Guacamole hosta. Photo courtesy PerennialResource.com
Finally, a Pantone Color of the Year that actually works in the landscape and we don’t even have to wait for the hue to drench the pots and other accessories because it is already with us.
Pantone’s 2017 selection is greenery. What could be more natural than that?
“Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate. Greenery is nature’s neutral,” said Pantone, one of the country’s best-known arbiters of color, in announcing its choice.
Our landscape has greenery, in the form of the leaves of plants and the branches of evergreens. Why our landscapes already are fashion forward. If you’d like to emphasize the 2017 Color of the Year in the garden, here are some suggestions:
Electric Lime coleus. Photo courtesy Ball Horticulture
Coleus (Plectranthus scultellarioides) is the perfect annual foliage plant. Many varieties are quite tolerant of sun and others thrive in shade. Among many to consider are Cool Vibes Mellow from Terra Nova Nurseries and Electric Lime from Ball Horticulture. For a dramatic look as a centerpiece or backdrop in a pot or among other plants, consider the striped foliage of Bengal Tiger canna, grown as an annual. The fact that it has orange-red flowers is a bonus.
In the perennial category, coral bells (Heuchera) are good starters, frequently tolerating sun or shade. Look for Lime Ruffles, Key Lime or Electric Lime (yes, another one, but a different plant than Electric Lime coleus). ‘Guacamole’ hosta has apple green leaves edged in darker green. It will get about 3 feet wide and tall and does best in shade to part shade.
Double Gold spirea. Photo courtesy Proven Winners/ColorChoice Plants
Double Play Gold spirea (Spiraea) from Proven Winners ColorChoice, has pink flowers on and off throughout the summer. Leaves have lime-gold-green hues. This low-maintenance, mounded shrub gets18-24 inches tall and 16-24 inches wide, making it a good choice as an anchor or specimen in a sunny, perennial flowerbed.
