64. ORANGE YOU GLAD YOU PLANTED ORANGE FLOWERS?

Orange flowers are bright and fiery. They insert an energetic punch to any garden. And orange does not lose its powerful presence and get washed out even on a bright summer afternoon. So then why do so many people say they “hate” orange? Maybe it is because orange has a boisterous personality that is not very calming. It is a little too brash to some garden lovers, like a loud person in a library. But you can use the radiance of orange to add a bit of warmth to a multicolored landscape. Carefully blending orange, and its softer tints, with other colors can win over even the most ardent anti-orange person.

To begin, try inserting a light-colored shade of orange to an outdoor space. The warm pink-orange tints of salmon, coral, and peach add a dreamy, soft edge to a garden. They are vibrant yet mellow. Dahlias come in these sensuous tones, as do tulips, astilbes, New Guinea impatiens, snapdragons, zinnias, and diascia. Add some blue in the form of violas, angelonia, baptisia, or catmint to the mix and the result is positively lovely.

Bright orange blooms work best in summer and early fall when the sun’s rays are intense and complement this strong color. A wonderful orange perennial is Peruvian lily ‘Indian Summer’ (Alstroemeria inticancha ‘Indian Summer’). Its red, yellow, and orange funnel-shaped flowers bloom from June to November. It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 6–9. Alstroemeria does well planted in a container and makes a great cut flower.

You can mute the orange by pairing it with bronzy or burgundy foliage such as ‘Marooned’ coleus, ‘Charmed Wine’ oxalis, heuchera, ‘Tropicanna’ canna lilies, or shrubs like ‘Summer Wine’ ninebark.

Also try the dark, dusky orange shades of flowers like perennial yarrow. Look for varieties with tones that range from brick red to golden beige. They add a sultry look to a garden. Also look for chrysanthemums, dahlias, and coneflowers in similar hues. Pair them with cream-colored flowers.

This zinnia has twisted, shaggy salmon-pink petals that are curled at the tips. It looks like a dahlia. It is a “cactus style” zinnia called ‘Señorita’ (Zinnia elegans ‘Señorita’). Its unique shape and soft shade of salmon-apricot steal the show every time! The showy blooms grow on strong 3-foot-tall stems. They make elegant cut flowers. Plant this sun-loving annual along with the purplish-blue flowers of anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). A vivid orange version of a cactus- or dahlia-type zinnia is Aztec. The spectacular blooms add a brilliant tangerine “wow” to any garden.

Peruvian lilies are excellent as long-lasting cut flowers. These perennials grow from tubers and prefer well-drained soil. The cultivar shown is ‘Indian Summer’ (Alstroemeria inticancha ‘Indian Summer’). It grows 26 to 30 inches high with sturdy stems. Deadheading will promote better blooms the following year. Simply grasp the dead flower stem and pull the entire stem out from the base of the plant. Needs sun to thrive. No staking required.

The late-summer flowering ‘Helena Red Shades’ helenium (Helenium autumnale ‘Helena Red Shades’) is a cultivar of a native wildflower. Also called sneezeweed, it prefers full to partial sun and moist soils. ‘Helena Red Shades’ has long, blooming, coppery red flowers with eye-catching central cones that are full of pollen and nectar that attract bees and butterflies. Rusty brown seed clusters attract birds. Grows to 4 feet high. Pinch back in early summer to reduce height. Looks great with ornamental grasses, fall blooming asters, and Japanese anemones. Zones 3–9.

‘Princess Irene’ triumph tulip has unique orange blossoms with smoky purple flames. It is a sturdy, midspring bloomer with a warm scent. This orange beauty is a favorite at Holland’s famous Keukenhof gardens. It can be planted in the ground or in planters. Plant tulip bulbs in the fall. Purple and violet flowers provide a wonderful contrast to orange, as shown here. Zones 3–7.

The summer flowers at Piet Oudolf’s garden and nursery, Hummelo, in the Netherlands, include ‘Fatal Attraction’ coneflower, blue skullcap (Scuttellaria incana), orange helenium, and puffy joe-pye weed, on the right. Photo by Laura Hendrix McKillop.

“And brown is also a color.” This statement by Piet Oudolf reminds us to appreciate the full life cycle of flowers. Here, in his personal garden, Hummelo, in the Netherlands, the round seed heads of allium combine with airy grasses behind it. Photo by Laura Hendrix McKillop.

Piet Oudolf says the real test of a garden isn’t “how nicely it blooms but how beautifully it decomposes.” He reminds us, with his gardens, that beauty is inherent in all the seasons.