Retro Garden Ideas: Pink, Black, And Turquoise Plants For A 50's Garden Theme

Retro Garden 50's Theme
fifties garden
(Image credit: Gardening Know How)
Nikki Tilley
By Nikki Tilley
last updated

Saddle shoes and poodle skirts. Letterman jackets and duck tail haircuts. Soda fountains, drive-ins, and rock-n-roll. These were just some of the classic fads of the 1950's. What about gardens? While most 50's style gardens and yards were filled “all things tacky,” you can recreate a style of your own using some retro garden ideas from way back when. This article focuses on the use of pink, black, and turquoise plants for a 50's garden theme.

50's Inspired Garden Design

In the 1950's garden, an assortment of mass-produced decorations scattered about was not uncommon-- plastic wildlife, garden gnomes, the now very politically incorrect black jockey statues, lantern holders, etc. Here you would also find wide open, well-manicured lawns and an abundance of round or box-pruned evergreen foundation plants.

Where one lived, however, was a major factor in its overall design. Simply put, if you lived in warmer climes, the gardens took on a more tropical flair while in other areas plants focused more towards subtropical to temperate schemes. Regardless, many gardens in the 50's reflected an outdoor-indoor living, as patios and swimming pools were quite popular. Hardscape features were focused on more so than the plants, though garden flowers were big and colorful when implemented.

Then there were the color schemes, with pink, black, and turquoise among them (usually inside). Although not as prominent in the garden, your 50's inspired garden can take these quirky pops of color and give them new life.

Plants for a 50's Garden Theme

However you choose to design your 50's garden is ultimately up to you. This is simply my take on creating a vintage 50's garden, so your retro garden ideas may differ according to your needs and tastes. As far as the plants go, consider those having various textures and forms. Also, look for plants with similar growing requirements-- no different than with any garden design.

Pink plants

There are a number of pink plants that you can include in this garden. Here are just a few:

Black plants

Black plants mix easily with other colors and work well for a 50's theme too. Some of my favorites include:

Turquoise plants

While this color is somewhat rare in the plant world, here are some of my top picks:

It wouldn't be a 50's garden if you didn't toss in those ‘tacky' ornaments. Have fun with this. For my pink, black, and turquoise color scheme, I see flocks of pink flamingos. Maybe even a few statues or black containers with pink and turquoise mosaic tiles. Who knows, I may include a saddle shoe planter or two and vinyl record edging.

Nikki Tilley
Nikki Tilley
Senior Editor

Nikki Tilley has been gardening for nearly three decades. The former Senior Editor and Archivist of Gardening Know How, Nikki has also authored six gardening books.

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