Garden Color Schemes (How To Create Gorgeous Garden Color Combinations)

I have started planning some garden bed makeovers in my backyard which means coming up with some new garden color schemes. I have already looked at some blue and white garden design ideas as well as picked out some white flowering shrubs, but this process is a lifesaver for choosing the rest of my backyard color schemes.

How To Create Gorgeous Garden Color Schemes

Now that the weather is getting nicer, I’ve been looking around my garden and realizing there are quite a few spots that need to be updated.

I haven’t bought many new plants in the last few years, and some of the old ones are dying out.

Which gives me the perfect opportunity to re-do some of those garden beds with some new backyard color schemes.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a whole garden bed makeover so I needed to give myself a refresher course on how to pick a garden color scheme that will look good.

I thought I would share my process in case anyone else is needing some garden color scheme inspiration, too.

1. Decide On A Feeling

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The first thing I do when I’m picking a garden color scheme is to decide on how I want that part of the garden to feel – soothing or energetic.

You can also choose to change the feeling of your garden depending on the time of the year.

For example, I love to have an energizing garden color scheme in the spring. With all the weeding I need to do in the spring, I can use all of the energy I can get 🙂

But in the summer, I like the soothing colors better. I think they give the illusion that it’s not as hot outside as it is.

2. Pick a Main Color

Blue delphiniums ©pictures_for_you - stock.adobe.com
©pictures_for_you – stock.adobe.com

Once you’ve picked your feeling, it’s time to start on the colors.

For a soothing garden, pick a main color from the cool colors (blue, purple and green). Cool color flowers add to the relaxing feel of a garden so this color will be your starting point.

For an energizing garden, pick a main color from the warm colors (red, orange and yellow). Warm color flowers add excitement to the feel of a garden.

Don’t worry…this doesn’t have to be the only color in your garden (unless you want it to be)…just a starting point.

What About White?

Unless you want to plant an all-white garden, leave white out of your decision making process for now.

Just like in decorating, white is a neutral that can be added to any color scheme, so we won’t be using it for choosing what colors to include. But I will give some examples of how to include it in your garden color scheme below.

3. Choose A Color Scheme

Okay, now it’s time to decide on an actual color scheme.

Once again, start with the feeling you want the garden to have. Then pick a “contrast level”.

Most soothing gardens use low contrast color schemes.

Energizing gardens often use high contrast color color schemes. Although a long line of red flowers is pretty energizing, even if they are planted in a low contrast color scheme.

You may be saying…that’s great, but how do I know which color schemes are low vs high contrast?

This is where you need to break out the color wheel. Yes, it is actually a useful tool for helping to pick colors even for floral design!

Use your chosen main color as the starting point, and then pick one of these color schemes to determine what other colors to pair with it.

Low Contrast Garden Color Schemes

Monochromatic Colors

Monochromatic garden color schemes are one of the easiest to create, and they don’t require a color wheel to get you started.

Just take the main color you chose and run with it.

Monochromatic pink garden color scheme with peonies and roses

Pink peonies with lighter pink roses are an easy combination that I use in my backyard for a late spring monochromatic garden color scheme.

Even though you will only be using one color for this floral design, don’t let it fool you into thinking it’s boring. There are actually many different ways you can implement it.

Monochromatic red garden color scheme with roses and annual geraniums (pelargoniums)

You can go with flowers that are all in the same tone of that color. Like these red annual geraniums paired with red roses.

Monochromatic pink garden color scheme with roses of different colors on round arbors ©Jürgen Wackenhut - stock.adobe.com
©Jürgen Wackenhut – stock.adobe.com

Or use a variety of shades to add some additional interest.

These roses in different shades of pink and red really draw your eye in.

Monochromatic red garden color scheme in a pot with red-leaved Coleus, pink geraniums and red verbena

And don’t forget about plant leaves that can help to add to your monochromatic color theme. These red and burgundy Coleus leaves pair perfectly with pink annual geraniums and red verbena.

Monochromatic blue garden color scheme with blue and white hyacinths ©dennisvdwater - stock.adobe.com
©dennisvdwater – stock.adobe.com

If you’re afraid that the monochromatic look is a little too much of the same color, try adding some white into your garden bed for a little contrast.

These Hyacinths in different shades of blue are broken up by swaths of white that help to make the blues stand out.

Analagous Colors

Analogous colors on a color wheel drawing

The analogous garden color scheme is created by choosing colors that are right beside each other on the color wheel.

Purple and pink analogous garden color scheme with clematis and azaleas

Even two side-by-side colors will work like these violet Clematis paired with pink Azalea flowers.

Pink and purple garden color scheme with pink Clematis against a purple painted wall

My mother achieved the same look by planting pink striped Clematis in front of her house, which happens to be painted purple. So you can use your garden structures as part of your garden color scheme, too.

Pink, blue and purple garden color scheme with hibiscus, phlox and hydrangeas

Using 3 or 4 side-by-side colors gives you more options to work with.

This pretty garden border has fuchsia pink hydrangeas, light pink Astilbe, violet Phlox and blue Hibiscus that all work together to create a cohesive look.

Analogous garden color scheme with pink and white tulips, purple pansies and blue forget me nots ©eyetronic - stock.adobe.com
©eyetronic – stock.adobe.com

And once again, adding white into the mix helps all of the colors to stand out a bit more.

High Contrast Garden Color Schemes

Now we’re on to the high contrast garden color schemes that are really effective for creating interesting and energetic flower gardens.

Complemetary Colors

Complementary colors on a color wheel drawing

A complementary garden color scheme is created by selecting colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel.

Yellow and purple garden color scheme with purple lupines and yellow day lilies ©yolfran - stock.adobe.com
©yolfran – stock.adobe.com

Because of the color placement on the wheel, you’ll end up with a warm and a cool color in your garden bed which increases the color contrast and automatically adds some excitement to your yard.

Pairing purple lupines and lavender with yellow day lilies makes both of the colors stand out in this garden border.

Yellow and purple garden color scheme with daffodils and grape hyacinths ©dennisvdwater - stock.adobe.com
©dennisvdwater – stock.adobe.com

Grape Hyacinths with Daffodils is another common yellow and purple garden color scheme.

Yellow and purple garden color scheme with yellow fence and purple hydrangeas ©John - stock.adobe.com
©John – stock.adobe.com

Of course, you don’t have to stick just to flowers to create a garden color scheme.

Planting purple hydrangeas around a yellow fence is a stunning look.

Yellow and purple complementary garden color scheme with daffodils and hyacinths against a purple and yellow painted garden shed ©Grecaud Paul - stock.adobe.com
©Grecaud Paul – stock.adobe.com

Or if you are really committed to your color choices, you could go all out and paint your shed (or your house) to match your floral design color scheme.

Dual Complementary Colors

Dual complementary colors on a color wheel drawing

If you want to do a complementary garden color scheme but would like to use more than two colors, the complementary color scheme may be what you are looking for.

It’s basically a combination of the analogous and complementary color schemes. To do this, pick two closely spaced colors on one side of the color wheel, and one color from the opposite side of the color wheel.

Yellow, orange and purple dual complementary garden color scheme

In this case, you will end up with two warm colors and one cool color, or two cool colors and one warm one depending on which colors you choose.

So you will probably want to use your main color as one of the analogous (side by side) colors. Otherwise, your garden bed may not end up feeling the way you want it to.

Triadic Colors

Triadic colors on a color wheel drawing

For even more contrast, the triadic garden color scheme involves picking 3 colors from the color wheel that form triangles between them.

This is the most complex of the color schemes which can make it a little trickier to pull off but can also create some really interesting color combinations.

Orange, green and purple triadic garden color scheme with lavender ©Bruce Shippee - stock.adobe.com
©Bruce Shippee – stock.adobe.com

Don’t forget you can also use structures to accomplish your goal.

This triadic garden color scheme uses purple lavender, orange umbrellas and the green of the evergreens to accomplish its look.

4. Get Your Plants

The last step is to go out and get your plants in the right colors. Make sure to remember these few tips to make the most of your new garden bed:

  • Check the bloom times of the plants. If the blue ones bloom in the spring and the white ones bloom in the fall, you’re not going to get the beautiful blue and white garden you were looking for.
  • If you want your garden feeling to change for the seasons, plan your border so that plants with different bloom times and flower colors are intermingled in your garden bed.

Blue garden color scheme with hydrangeas, succulents and blue evergreen

  • Don’t forget that plant leaves and landscaping structures can also add to your garden color scheme. This garden is using blue evergreens, and succulents to continue the blue garden color scheme that started with the hydrangeas.
  • Buy at least 3 of each plant. One thing you’ll notice about all of these pictures is they don’t just have one of each plant. Using groups of the same plant and then repeating the color throughout the garden is the best way to create a cohesive look that makes a statement.
  • Fill in with annuals if you can’t find the right color flowers for your perennial garden scheme.

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Have comments or questions on our tips for creating beautiful garden color schemes? Tell us in the section below.

This post was originally published on March 18, 2019 but was updated with new content on September 15, 2022.


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7 Comments

  1. I just talked to a landscaper who can help me get some of the ideas you just gave. I should have looked at your email first but the guy was nice and told me to look around and keep what I like. So you are going in my folder.

    1. Thanks, Jody! I’m glad you found it helpful. Good luck with your garden planning 🙂

  2. I have read your articles and have found them really helpful. One thing i wanted to ask was about purchasing more than one of each plant and to plant in groups of three. I was wondering if that means to plant 3 In the same place or spread the 3 around the planting area. Sorry I’m new at this

    1. Hi Pam…It really depends on how big the plants get when they’re full grown. If they are plants that don’t spread out very much (less than 18 inches wide at maturity, like Salvia or perennial Geraniums) plant them all together. For larger plants (like day lilies or peonies) you can spread them out (although they would still look good planted together). Bushes and trees do not need to be repeated, since they are big enough to make a statement on their own. Hope that helps!

  3. I’m VERY NEW to planting ANYTHING. But I want to create a small memorial garden in my back yard. I would like pink to be my primary color but am not wanting monochromatic. So would the pinks fall closer to the purple or red on the color wheel? I’m leaning towards either the complementary or the dual comp.

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Mickie…Pink is a light shade of red so they are closer together (in the same zone) on the color wheel, where purple is one or two over (depending on what shade of purple you go with). I think the main difference between is how “energetic” you want your garden to feel. Red is warm color that looks more lively while Purple is a cool color that has a more relaxed feeling.

  4. I had sort of a neat patio pot where I used purple colored basil. You sometimes see it being sold live with the roots in the produce department. I planted mine and added some purple and yellow flowers. The addition of the purple flowers really brought out the purple in the basil. Then there was a second hit of making the yellow flowers pop when mixed with the purple. It was very basic in design and can definitely be played up even more but don’t forget to plant something simple like purple basil. It looked really good and bonus was you can always snip a few leaves off when cooking. The stems also propagate well by placing them in water. From one small grocery store basil plant, I have it in two pots and one raised garden bed.