February's topic for Garden Bloggers' Design Workshop is Color in the Garden. When I first started considering the topic, I thought about the colors of flowers in my garden. But then I realized that there was a color theme going on in the woodland garden, like a running base line in a musical composition, and the unifying color was a surprise to me: chartreuse.I've read garden design books that have opined that chartreuse should be used sparingly in a garden, and only as a focal point. I've also read that combining chartreuse and purple is so 90s, and just should not be done. I say, thanks for your opinions, but I do things my own way. My garden is not for public consumption, it will never win any design awards. Squirrelhaven exists for one reason only - it makes me happy. If I like the look of chartreuse foliage liberally sprinkled throughout the garden, then it achieves its purpose.
I have not always liked chartreuse. In fact, I always disliked my birthstone, the peridot, because of the color. However, over the last 10 years, the color has grown on me, probably because it combines so well with the colors to which I have always been drawn.
The first, and most obvious combination, is chartreuse and green.
It is not as cold an effect as the harsh contrast of white and green variegation.
A great combination is, yes, purple and chartreuse. As complementary colors, together they shine.
All the various tints and shades of purple combine well with chartreuse.
Chartreuse is the perfect foil for dark purple foliage; without the strong contrast, the purple foliage fades into the background resulting in a black hole in the garden.Blue and chartreuse are a less dramatic combination.
Although, as the above photo shows, pink does combine with chartreuse, I prefer the darker pinks with it, such as the pink of this Geranium maculatum:
and the pink of this Astrantia.
My current favorite combination with chartreuse is crimson.
The lesson I've learned from using chartreuse is that it looks best in shady areas in combination with strong tints and shades. And how does it combine with orange? I don't know - I don't do orange.(Plants from top: Campanula 'Dickson's Gold with petals of Malus 'Prairiefire;' Heptacodium miconiodes with Hosta and Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Strain'; Hosta 'Winfield Gold'; Astrantia and Hosta; Aquilegia vulgaris seedling with Hosta 'June'; Cotinus cogygria 'Nordine' with Lobelia 'Monet Moment,' Heuchera 'Lime Rickey,' and Alchemilla mollis; Aquilegia vulgaris seedling, Uvularia perfoliata, and Viola labradorica; Campanula 'Dickson's Gold'; 'Woodside Blue' Aquilegia seedling; Phlox divaricata 'Clouds of Perfume' with Dicentra 'Zestful'; selected Geranium maculatum seedling with Heuchera 'Lime Rickey' and Labrador Violet; Astrantia 'Claret'; Heuchera 'Hollywood' with Hakonechloa 'Aureola.')
24 comments:
What a beautiful, thoughtful post. Chartreuse is like a stop sign in a shady garden. And you have to look "both ways!" ;-) Your color combinations are stunning. You have given me much inspiration. I have a long way to go in my Shady Garden. And perhaps I'll be here longer than I think. ha.
I left you a reply this a.m. Sorry about the snow and cabin fever. I have it, too.
Yes, yes, yes - chartreuse rules! It's my favorite too. I like how you showed the variety of effects it can produce. In my opinion, it can work with orange, too, especially if you also toss in some purple foliage as well. The only color I find difficult to use with chartreuse is the highway-line yellow of many rudbeckias.
Shady Gardener - glad my garden could be of some inspiration. Looking at colorful garden blog posts helps with Cabin Fever.
Nan Ondra - whoa, Rudbeckia with chartreuse would be nauseating! Their yellow is too orange for my taste anyway.
Now I know why you are looking for the chartreuse leaf columbine. It would be stunning in your woodland garden. There is a smoke tree with the light yellow green leaves , just looked it up, named 'Ancot', that would look good too. Lovely take on the color theme.
Frances at Faire Garden
I've just found your lovely blog. It's so nice!
And I must admit I didn't know that chartreuse should only be used sparingly and not together with purple. - I love both colours in the garden and especially when they are combined. In fact, I think chartreuse combines very well with plenty of colours, so thanks for sharing! /Katarina
I love your chartreuse and purple combos, MMD, especially those involving big hosta leaves (how I wish we could grow hostas here). You're right to ignore that snooty design advice and plant what you love.
I notice that your photos all look great with your blog's side border too.
I just love the chartreuse in your garden MMcD. You have my permission to have all that you want. tee hee... I just love breaking all those rules they write about. It makes for some of the best combinations. Your garden is lovely using your rules.
Frances - I got that Cotinus last summer. It's planted out front next to Physocarpus 'Monlo' (Diabolo). At least it was the last time I saw it, which was a couple of weeks ago. Way too much snow...
Katarina - thanks for visiting!
Pam - I tend to surround myself with the colors I like, in the garden, in the house, in my wardrobe, on my blog. Color is very important to me, and I feel more comfortable around colors from the cool side of the color wheel. In "Color Me Beautiful" terms, I'm a "Winter." :^0
Chartreuse is a great colour. It looks especially good, as you note, in shady locations. The Hostas are really striking with their purple flowers. I also really like the Campanula 'Dickson's Gold'. The Astrantia is gorgeous - I can't keep them alive here, despite numerous attempts.
(Sometime I should post a photograph of my dark pink wool coat with a gorgeous chartreuse satin lining - it would definitely make your point of darker pinks combining well w/ chartreuse.)
Chartreuse columbines? I've never seen them and they are gorgeous. I have to get some of those. Thanks for the inspiration.
Lisa - just call me a garden rebel. :^)
Kate - that sounds like a great coat! The Astrantias are doing OK in my garden (the white is a prolific seeder), but it doesn't bloom as long as it does in gardens with more moist soil or more temperate summer temperatures.
Heirloom Gardener - chartreuse foliaged Columbines are my current obsession. I have Woodside Variegated, Leprechaun Gold (dark purple flowers), Sunburst Ruby, & seedlings. I want Burnished Rose. There is also a variety called Roman Bronze, but its foliage looks like it might be too orange for me. I can send you seed this Summer; most of my seedlings have dark purple flowers.
Chartreuse is a must in my shade gardens. Throw in a little purple and you have a striking combo. Good thing I never bought a rule book.
I, too, dig chartreuse, and I love it with deep purple. Who cares if it's 90s or not? Chartreuse lights up the shade garden. Purple says "come hither, see more." So, I'm keeping both and in my posts, you'll see chartreuse a lot. What a good way to write about this subject. I'm working on my post and will have it up in a few days.~~Dee
Great observations, MMGD - and your photos back up those observations. I scrolled down, making little crooning sounds at the color combinations. At one time a new bride wore a "going-away suit"; 4 decades ago, mine was chartreuse, and I still love this color.
The chartreuse in my garden comes from young foliage and the annual sweet potato vines in hanging baskets. Your plants wouldn't be happy here, but with the case of chartreuse-envy you started, I'll now have to find something that will like Austin!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Prairiefire's petals on Campanula 'Dickson's Gold are wonderful. I also love chartreuse. My best choice is Cotinus Kanarit: an incredible dutch selection.
Have a look: in our full summer light is magic!
http://attraversogiardini.it/2006/07/19/arbusti-nebbia-o-parrucca-sempre-cotinus/
Greeting from Italy
I couldn't agree more with you. Chartreuse is one of those colours I would never, ever wear, but in the garden it just lights things up so exquisitely...and I'm always glad to see someone else with a love for Astrantia, too. Delectable post, MMD
Wiseacre - rule books are only for those who want to be told what to do. Us gardening free spirits know better.
Dee - I can't wait to see what you come up with - I hope it will involve roses.
Paolo Tasini - thanks for visiting! I looked at that Cotinus - wow, what a mass of flowers. I'll have to see if it is for sale around here.
Thanks, Jodi! I have started wearing a bit of chartreuse, but usually in combination with dark purple. No surprise, eh?
Hi again, Oh... I love this post!
I love all your foliage combos and I completely agree that colour is your own personal thing for your own personal space!
Unless you are entering a horticultural show I think anything goes! Oh... and I would try a seriously intense orange with chartreuse - go a bit Christopher Lloyd :-D
Don't you just love 'Dickson's Gold'? Mine is still just as bright as it was in summer! This is a great post. I love chartreuse in my garden, and you're right - it shows up best in the shade gardens.
Shirl - glad you liked the post. I'm definitely not as adventurous as Christo, so don't expect to see any orange in my garden.
Kylee - I love Dickson's Gold so much that I had to get 3 more last summer. I think I have enough now so that I can divide what I have to keep spreading it around.
I love your chartreuse! The only time I don't like chartreuse is in the winter with some of the evergreen shrubs with chartreuse needles. They hurt the eyes when there is snow on the ground! That first picture is just a delight with petals around the campanula! Reconsider peridot! It is one of my favorite stones.
Thank you for visiting my blog, so I could come here and read about Chartreuse. Maybe chartreuse and LIGHT purple was 90s, but chartreuse and near black is very up to date.
Last summer I had alternanthera 'Chartreuse' with 'Black Pearl' ornamental peppers, among other uses. Right now I've 11 'Chartreuses' rooting in the greenhouse and will plant more 'Black Pearls' soon. 'Bowles Black' violas are up and forming the second leaf. I'll search for the photos and post on my blog.
BTW, the pink magnolia stellata you asked about is 'Leonard Messell.'
Layanee - now I'm afraid - new last summer is Thuja 'Yellow Ribbon.' It's too small to tell whether it will look scary against the snow. I hope not. I have started wearing Periodots. They go so well with purple.
Jean - the Alternanthera/pepper combo sounds great! I did a Margarita/Blackie Sweet Potato combo 1 year, which looked good together, but it was difficult to find a good tall companion for them. This year I might try 1 of the Sweet Potatos with both Alternanthera & the black pepper.
well so much for fad, it will be back. so plant chartruse and purple.
I have always loved chartruse and hot pink and even maroon pink with whites and light yellows. black.
Post a Comment