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elisabethmeikle

Do maroon, blue, green and silver go together in the garden??

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

I find myself continually drawn to these colors but do they go together in the garden?? Maroon, blue/teal, green, and silver...


We live in the East Bay Area, CA, 1 mile from the shore (zone 10a) and these are the low-water plants I'm currently thinking about using to landscape our backyard. From a design perspective, is there anything that doesn't fit? Any colors/textures I'm missing?? Do I need more neutral/greens?


Maroon - Cotinus Coggygria Winecraft Black (a dwarf varietal), Design a Line Cordyline, Heuechera Melting Fire (only in shaded borders)

Blue - Blue Oat Grass, Festuca Glauca 'Beyond Blue', Senecio Mandraliscae

Teal/Green - Dianella Clarity Blue, Lomandra Platinum Beauty, Leucadendron Winter Red (a dwarf variety; green with purple/red tips), Echeveria Elegans

Silver - Dusty Miller, Silverlace Tansy

+ Specimen plants: Agave Blue Glow, various succulents



Our recently painted house/backyard shed colors:


We have 2 border plots on the right, 1 small circular plot on the left and 1 LARGE plot in the middle which I feel is so awkward (and changing the hardscaping and turf isn't in the budget right now). How do I arrange the plants in the central plot so they don't look polka dotty???




Comments (11)

  • 6 years ago

    Love these colors together.. Will be beautiful :)

    elisabethmeikle thanked Jeanne Seefus
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    A little of a very bright colour like yellow, orange, chartreuse or magenta would really pop in this subdued colour scheme, otherwise, looks good. Curious, do dusty miller’s stay perennial there?

    elisabethmeikle thanked J Williams
  • 6 years ago

    It all depends on who is looking.

    elisabethmeikle thanked windberry zone5a BCCanada
  • 6 years ago
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>I really like the new colours on your shed. They go very well with the plant colours you have selected. Just wondering if you could work some more white accents into your garden. (Notice how the white trim on your shed pops. Plus the climbing plant on your back fence looks great.)
    Would it be possible to find a small table (instead of the stumps) also in white? I think it would brighten things up a bit.
    I live in zone 3a so don’t feel qualified to make plant suggestions. Perhaps someone else could weigh in here.
    I just love that teal colour on your shed door. With the plants you have chosen, I think you’ll end up with a very beautiful backyard. The hardscaping will come in time.
    elisabethmeikle thanked B T
  • 6 years ago

    Thank you J Williams! Great idea - I was thinking of adding Nandina 'Lemon Lime' or Calandrinia which I'll reconsider :) and I'm not sure if dusty miller can be grown as a perennial here, I'll find out :)



  • 6 years ago

    Thank you btaylor10! Kylie M from Canada did an e-consultation with us for our paint colors and we couldn't be happier with her suggestions!! kylieminteriors.com

    Great idea on the white accents! We'll likely replace the adirondack chairs and stumps next Spring for next summer and that's a great idea to incorporate the white like the trim. I'll also think about possibly adding some white flowers into the garden too :) Thank you!

  • 6 years ago

    If anyone has any recommended resources or tips on how to arrange the plants in the large center plot I am all ears! I already tried once but am not happy with how it turned out. I was reading it's not good to dot them all around, instead to try and group them together? Going to switch out a few of the plants and rearrange them once the rainy season starts. Thinking I'll put a row of the 4 ft h/w lomandra grass in the back, then the cotinus coggygria in front as a focal point, with groups of the other plants to the sides and in front.. I'm such a novice so appreciate any suggestions! Thank you! (the upper terrace has 3 espalier apple trees and we'll build veg beds in front of them eventually)


  • 6 years ago

    Thank you J Williams, that's very helpful!! Will share "after" pics once finished, likely in a month or two!

  • 6 years ago

    The colors will be great. Your yard layout is informal. Some taller plants, and possibly a couple small trees, would make the "central plot" more interesting. Plant taller plants in center of open spaces, and move out with smaller plants. Do a search of informal gardens to see images that are appealing to you. You might also integrate hardscape or garden features (natural or man made) into the design. You could use some potted plants (or garden art) around the several open spans of fencing. Painting the wood chairs with bright colors is another consideration.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    All colors go together in a garden that what makes gardening fun .