Did You Say Orange in the Garden?

Some like it hot, some like it spicy. So today, let’s get inspired by the color orange. If you like orange, and want to add some punch to a container or the garden, here is a small selection: today’s selection! There’s much more that I want to share with you, but I’ve been busy lately, doing extra gardening projects, having my birthday, so this is just a sampling. In fact, it’s probably most suitable for you if you live in a mild Mediterranean climate.

But then again, a perennial in my area could always be an annual in your area; or vise versa. So enjoy a few charmers from the warm color palette. In this post, orange is derived mostly from orange flowers, but orange leaves…? Now we’re talking.

Orange Flowers and Foliage are Magic in Bright Light

Papaver – Poppy – This annual will reseeds for future years of vibrancy. Poppies enjoy their soil rich, so amend the ground in and around the planting hole or plant in a large pot with good potting soil. Poppies are excellent for spring flowering in containers – or the garden.

Watsonia – bugle lily – This bulb (actually a corm) produces tall flower spikes with bright orange star like blossoms. The leaves are still green here but will die back. There are more than 50 Watsonia hybrids and species. You can find other colors and sizes – colors tend to be pink, peach, white, red and orange.

Aloe aculeata – red hot poker aloe – The plant’s leaves reach 12 to 24 in tall. Flowers are reddish orange to yellow when in bud, opening to orange to yellow. The species name, aculeata or (“prickly”) refers to the spines on the leaf’s surface and the teeth on its margins. Very cool looking aloe.

Cactus flower – All I can say here is that cacti have amazing flowers. There are many blooming right now. It’s that late spring thing!

Happy Gardening

ps: For selection and ideas of flowers and foliage color one of my favorite books is Garden Color Book. It’s spiral bound and broken up into 3 strips so it’s very easy to flip back and forth between sections. On the back of each strip is the name of the plant along with its growth habits. Not only a ‘go to’ reference of mine, but a good source of inspiration!