In spring the pastel pinks and baby blues of blossoms and bulbs sit gently with the cool green of emerging foliage, but in our Australian summer and early autumn the light is strong and the shadows dark. The intensity of the season demands plants that can withstand the elements both physically and visually; those with some depth in character and colour.
Rich jewel colours are beautiful in the garden at this time of year, appearing less washed out and more stoic than the delicate pastels of spring. Golden and copper tones are lovely with the complimentary colours of deep blue and purple, mimicking the landscape and steely storm skies.
Here are just a few of the mix-and-match jewel coloured blooms I love. They are plants I grow for their rich hues, heat and frost hardiness, and ease of propagation. They’re cheerful, retain colour under summer sun and sit as happily alongside the burnished golds of parched pastures as the coolness of green.
Complimentary colour schemes are those on opposite sides of the colour wheel like yellow and purple, blue and orange. Analagous colours are side by side.