Vivid Magenta

Every December Pantone announce what the colour of the year will be, eagerly anticipated by the fashion, beauty, interiors and design industries. There is no reason why it shouldn’t be applied to our gardens too. The colour chosen for 2023 is Vivid Magenta which Pantone describe as,

‘Viva Magenta 18-750, vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.’

The shade comes from the cochineal beetle. They were looking for a colour that builds on our love of the landscape, whether that is creating new outdoor spaces or adding more flowers. Pantone recognise that spending time outdoors has become increasingly important to us over the past few years and continues to do so. However they also wanted a colour that gives us strength and emboldens us to take on new challenges and expand our horizons.

Candelarbra primulas

Vivid Magenta in spring

This is a colour that is widely found throughout the seasons in the garden and is easy to add to the borders. It is meant to span both the warm reds and cool blue red sides of the spectrum so will easily fit in with most existing colour schemes. Starting off in spring there are plenty of tulips is shades of magenta. From the traditional shaped tulips of La Paz and the velvet like petals of National Velvet. Gavota is magenta with yellow edged petals. To the elegant lily shaped flowers of Istanbul and Pieter De Leur. Moving later into spring and into early summer candelabra primulas come into bloom including Primula pulverulenta in the 2023 colour of the year. The tiny delicate flowers on top of long elegant stems look pretty in dappled shade.

Glandularia ‘Claret’

Vivid Magenta in early summer

After the tulips the tiny pinhead flowers of the Astrantias start appearing. Plants that can equally be used at the front or middle of a border. Astrantia major ‘Claret’ has added interest with its dark stems or Astrantia ‘Burgundy Manor’ and Venice, I love the colour of this one and the place. Glandularia ‘Claret’ (previously known as Verbena ‘Claret’) is often grown as a bedding plant but it is a perennial. With a bit of mulch to keep it protected from the frost it will enhance its chances of survival.  The petals are a velvety magenta and the leaves are grey green, adding contrast to the border.

Astrantia major ‘Claret’

Paeonies have a fairly short flowering season, often shortened by a sudden downpour or a breezy day but I still love growing them. Paeonia ‘Buckeye Belle’ is a glorious shade of magenta or the slightly later flowering, fragranced Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sword Dance’. Why not grow both to prolong the flowering season of paeonies in the garden.

Paeonia ‘Buckeye Belle’

Many annuals come in shades of magenta, allowing the colour to be added to your garden with one packet of seeds. Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’ or the shorter variety Rubenza flowers from July through to October. Double Click Cranberries has ruffled flowers and the bees love them! Veloute is stunning with its splashes of white on the magenta petals, some flowers are mostly white with magenta splashes (almost like someone has flicked a paintbrush at them) and some flowers are more magenta. Sweet peas too with all their heavenly scent are another annual that has varieties in this year’s Pantone colour. From Lathyrus odoratus ‘Windsor’ with its ruffled petals, to Beaujolais starting off as a darker shade  fading to Vivid Magenta to the velvety petals of Midnight. They make beautiful cut flowers too, an easy way to add Vivid Magenta inside and out.

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Double Click Cranberries’

Blending Vivid Magenta into your garden

If you would like more help in establishing a colourful garden or border, I offer a planting plan service.

About the author

Camilla Grayley is an experienced garden designer, speaker and writer based in York. She designs gardens and delivers garden consultancy services for clients in Yorkshire and across the UK.

Get in touch on 01904 670330 or info@camillagrayleydesign.com