Planning your summer floral collection? Need some inspiration? Don’t despair! The Pantone Colour Institute, used by trendsetters, interior decorators and fashion houses worldwide has introduced their summer colour palette, plus the Flower Council of Holland have plucked out a summery selection of flowers and plants to complement it, so let’s swing into summer!
Hot Summer
For hot shades, Pantone have picked out lollipop pink ‘Innuendo’, ‘Skydiver’ a royal blue and ‘Dahlia,’ a rich, deep purple, all of which should set the pulses racing. Translated into florals, think clematis, delphinium, hydrangea, stocks, dianthus and ranunculus. Arrange in chunky glass vases or ceramic containers with bold patterns.
Cool Summer
A softer, gentler look is produced with Pantone’s pastel palette of pale blue ‘Spun Sugar’ and ‘Gossamer pink.’ Consider combining them with dramatic chocolate brown 'Choca Mocha' for contrast. For this to be effective aim for a more natural, cottage garden style of arranging with freesia, cosmos, pinks, spray roses, achillea, grasses and blue-grey foliage.
Bright summer
Pantone’s ‘Daffodil’ shade of pale lemon, combined with a dark orange gives a colourful lift to pale purple and creamy white. A very free style of arranging, with a ‘just picked’ look, cultivated flowers such as Tanacetum and Ammi visnaga are perfect.
Summer trending flowers: Achillea, Aquilegia, Asclepias, Astilbe, Allium, Campanula, Clematis, Cosmos, Freesia, Hydrangea, Leucanthemum, Nigella, Peonies and Stocks.
Summer foliage: Chasmanthium, Eucalyptus, Mentha, Miscanthus, Pampas, Panicum, Pennisetum, Phlebodium, Seteria, Stachys.
Summer plants: Lavender, Thyme, Sage, garden ferns, Hosta, rambling roses.
