Scarlet fever

It’s the colour of passion and danger, but don’t be wary of using red in your borders – just remember that a little goes a long way, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

THERE’S no denying that splashes of red provide cheer in the garden. But scarlet flowers (such as those of ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ dahlias and Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’) can easily overpower their border companions, and while we’re happy to have red in the autumn border, many people avoid it in summer. Thankfully, there are ways to temper red, so that you get all of the positives without any of the possible negatives.

The trick is to avoid big swathes of it, and to combine it with the right colours. “Large blocks of undiluted red are a mistake; indigestible as swallowing a lump of uncooked dough,” wrote the late Christopher Lloyd, who created the colourful garden at Great Dixter. “Red can combine well with other strong colours… bright pink, magenta, strong purple, orange and white. The wonder is that it works, but it does.”

You can tone down the overly dominant blaze of vermillion and crimson by using other brights, such as tangerine, violet and fuchsia, or pairing them with mellow shades from the red spectrum: claret, copper or raspberry. Taking the heat out of bold red in this way allows it to blend into the border.

Code red Like any bold colour, red can be divisive, however – some love it, while others loathe it! Red is the colour of blood, which explains why people have always been both fascinated and frightened by it.

Associated with both birth and death, it has come to symbolise passion, danger and power. Studies have shown that men leave bigger tips when waitresses wear red, and athletes who compete in a red strip are more likely to win. In colour therapy, it’s used for motivation and confidence. It’s also said to stimulate conversation, making red flowers and foliage a great choice for planting around a seating area that is used for entertaining.