Nature is probably fonder of yellow flowers more than any other colour. Who’s to gainsay that? I agree with Dove it’s a matter of warmth or coolness of tone, not colour. Yellow can have a very strong impact though, so too much of it can throw a colourful, mixed border visually off balance and I find it’s best used sparingly in that situation. That’s simply my preference though, there is no such rule in the garden or wider design world. I also love a border of rusty browns, warm oranges and yellows - an autumn colour palette can be spectacular.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Hi @mathewdavidbrown, it could be that many garden designers are guided by the effect of "visual noise" in a garden, for example, soft blues, purples and whites can create a sense of calm, enabling you to relax and enjoy your private space. In everyday life, yellow is commonly used to create awareness of danger, alert, hazard, ie it is visually noisy. It's fine in the garden if you want to create vibrancy but often we want to relax. It's a case of choosing what suits the mood I think, like wearing something subtle for a relaxing meal out, leaving that high-vis vest behind!
Some of my favourite combinations are the yellow and blue of primroses and bluebells in spring and as I have now, small pale yellow sunflower and verbena bonariensis.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
Cool greenish yellows like primrose and coreopsis moonbeam are favourites of mine. One of my favourite roses is Arthur Bell. The colour of the foliage can make a big difference to how a yellow plant is perceived too. Park bench green or muddy green with a rich high vis or mucky yellow offend. For me, the season matters too. I don't like to see some yellows in spring but they're fine in the summer. In the winter, practically any colour is welcome!
Hi @mathewdavidbrown, it could be that many garden designers are guided by the effect of "visual noise" in a garden, for example, soft blues, purples and whites can create a sense of calm, enabling you to relax and enjoy your private space. In everyday life, yellow is commonly used to create awareness of danger, alert, hazard, ie it is visually noisy. It's fine in the garden if you want to create vibrancy but often we want to relax. It's a case of choosing what suits the mood I think, like wearing something subtle for a relaxing meal out, leaving that high-vis vest behind!
I remember learning that we see yellow faster than other colours. I don't know if it's the size of the wavelength or the way the brain processes colours. Yellow certainly has a different quality from other colours. I like it though. Apart from yellow cars, what the hell man!
I think what can cause difficulty is that some gardeners do not differentiate between a warm yellow and a cool yellow ... they can have different effects on the colours around them.
Folk seem to 'get' the difference between warm blues and cool blues, and the same with pinks ... but it seems that many gardeners just see 'yellow' as yellow.
That's an excellent point, and I think some yellow hues clash even when they're of the same temperature. I had viola 'buttercup' opposite my potentilla and while both had bright, warm yellow flowers, the violas were warmer and more luminous and it was a totally awful combination.
There's an excellent book by Andrew Lawson, well known garden photographer, artist and writer, called "The Gardener's Book of Colour" which is fascinating and well worth reading. He explains the principles of harmony and contrast in a garden and the colour wheel theory. Most relevantly to our discussion here, he states that "We all have different tastes, and there are no rules about right and wrong. What seems subtle to one person may seem dull to another. You might consider a colour scheme bright and cheerful, whereas your neighbour regards it as garish. What matters is to use colour in your own way." I think that's what most good gardeners do!
I've seen it mentioned that yellow flowers are to be avoided in borders. Of course people will tell me to use whatever flowers I like and rules be damned, and trust me, my potentilla 'Golden Punch' aren't going anywhere. I'm just fascinated by design lore and what makes certain gardens look special. Any thoughts on this trope much appreciated.
Thanks
Presumably spouted by some garden design expert! Simple answer to the question - It's your garden so have what you like in it. There are a couple of plants which I absolutely hate but I wouldn't tell anybody else not to have them.
If you look at some of the ideas promulgated by Garden Design Experts, you could be forgiven for covering your eyes and running a mile. Colour, whether it be in your home decor or your garden, is purely a matter of taste as well as perception. Yellow ? Look at Dandelions, fields of Sunflowers, Narcissus, Primulas - list is endless. It can be cheering or make you grind your teeth. Plant what you like and ignore the experts - you are the one looking at/admiring your garden and if others find it disturbing they can always avert their gaze
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For me, the season matters too. I don't like to see some yellows in spring but they're fine in the summer. In the winter, practically any colour is welcome!
Presumably spouted by some garden design expert! Simple answer to the question - It's your garden so have what you like in it. There are a couple of plants which I absolutely hate but I wouldn't tell anybody else not to have them.
Colour, whether it be in your home decor or your garden, is purely a matter of taste as well as perception.
Yellow ? Look at Dandelions, fields of Sunflowers, Narcissus, Primulas - list is endless. It can be cheering or make you grind your teeth. Plant what you like and ignore the experts - you are the one looking at/admiring your garden and if others find it disturbing they can always avert their gaze