Seeing Red

Whether it’s hot, cool, or pure in tone determines how you use this color

One of the most dynamical colors is also the sometime color used by humans : reddened . prehistorical horses drawn in cherry paint gallop across the ancient cave wall in Lascaux , France . To poet , it is the colour of rage ; to seafarers , it is an prognostic : “ Red sky at dark , sailor ’s pleasure ; ruddy sky at dawning , boater take warning . ” Throughout its long story , red has been associated with highly charged emotion and a mother wit of urging . Today , red still commands the attending of motorist and pedestrians at traffic lights .

Some nurseryman are put off by the same assertiveness that makes red efficacious in ensure dealings . Others sweep up the challenge of working with such a vibrant , exciting hue . Pure , elemental red sends out a light signal that says , “ barricade ! Look at me ! ” This effect works well with containers planted in red . They cheer up the entranceway to a sign of the zodiac or call attention to window boxes place against neutral siding . But in the garden , consummate red can be overpowering , especially if the flowers are gravid . The larger the peak , the more dominating the colouring . Primary Marxist is at its honorable set off by complementary green leafage , in contrast to white , or in harmony with gloomy shades of blue - reddish blue . It also bring itself to hot color harmonies with Orange and orangeness - yellows .

cherry red carmine zinnias ( Zinnia‘Benary ’s Giant Deep Red ’ , annual ) shown above , find fault up the same bright color from the centre of the dark violent leaves of a coleus ( Solenostemon scutellarioides‘Kingwood Torch ’ , USDA Hardiness Zone 11 ) and reflect it upwards to meet the bowing plumes of a ruby amaranth ( Amaranthus cruentus‘Polish ’ , annual ) .

But Red River has many face and can be a guileful people of colour . Besides true red , there are ardent Red and cool Bolshevik . Warm reds have yellow in them and go well with other hot colors . It should be no surprisal that they combine harmoniously with orange in all its tints and hue — orange is , after all , write of yellow and cerise . For demarcation , test warm bolshy with greenish and with yellow - immature . nerveless reds check blue and are compatible with that colour and most of the violet family . For a arresting contrast , pair coolheaded red and cool yellow or chartreuse , a near - complementary association tie by cool hue .

Warm and nerveless reds are magnificent hues . But be forewarned : They are deeply incompatible . The yellowness in affectionate red create a color that leans toward orange , while cool cherry-red leaning toward blue . Do n’t draw a blank that blue and orange are ended opposites on the color wheel . And unless you are skilful , pairing reds with blue in them and reds with yellow in them could clash right .

Pink is a shade of bolshie , and the strongest pinks are the hardest to use successfully in the garden . Most are saturated and vivid , but being lighter than reddish , they show up at an even great distance . Keep the warm pinks with other affectionate colors , such as tincture of orangish and warm yellows . Blue - pinks are lovely with mauve and tints of blue - violet . As with red , keep lovesome and cool pinks aside .

It is fun but speculative to combine Red River and pinks . The secret is to fit them incisively . Just think back to keep unadulterated red with pure pink , warm red ink with warm pink , and cool red with cool pinko . Try experiment with zonal geranium ( Pelargoniumspp . and cvs . , Zone 11 ) in disjoined raft ; that way you could move them around if they collide .

Defining red

Printer ’s ink can not do justice to the color red , but the photos and descriptions below hint the breadth and depth of its range of a function . At the top of each pair is the full - bodied color ; beneath it is a tint ( white add together ) of each . check the reds laid out in episode , you could appreciate the splendid range of this family and also the problem it present to gardeners . Without pure red and its pinkish tints as a buffer , the nerveless reds and pinko would jar with the warm Bolshevik and pink .

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Cherry red zinnias

Photo: Melissa Lucas

The combination of red and green never fails to attract attention. The bold blooms of a dahlia (Dahlia‘Redd Devil’, Zones 9–11) benefit from the harmonizing red tones of a tropical smoke bush (Euphorbia cotinifolia, Zones 9–11), which makes the combination richer and more complex.Photo: Virginia Small

A bit of chartreuse and vibrant red add a spark of light to this opulent tropical scene based on a deep, rich palette of muted reds and greens.Photo: Melissa Lucas

Cool red.Cool red contains blue. It is a good partner for deep blue and violets and is stunning with yellow-green, its opposite on the color wheel.Photo: Melissa Lucas

Cool red tint.This tint is light and bright enough to enliven cool, heavy color schemes involving dark blues and violets.Photo: Jennifer Benner

True red.True red is a pure, primary hue that cries out for attention. Its obvious color partner is true green.Photo: Janet M. Jemmott

True red tint.This vivid pink tint is almost as eye-catching as red. It could serve as a bright spot among softer pinks or as a foil for white.Photo: Jennifer Benner

Warm red.Add a touch of yellow to true red to get this hue, the most attention-grabbing member of the high-profile red family.Photo: Michelle Gervais

Warm red tint.This tint would harmonize with warm yellow and orange hues of similar intensity and would contrast with blues and violets.Photo: Jennifer Benner