reds and greens

understanding colour in Italian gardens

the use of red on green colour combinations is not necessarily typical of Italian garden design but this powerful colour combination appears time and time again in many Italian plant combinations and in Italian wild flower meadows. There are many colour combinations to choose from when designing Italian gardens but red on green picks up on some of the classic of Italian nuances that are often repeated in Italian cuisine. A plate of tomato pasta, garnished with fresh basil leaves, a fresh green salad overflowing with cherry tomatoes or a delicious Italian pizza with rocket leaves all do suggest something quintessentially Italian and this is also true of the use of red on green colour combinations in Italian gardens.

Reds, when they are used against different shades of greens, tend be launched or propelled into the mind’s eye and the effect can be striking and definitely not for the faint-hearted of gardeners. The brain finds it difficult to distinguish between reds and greens, as it does with blues and yellows alike and for this reason it creates a certain turbulence and unrest in the viewer. This effect, can be used by the garden designer to agitate the visitor to the garden and must use this colour combination with prudence, if he is not to over stimulate or even disturb the visitor to a garden made with colours that lie opposite to each other on the famous colour wheel.

A group of startling red Italian poppies, a stunning red rose or even just a bright red apple against the foliage of its tree are classic examples that demonstrate the power of mixing reds with greens in an Italian planting scheme.

In the photographs you will see more examples of using reds on greens.

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