Think pink

Inject the garden with warmth and cheer by getting pink perennials in the ground now. From fiery fuchsia to pastel blush, there is a shade for every border, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

THE hearty colour pink is welcoming, feminine and reassuring. In a global colour survey, people named pink as the sexiest colour and pastel pink as one of the most relaxing shades. Also, research has shown that when prisoners were moved to cells painted soft pink, they became less aggressive.

So, it stands to reason that pink plants added to the garden can create a comforting, calm mood. There is a huge range of pink shades to choose from, and now is the ideal time to get your pink perennials in the ground.

The 'right' shade of pink

In spring, vivid-magenta elephant's ears bloom beside rich-pink bleeding hearts, while wands of Byzantine gladioli blaze hot-raspberry in the sun. Then, in summer, there are many wonderful forms of lychnis, salvia, achillea, dianthus, phlox and penstemon to add blushing pockets of pink.

What is the best way to incorporate these rosy perennials into a border? The late Christopher Lloyd, who created the garden at Great Dixter in East Sussex, was determined that it must be, "the 'right' shade of pink, that is harmonious and reassuring". He was wary of salmon-coloured pinks and anything with too much blue in it. But the 'good' pinks, with radiant, clear colour, are easy to fit into a planting scheme. For instance, he was fond of the oriental poppies 'Karine' and Juliane' and bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis). These good pinks complement silver, claret and glaucous foliage, plus red, orange and blue flowers.

Personal preference