Shades of Beautiful 2026

Shades of Beautiful

10 STUNNING PALETTES FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

1920 s The Gilded Garden

EAU DE PARFUM ® BUBBLY ROSE

ANGEL WINGS SENECIO

DARKSTAR ® NINEBARK

EARLY EVOLUTION ® HYDRANGEA

Raise a glass to a decade defined by play, invention, and the arrival of a revolutionary plant nursery company called “Monrovia.”

This Art Deco-inspired palette captures the effervescence of the 1920s with the champagne-colored blooms of Eau de Parfum® Bubbly Rose (Zones 5-10), and the modern metallics of Angel Wings Senecio (Zones 8-11, or grow as an annual) and Darkstar® Ninebark (Zones 4-8). Early Evolution® Hydrangea (Zones 4-9) finishes the look in 20s pink.

EARLY EVOLUTION ® HYDRANGEA

EVOLUTION ™ FIESTA CONEFLOWER

LITTLE OLLIE ® DWARF OLIVE

Escape to the Emerald City

OVERDAM FEATHER REED GRASS

EVOLUTION ™ FIESTA CONEFLOWER

LITTLE OLLIE ® DWARF OLIVE

LITTLE RAGU ® SWEET BAY

This palette captures the spirit of Dorothy’s journey to the Emerald City, and a story that offered a fanciful escape during uncertain times. Overdam Feather Reed Grass (Zones 4-9) mirrors the windswept Kansas prairie, while the vibrant reds and oranges of Evolution™ Fiesta Coneflower (Zones 4-9) bloom with the drama of the poppy field. Rich green foliage from Little Ollie® Dwarf Olive and Little Ragu® Sweet Bay (Zones 8-11, or grown as annuals) completes the story, welcoming us into a landscape of possibility.

1 940 s

Victory Garden

Revival

BOUNTIFUL™ BABY BLUEBERRY

NITTY GRITTY ® RED ROSE

ARP ROSEMARY

BLACK JACK FIG

Inspired by the victory gardens of the 1940s, this palette celebrates resilience, abundance, and shared purpose. Productive plants take center stage, with Bountiful™ Baby Blueberry (Zones 5-9) and Black Jack Fig (Zones 7-9), heavy with fruit and promise, and aromatic Arp Rosemary (Zones 6-10), long valued for both flavor and fortitude. The bold red blooms of Nitty Gritty® Red Rose (Zones 4-9) add a patriotic note, tying nourishment and beauty together in a garden that feels hopeful, generous, and enduring.

1 950 s

Poodle Skirts and Palm Trees

CHANSONETTE’S BLUSH CAMELLIA

KROSSA REGAL HOSTA

SIENNA SUNRISE ® HEUCHERA

BANANA SPLIT ® DAPHNE

The carefree spirit of the 1950s is embodied in a color palette that blends playful color with laid-back California cool. The voluminous pink blooms of Chansonette’s Blush Camellia (Zones 7-9) remind us of twirling poodle skirts, while the blue-green foliage of Krossa Regal Hosta (Zones 3-8) brings a refreshing, surfside calm. Sienna Sunrise® Heuchera (Zones 4-9) and Banana Split® Daphne (Zones 7-9) capture the warmth of a Pacific sunset with warm orange tones and a yellow glow.

1 960 s

Peace, Love, and Pollinators

GOLDFLAME SPIREA

SUNSEEKERS

The 1960s brought color, optimism, and a belief that gardens, like people, could be forces for change. Vibrant chartreuse and pink foliage from Goldflame Spirea (Zones 4-9) sets the stage, joined by the sunny yellow blooms of Sunseekers® Golden Sun Coneflower (Zones 4-9) and the fiery orange spikes of Rocket Jr. Red Hot Poker (Zones 6-9). Pollinator-friendly, droughttolerant, and tough, these plants bring joyful energy and enduring performance to the garden.

1 970 s

That Seventies Palette

PRIMA™ GINGER CONEFLOWER

EMERALD BOXER ™ HOLLY

NITTY GRITTY ® YELLOW ROSE

GINGER LOVE FOUNTAIN GRASS

This plant palette invites us to cozy up to the retro warmth of the 70s. Deep, earthy color takes center stage with the rich orange blooms of Prima™ Ginger Coneflower (Zones 4-9), grounded by the olive-green foliage of Emerald Boxer™ Holly (Zones 7-9). Nitty Gritty® Yellow Rose (Zones 4-9) adds a bold golden note, while Ginger Love Fountain Grass (Zones 5-9) brings soft brown tones and dynamic movement. Tough and easy-care, these plants deliver vintage style with modern reliability.

GINGER LOVE FOUNTAIN GRASS

Soft Retro

GRACE N’ GRIT ™ YELLOW ROSE

PINK PEARL AGASTACHE

ROYAL CAPE ® PLUMBAGO

BIG EARS LAMB’S EAR

Soft color made a splash in the 1980s, showing up everywhere from windbreakers to big-shouldered blazers. This pastel-forward palette layers the buttery yellow blooms of Grace N’ Grit™ Yellow Rose (Zones 4-9) with the gentle pink of Pink Pearl Agastache (Zones 6-10) and the lavender of Royal Cape® Plumbago (Zones 9-11, or grow as an annual). Big Ears Lamb’s Ear (Zones 4-9) grounds the look with plush, pastel-green foliage that ties the palette together.

1 990 s

Neon Brights

VIBE ® IGNITION PURPLE SALVIA

GOLD COAST ® PITTOSPORUM

OO-LA-LA ® BOUGAINVILLEA

CHAPEL HILL YELLOW LANTANA

This palette channels the bold, anythinggoes energy of the highlighter hues from the 1990s. VIBE® Ignition Purple Salvia (Zones 7-11) sets the tone with vivid violet blooms, while Gold Coast® Pittosporum (Zones 7-11) delivers a jolt of lime-green foliage. Oo-LaLa® Bougainvillea (Zones 10-11, or grown as an annual) gets playful with hot pink, and the sunny yellow flowers of Chapel Hill Yellow Lantana (Zones 7-11) balance the look. Perfect for high-impact containers!

2000 s Bubblegum and Glitter

MOUNT EVEREST BIG BLUE CHALKSTICKS

CHATEAU ® DE SAUMER ROSE OF SHARON

JAVELIN FORTE ™ WHITE SPANISH LAVENDER

ITSY BITSY ® PEACH MINIATURE ROSE

A glossy and sweet palette that captures the pop-perfect aesthetic of the early 2000s. Mount Everest Big Blue Chalksticks (Zones 10-11, or grown as an annual) sets a cool, icy green-blue backdrop, letting soft color take center stage. Chateau® de Saumer Rose of Sharon (Zones 5-9) delivers bubblegum pink blooms, while Javelin Forte™ White Spanish Lavender (Zones 7-9) adds crisp contrast. Itsy Bitsy® Peach Miniature Rose (Zones 5-9) finishes the look with warm peachorange notes, equal parts playful and polished.

ITSY BITSY ® PEACH MINIATURE ROSE

MOUNT EVEREST BIG BLUE CHALKSTICKS

CHATEAU ® DE SAUMER ROSE OF SHARON

BLONDE AMBITION

BLUE GRAMA GRASS

RIVERINA THOMAS LAVENDER

EVOLUTION ™ CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN SEDUM

2 010 s

Meadow Revival

BLONDE AMBITION BLUE GRAMA GRASS

RIVERINA THOMAS LAVENDER

WESTERN STAR ™ GEMINI SHASTA DAISY

EVOLUTION ™ CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN SEDUM

Inspired by the modern meadow movement of the 2010s, this palette blends structure and softness with resilient and bee-loved plants.

Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass (Zones 4-9) sets the tone with sun-warmed wheat tones and gentle movement, while Riverina Thomas Lavender (Zones 5-9) offers soft purple and a calming fragrance. Western Star™ Gemini Shasta Daisy (Zones 4-9) brightens the mix with classic white and yellow, and Evolution™ Chocolate Fountain Sedum (Zones 4-9) grounds it all with deep red blooms and rich foliage.

CENTENNIAL

RUBY ™ HYDRANGEA

TECTONIC ® MAGMA BEGONIA

EVERCOLOR ® EVERORO SEDGE

AMORE ® TITANIUM BLEEDING HEART

Moody yet quietly hopeful, this palette captures the emotional duality of the 2020s.

Centennial Ruby™ Hydrangea (Zones 4-9) anchors the combo with ruby-red blooms that deepen dramatically with age, and the dark foliage of Tectonic® Magma Begonia (Zones 8-11, or annual) intensifies the mood.

EverColor® Everoro Sedge (Zones 5-9) and Amore® Titanium Bleeding Heart (Zones 4-9) throw back the curtains for a fresh breeze and crisp white light.

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Photos by Doreen Wynja ©DoreenWynja.com

Palettes by Megan McConnell

Written

by

Emily Reeves