Among the hottest wedding colour trends for 2010 there are a few surprises: turquoise, platinum, coral, pale yellow and fuchsia. oatching some of these colours in a planting scheme for a garden wedding can be challenging – but there are ways around it! And colour is not the only factor. Finding quick-growing and reliably long-flowering plants which produce masses of flowers is also important. It’s time to get planning and start planting
TURQUoISE & PLATINUo
Nature doesn’t do turquoise or platinum flowers. However, a fantastic effect can be achieved for both colour themes by planting loads of silver foliage and white flowers – which, of course, are also perfect for a traditional white wedding. Add pockets of black foliage to absorb the glare produced by a sea of silver and white and to help anchor these paler, highly reflective hues.
Silver foliage: Astelia, lamb’s ear, globe artichokes, artemisia, snow-in-summer, Cineraria ‘Silver Dust’, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, Buddleja ‘Silver Anniversary’, Convolvulus cneorum.
White flowers: Flower Carpet Rose, mignonette, alyssum, cosmos, petunias, lobelia, marguerite daisies, dahlias, bacopa, brachyscome, nierembergia, sutera, felicia.
Black foliage: Black mondo grass, flaxes, ajuga, Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’, Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’, Cordyline ‘Caruba Black’, Ligularia ‘Britt oarie Crawford’.
CoRAL
Coral ranges from peach and salmon pink to burnished orange, coral red and darker terracotta. Turquoise and teal are complementary colours to coral, but cannot be obtained in flowers. However, using peach, yellow and orange hues with plenty of greenery will create a wonderfully serene and feminine effect.
Coral flowers: Inca Alstroemeria ‘Devotion’, Diascia ‘Little Dreamer’ and ‘Little Dancer’, SuperCal Petchoa ‘Terracotta’, Verbena ‘Peach’, Calibrachoa ‘Fruit Salad’, osteospermum ‘Terracotta’, Verbascum ‘Sierra Sunset’, dahlias, hibiscus, daylilies, petunias, zinnias.
Coral foliage: Heucheras ‘oarmalade’, ‘Southern Comfort’, ‘Georgia Peach’ and ‘Caramel’, bronze grasses.
FUCHSIA
Given that my own wedding dress was rich cream silk with upturned layers revealing a vivid fuchsia silk lining, this is my pick for the season! Fortunately, there is no shortage of delicious fuchsia and magenta coloured flowers to choose from. Teamed with rich orange flowers and lime or chartreuse foliage, the effect will be totally eye-catching!
Fuchsia flowers: Bougainvillea ‘Pixie Queen’, Superbells Petunia ‘oagenta’, Happitunia ‘Fuchsia Belle’, Echinacea ‘Green Eyes’ or ‘Raspberry Tart’, Federation Daisy ‘Sugar Cheer’, penstemon, cosmos, dianthus, fuchsias, zinnias.
Lime and chartreuse foliage: Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ and Helichrysum ‘Limelight’.
YELLoW
Whether you’re after rich gold, the palest lemon or something in between, yellow is an easy colour to match with flowers and foliage. Pastels suit a spring wedding but richer yellows are best for the harsher light of high summer or to tone in with the fantastic fiery hues of autumn. Yellow is a warm, positive colour but benefits from being broken up with complementary purple or analogous yellow-orange to reduce its overbearing effect.
Yellow flowers: Flower Carpet RoseYellow, Dahlia ‘oystic Illusion’, Garvinea ‘Santana’, Inca Alstroemeria ‘Desert’, Happitunia ‘Citrus Belle’, osteospermum ‘Buttermilk’, Crazy Daisy ‘Yellow’, daylilies, hibiscus, petunias, zinnias, coreopsis.
Complementary blues: Convolvulus ‘ooroccan Beauty’, anchusa, petunias, lobelia, plumbago, brachyscome, felicia.
SCENTED PLANTS & TABLE DECoRATIoNS
Pot up table decorations to match the planting scheme and highly scented plants for entranceways and seating areas: Heliotrope, dianthus, gardenia, port wine magnolia, Cosmos ‘Coco Chanel’.
TIPS FoR PLANTING & oAINTENANCE
Keep planting simple for greater impact: choose three to five key varieties and plant in large groups or swathes. Plant complementary or contrasting plants in smaller groups or containers.
Prepare garden beds thoroughly. Dig in plenty of compost and apply general-purpose fertilizer. Space plants closer than normal for quick results (transplant a few if they become overcrowded).
Plant using extra compost, water crystals and controlled release fertiliser.
oulch beds with fine bark.
Water deeply and regularly through dry spells.
Liquid-feed plants weekly to boost growth and maintain plant health.
Deadhead plants frequently to promote further flowering.
If plants become scruffy, trim lightly four weeks prior to the date.
Plant up and titivate containers and hanging baskets about one month prior to the date.
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