goal. You can propagate this plant using just its leaves.
2. Hydrangea
One of the potted plants to consider for the tropics, you’ll love not only their showy flowers (which are great in vases), hydrangeas, too, are quite hardy and can tolerate shade and moist conditions.
Tip: As hydrangea flowers are a reflection of the soil’s pH level, achieve the blue to purple colour by making the soil in the pot a little acidic by adding sphagnum peat.
One of the potted plants to consider for the tropics, you’ll love not only their showy flowers (which are great in vases), hydrangeas, too, are quite hardy and can tolerate shade and moist conditions.
Tip: As hydrangea flowers are a reflection of the soil’s pH level, achieve the blue to purple colour by making the soil in the pot a little acidic by adding sphagnum peat.
3. Orchid
A popular decorative plant that works in different areas of the home, a potted orchid with purple flowers (one of the most common types of orchids) is another easy pick.
Basic care for healthy orchids
A popular decorative plant that works in different areas of the home, a potted orchid with purple flowers (one of the most common types of orchids) is another easy pick.
Basic care for healthy orchids
4. Verbena
Verbena plants are available in a variety of heights and flowers in spectrum of colours that include pinks, red, and of course, purple.
Bonus: There are many hybrids these days that are developed to be more robust, heat- and mildew-resistant than older varieties. They look great in hanging containers.
Verbena plants are available in a variety of heights and flowers in spectrum of colours that include pinks, red, and of course, purple.
Bonus: There are many hybrids these days that are developed to be more robust, heat- and mildew-resistant than older varieties. They look great in hanging containers.
5. Cotinus ‘Grace’
Cotinus coggygria ‘Grace’ popularly as ‘Smoke Bush,’ is a deciduous shrub with striking rich purple foliage. It is great as a potted ornamental plant as it tolerates a range of pH from acidic to alkaline soils, is drought resistant when established, and can survive confined rooting areas.
Cotinus coggygria ‘Grace’ popularly as ‘Smoke Bush,’ is a deciduous shrub with striking rich purple foliage. It is great as a potted ornamental plant as it tolerates a range of pH from acidic to alkaline soils, is drought resistant when established, and can survive confined rooting areas.
6. Clematis
Clematis have a lot of hybrid cultivars in the market and are known for having delicate flowers. Shown here is Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ with its rich purple flowers.
Clematis have a lot of hybrid cultivars in the market and are known for having delicate flowers. Shown here is Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ with its rich purple flowers.
7. Catmint
Easy to grow, Nepeta or catmint has silvery-green foliage and a long season of purple blooms, with the flower spikes reaching up to 60-centimetres tall.
Easy to grow, Nepeta or catmint has silvery-green foliage and a long season of purple blooms, with the flower spikes reaching up to 60-centimetres tall.
8. Ornamental allium
Ornamental alliums come in a broad palette of colours, heights, bloom times and flower forms. Allium giganteum also known as ‘Flower Ren’ is a perennial. Once in bloom, the perfect little purple florets create large, quite stunning, round balls.
Trivia: Onions, shallots and garlic are members of the allium family, too.
Ornamental alliums come in a broad palette of colours, heights, bloom times and flower forms. Allium giganteum also known as ‘Flower Ren’ is a perennial. Once in bloom, the perfect little purple florets create large, quite stunning, round balls.
Trivia: Onions, shallots and garlic are members of the allium family, too.
9. Lavender
Lavender or the Lavandula has 47 species, with Lavandula angustifolia as the most widely cultivated species and is often what is referred to as ‘lavender’.
A classic scent for perfumes and beauty products, the lavender plant’s blooms are both delicate and fragrant.
Lavender or the Lavandula has 47 species, with Lavandula angustifolia as the most widely cultivated species and is often what is referred to as ‘lavender’.
A classic scent for perfumes and beauty products, the lavender plant’s blooms are both delicate and fragrant.
10. Geranium
For our purple-planting purpose, the Cranesbill geranium (Geranium ‘Rozanne’) has the violet blue flowers we are looking for. These bloom for several months of the year, are great as ground cover, and can be planted in containers under taller plants.
TELL US
Have you considered purple in your decorating plans? Tell us in the comments.
MORE
How to Decorate with Pantone’s 2018 Colour of the Year
For our purple-planting purpose, the Cranesbill geranium (Geranium ‘Rozanne’) has the violet blue flowers we are looking for. These bloom for several months of the year, are great as ground cover, and can be planted in containers under taller plants.
TELL US
Have you considered purple in your decorating plans? Tell us in the comments.
MORE
How to Decorate with Pantone’s 2018 Colour of the Year
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I could not agree more about how great a colour purple is in the garden.
In the frenetic world we live in these days, mauves and blues in the garden create a space that feels relaxing and calming to unwind in. Mixed in with some white flowers, it is especially good. It is also a particularly good summer colour, because the late evening light causes it to appear almost glowing and it softly shines out, really lifting the spirits.
If you are also looking for some colour excitement in the garden, paradoxically it also sits really well with yellows, oranges and reds, for those hot colour flower beds.
Love purple and green together in a garden.