Feb 17, 2021

Illuminating Gardens in 2021 By Jasmina Dolce

While it is a chilling 10 degrees in the Chicago suburbs as I write this, I can’t help but have spring on my mind. The ground here may be covered in a foot of snow, but as I look out my window I see all the possibilities once spring hits.

By now, you’ve probably heard that Pantone has selected its 2021 Colors of the Year: Illuminating (a bright, cheerful yellow) and Ultimate Gray. This pair signifies optimism and hope — certainly something everyone can use right about now.

Pantone’s Color of the Year reflects trends in fashion, design and home decor. And when it comes to the horticulture industry, there is no shortage of yellows! So as we head into spring, this is an opportune time to promote the industry and the plethora of vibrant yellow beauty gardeners can use this spring in their homes and landscapes.

Will you take advantage of the 2021 Colors of the Year? How will you promote your top-selling illuminating varieties? Perhaps pair large yellow blooms with an elegant gray container? Maybe take it a step further, snap some Pinterest-worthy photos, and develop fresh content for your social media channels?

If you need some inspiration, here are a few recent yellow introductions that deserve your consideration …

— Jasmina

Coreopsis ‘Solanna Yellow Touch’
Danziger

This first-year flowering perennial is well branched and hardy to Zone 5. It is a self-cleaning selection with prolonged flowering from spring to fall. The perfect component for large containers and the landscape, pollinators love this coreopsis.

Hibiscus ‘Leading Lady’
J. Berry Nursery

Part of the popular Hollywood Hibiscus collection, this beauty features elegant lemon-yellow petals with a pure white center. This hibiscus is perfect when added to the landscape and container gardens with easy-care nature, disease resistance and compact growth habit.

Osteospermum ‘4D Yellow’
Selecta One

The next dimension in double osteospermum, 4D stays open 24/7 like its predecessor 3D with improved branching for masses of blooms and better series uniformity. ‘4D Yellow’ boasts large, deep yellow blooms on a more controlled plant compared to other 4D varieties due to its smaller habit and slimmer body.

Petunia ‘Dekko Banana’
Syngenta Flowers

A new addition to the Dekko series, Banana offers a bright yellow color that is perfect for adding “wow” to mixed combinations and baskets. It has exceptional garden performance and a versatile habit that works great from small pots all the way to the landscape.

Rosa ‘Nitty Gritty Yellow’
Monrovia

Nitty Gritty is a very durable, fuss-free groundcover rose that produces an abundance of fragrant blooms. It offers excellent disease resistance and a self-cleaning, low-maintenance habit. The yellow double blooms provide attractive warm-season color, adding curb appeal to the landscape.

Echinacea ‘Sombrero Poco Yellow’
Darwin Perennials

Sombrero adds a new compact series featuring the same exceptional winter hardiness, superior branching and proven landscape performance. Poco Yellow is compact for better forcing and greenhouse growing performance. The unique, non-fading flowers last for weeks on sturdy plants.