Cyber Lime Plants: Grow The 2024 Color Of The Year In Your Garden
If you’ve yet to sample the surprising cyber lime – the Garden Media Group’s 2024 Color of the Year – this is your chance to see how gorgeous it can be in plants and flowers
Cyber lime might not seem like the most obvious choice for a garden, but bear with us. Just as many people closely watch fashion trends, some gardeners wait with bated breath for the hottest gardening trends. Current trends are unsurprisingly related to the future and environment. But one fascinating revelation is that the Garden Media Group’s 2024 Color of the Year is cyber lime.
The Garden Media Group is responsible for selecting some of the most exciting upcoming garden trends. Their Garden Trends Report, now in its 23rd year, has sought to track significant shifts in the gardening world. This year, the group states that designers will use shades of green inspired by the environment, both in color and philosophy.
Cyber lime refers to lime green plants – often (but not always) chartreuse and lime green foliage plants. That said, there are also some extraordinary flowers that wear the ‘cyber lime’ label with pride. Find out how you can bring this unique color to your 2024 landscape.
Choosing The Best Cyber Lime Plants For Flowers
Garden Media Group’s President, Katie Dubow, has described the cyber lime color as ‘vivid, punchy and powerful’ in quality. It is said to evoke the character of ‘horti-futurism’ and the connection between technology and nature. The actual color of cyber lime is almost neon in tone – a sort of chartreuse on steroids.
Green isn't an uncommon color to find in nature. Even green flowers aren't much of a rarity these days, although it is less common to find lime-hued bloomers. That said, here are some brilliant neon-green blooms that will really light up your plot:
1. Zinnia ‘Envy’
‘Envy’ is one of the most striking examples of the cyber lime color in living form. While other zinnia varieties tend towards reds, oranges, yellows and pinks, this double-bloom beauty stands unique and proud. Capable of blooming all summer, this Mexican native plant flourishes in full sun and pollinator gardens with its acid green palette.
2. Dianthus ‘Green Ball’
For lovers of conventional dianthus with its wide selection of pinks, ‘Green Ball’ is an unusual yet distinctive summer bloomer. Dianthus barbatus ‘Green Ball’ has fuzzy acid green petals that can reach 3in (8cm) in diameter. Dianthus cultivars are often seen in cottage gardens and mixed beds, but this one demands attention in a more prominent position.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
3. Rudbeckia ‘Green Wizard’
Butterfly-charmers like rudbeckias don’t traditionally have to work too hard to draw in a crowd, but ‘Green Wizard’ ups the ante with its profusion of lime green petals. Blooming from June to September, all this dynamic plant needs is a rich loamy soil and full sunshine in order to transform beds and borders into a cyber lime showstopper.
4. Coneflower ‘Green Jewel’
As lime green plants go, this one delivers not just in terms of its zingy color but also in its prolific nature. Sturdy and compact, ‘Green Jewel’ spills forth with a sea of dazzling bright green flower heads around darker central cones. Said to have been discovered by garden designer Piet Oudolf, this coneflower cultivar is popular with butterflies and hummingbirds.
5. Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’
There are a couple of amazing hydrangea varieties worthy of mention for a cyber lime garden. ‘Limelight’ (pictured above) starts as a fresh green that ages to pink. It’s capable of 16 weeks of impressive color. Alternatively, there’s stunning panicle cultivar ‘Little Lime’, with juicy green blooms that age to a dusky rose tone.
Also consider:
'Green Star’ gladiolus, ‘Green Gambler’ hellebore, ‘Lime Green’ nicotiana, ‘Evergreen’ amaryllis, bells-of-Ireland, ‘Lime Sorbet’ columbine, ‘Spring Green’ celosia, ‘Golden Jubilee’ agastache
The Best Cyber Lime Plants For Foliage
There are plenty of ‘cyber lime’ green foliage plants to choose from. Their bright hues beautifully offset other colors in the garden. Try growing ‘Lemony Lace’ elderberry, ‘Dart’s Gold’ ninebark or ‘Lime Glow’ spirea. ‘Francis Mason’ abelia makes a lovely hedge, bear’s breeches ‘Hollard’s Gold’ will brighten up shaded areas. Plant ‘Golden Lion’ acorus as a perennial grass, or ‘Lemon-Lime’ nandina, a clumping grass. ‘Blazin Lime’ iresine also gives that pop of neon green to the garden.
Amy Grant has been gardening for 30 years and writing for 15. A professional chef and caterer, Amy's area of expertise is culinary gardening.
- Janey GouldingContent Editor
-
4 Winter Composting Shortcuts To Fill Garden Beds In Time For Spring Planting
Discover quick, clever winter composting techniques to prep your garden beds and pots for spring planting. Reduce waste, enrich soil, and save time.
By Melanie Griffiths
-
Foraging Flowers: How To Forage Floral Plants – And Which Flowers You Can Pick For Free Edibles!
It’s fun to forage flowers, but it’s important to know the rules. Avoid areas that have been sprayed, beware of imposters and take only what you need.
By Tonya Barnett
-
9 Contemporary Small Garden Ideas – Maximize Style With A Modern Design
Some simple conceptual ideas can transform even the tiniest plot from humdrum to dream design. Try these 9 contemporary small garden ideas to modernize your plot
By Amy Grant
-
Easy Plant Choices To Boost Your Curb Appeal: Go Big With These 6 Small Front Garden Ideas
Even the smallest front yard can be a curbside showstopper with the right plant choices. We reveal six small front garden ideas that dynamically improve a home’s allure and value!
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Resilient Plants For Extreme Weather: Planting To Safeguard And Protect Against The Elements
Growing plants that can withstand bizarre weather patterns is becoming more of a worry these days. Try these resilient plants and plantings to boost levels of protection
By Susan Albert
-
Easy Garden Winners: 8 Of The Best Low-Maintenance Plants For Your Garden
The easiest plants to grow are often some of the most stunning in color, texture and fragrance. Here are some of the best low-maintenance plants for beds and borders
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Essential Late Summer Gardening Guide: What You Need To Do Before Fall Arrives
Think things are starting to quieten down as fall approaches? Think again! We round up the key late summer gardening tasks you need to focus on now
By Amy Grant
-
Old-Fashioned Flowers And Plants That Will Transport You To Another Time
Fancy bringing some old world beauty and elegance to your space? These nine old-fashioned flowers can help you add a touch of nostalgia and romance
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Grow These 8 Lunar New Year Plants For The Year Of The Dragon
The Year of the Dragon can inspire us to grow with courage and vision – but which flowers bring the most prosperity and fortune? We round up the luckiest Lunar New Year plants
By Janey Goulding
-
Futuristic Plants: How To Grow A Futuristic Garden
What will we be growing in the future? Global changes and plant breakthroughs mean little is certain, but here we consider futuristic plants and likely gardening innovations
By Amy Grant