Many tulips in shades of pastel pink and red growing in a field
(Image credit: StudioBarcelona)
Darcy Larum
By Darcy Larum
last updated

As a society, we've been trained to see meaning in certain colors; red means stop, green means go, yellow says be cautious. On a deeper level, though, colors can also evoke certain emotions in us. Bright colors can make us feel more energetic and vibrant. Cool colors can make us feel calm, content, tired, or melancholy. Pastel colors can make us feel relaxed, refreshed, and peaceful. In a garden space intended for peace, quiet, and relaxation, pastel garden schemes are often used. For more information about using pastels in the garden and types of pastel flowers, read on.

Pastel Garden Ideas

Pastel colors are soft and light tones of pink, purple, blue, green, orange, and yellow. In marketing, we often see pastel colors used for baby stuff because these colors remind us of softness, sweetness, and security. At 3 a.m. when the baby is fussy and fighting sleep, it will be much easier to lull him or her back to sleep surrounded by soft colors and lights. Pastel colors also adorn everything around Easter time to celebrate the start of spring. After a dreary, cold winter, the light pinks, blues, yellows, and lavenders of spring decorations gently bring us out of our winter slumbers.

In these same ways, using pastels in the garden can create a space where we can unwind after a hard day and feel refreshed. A pastel garden can be placed almost anywhere in the yard. Pastel colored flowers look beautiful in bright sunlight, but also stand out in shade gardens and can brighten up especially dark areas. Although not actually a pastel color, white is often used in pastel garden schemes. Silver and dark green also provide striking contrast to pastel garden plants.

Creating a Pastel Garden

When creating a pastel garden, include light colored flowering trees, shrubs, and vines, as well as perennials and annuals to add different heights and textures to the bed. Variety in flower beds can maintain garden color longer, attract different beneficial insects and pollinators, and also hinder some plant specific pests and diseases.

Pastel gardens are usually designed in a cottage garden style, but due to the color's soothing effects, they would be excellent for mandala or meditation gardens too. Here are some different types of pastel flowering plants that can be used in creating these gardens.

Trees

Shrubs

Perennials and Annuals

Vines

Darcy Larum
Darcy Larum