How to Use Red Perennials

Very few colors stand out like red. Red is a complex color that can symbolize danger or excitement. There is little danger from this color in the garden, but there can be plenty of excitement. A few simple tips will help you select a shade of red, then show you how to use your red perennials.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden
• Red perennials

1. Decide what color red you want to plant. Fiery reds have orange in their make-up. Smoldering reds include tones of blue, and are much more subdued.

2. Use fiery reds for a dramatic effect. This group comprises the vermilions and scarlet, the colors of flames. They can be used to inject a feeling of drama, or they can be combined with other hot colors such as golds and oranges to create a border devoted to hot colors. Alcea rosea, astilbe "fanal", and astrantia major "ruby wedding"canna are excellent examples of fiery reds.

3. Plant blue reds for a soothing effect. These reds have a more sedate quality than the fiery reds, especially as they move towards purple. Blue reds will not mix well with orange reds, but combine better with purples, violets and blues. They also go well with pinks. Kniphofia "red admiral", zauschneria californica and dianthus "brympton red" are examples of reds with a blue undertone.

4. Use red perennials to draw the eye. Bright reds, especially fiery ones, draw the eye. If you place a clump of red flowers in a border they will become a focal point.

5. Use reds to shorten the appearance of long distances. Red colored objects appear to be closer than they really are. If red flowers are placed at the end of a long border, the border will appear to be shorter.

6. Use red perennials in a border or hedge as an accent. All reds, but especially the fiery ones, stand out against green foliage such as hedges.

7. Keep your red perennials from become overwhelming. Too much red can seem draining. The eye gets tired as red is a restless color.

Tips & Warnings

• Use quality fertilizer for the most vibrant reds.
• Use reds sparingly, or they will lose the effect of becoming a focal point.

[grammastacie]

on 4/5/2009 I'm going to do this! thanks! 5*