Readers Respond: Color Combinations for Flowers

Responses: 47

By David Beaulieu, About.com Guide

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I like mixing a stronger color like purple with paler colors like pale yellow and soft blue.
—Guest John

I'm really fond of red and purple or blue. E.g., I like to pot up a red dahlietta with blue "Million Bells" Of course I always throw in white alyssum, for the strong scent. I also like to plan green "Envy" zinnias with a pink one. Very pretty and in a large planting they're spectacular.
—thymeless1

Shades of yellow, orange, purple and white. Our home is a burnt copper with wheat colored trim.
—Guest Beverly

When I saw a combination of solid purple and solid orange impatiens, I had to stop and admire the brilliance of the effect. The colors gave off a neon glow and were radiant. I'm not sure I'm daring enough to plant these colors in a large grouping, but it would certainly work in a shady spot that needs a bit of an uplift.
—Cocopazzo

My favorite flower colors are pink and white. I know you said white doesn't count but it is a beautiful color and I can see my white flowers at night when I walk the dog. Most of the garden beds in my yard are a combination of pink and white. I do plant other colors (for the butterflies).
—Guest Kathy Lynn

As a painter, I appreciate the power and emotional impact of combining colors. Violet and yellow (complementary colors) together in the flower bed are always a delight, yet a monochromatic theme (like gladiolus in varying shades of purple) are instantly soothing. Filling a bed with vibrant reds, oranges and yellows, however, is also effective and sets forth a riot of color you can't help smiling over. Like my art, I love working with the whole palette!
—Guest TracyKlicka

I would have to say I would prefer the complement to purple, which is yellow. My second choice is orange because orange, green and purple form a beautiful triad.
—Guest Jo

I would prefer purple and yellow. When I see those 2 colors together it seems to be soothing to my soul!! I love purple and yellow pansies.
—Guest BobbeKing

I love rich, dark purples and reds together. Sometimes I throw a splash of yellow in.
—lwinterton

I love to add red and pink to purple. That combo really seems to make each color pop!!
—Guest 3starj

My house is pastel blue siding with white trim and dark grey roof. I stained the porch a dark grey and am planting flowers of purple, blue (all shades) and yellow. Oh and white.
—Guest erika

I'm torn between one solid vibrant color, versus purple, orange and yellow together.
—MariaBargellini

For a flower border along a property line, I might go with a contrasting color combination (depending on the message I wished to communicate). But in gardens, in general, I tend to group like colors. That's why I have two distinct garden areas for flowers: one where I keep my blue flowers, purple flowers, etc., and another where I grow reds, yellows and oranges.
—Guest Rich Tovar

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David Beaulieu
Landscaping Guide