Introducing Hot Tones into Your Planting Scheme

Are you looking to bring some energy into a garden design? Perhaps you’re looking for a palette of hot-toned plants?

Professional landscape designers and landscape architects often use hot tones, such as red, orange, and yellow, within their planting schemes to create striking visual effects, evoke specific emotional responses, and influence the perception of space. These warm, vibrant colours are seldom used arbitrarily; their inclusion is guided by sound psychological and aesthetic principles.

In this article, we’ll learn how and why to use warm and hot tones effectively, and we’ll also discuss a palette of hardy, high performing plants suitable for hot planting palettes.

Psychological and Aesthetic Impact of Hot Tones

Hot tones are naturally associated with energy, warmth, and dynamism. They have the ability to stimulate excitement, optimism, and even a sense of urgency. Psychologically, these colours grab attention and evoke a sense of passion or boldness.

A landscape adorned with vibrant reds or oranges, for example, feels alive and inviting, drawing viewers into the space.

From an aesthetic perspective, hot tones provide an excellent contrast against cooler tones, such as blues and greens, which are often predominant in gardens due to the naturally occurring foliage and sky. This contrast creates depth, highlighting specific areas within a garden and breaking up visual monotony.

Illusion of Space and Depth

Hot tones play an important role in the manipulation of spatial perception. Since these colours appear to ‘advance’ towards the viewer, they create the illusion of closeness. A cluster of bright red or orange flowers, planted at the front of a garden, can make the space feel more intimate and compact.

Conversely, when warm colours are used sparingly in the distance, they draw the eye outward, adding a sense of depth and inviting exploration.

Creating Focal Points and Movement

One of the primary design principles behind using hot tones is their ability to establish focal points. A garden that incorporates bright yellow gazanias or fiery red callistemons catches the eye immediately, leading attention to specific areas. These ‘hot spots’ can help emphasise architectural features, such as statues, water elements, or pathways.

Additionally, warm colours can be strategically placed to guide movement through a garden. A trail of orange ground-covering correa or red kangaroo paws along a pathway subtly invites visitors to follow the route, enriching their experience of the space.

Remember that hot tones don’t just occur on flowers and fruits; many plants feature hot foliage tones for part or all of the year; some plants even have warm tones in their bark!

Examples of Hot Tone Plants and Placement

Red Hues

• Mandevilla spp ‘MANDI301’ PBR Intended Trade Name All Seasons Red™
• Lagerstroemia spp ‘CM01’ PBR Intended Trade Name Grande Red™
• Photinia x fraseri ‘NP01’ PBR Trade Name Thin Red™
• Metrosideros collina ‘MB01’ PBR Trade Name Velvet Sky™
• Phormium tenax ‘PH0S2’ PBR Trade Name Sweet Mist®
• Rhododendron hybrid ‘ROBLEZ’ Trade Name Autumn Fire™
• Anigozanthos hybrid Trade Name RUBY VELVET™
• Salvia ‘SAL02’ PBR Trade Name Intense™
• Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘H16’ PBR Trade Name Crimson Villea™
• Grevillea rhyolitica x juniperina ‘TWD01’ PBR Trade Name Cherry Cluster™
• Callistemon viminalis ‘LJ23’ PBR Trade Name Green John™
• Callistemon viminalis ‘CV01’ PBR Slim™
• Nandina domestica ‘AKA’ PBR Trade Name Blush™
• Alternanthera dentata ‘BRAZILIAN RED’ PBR Trade Name Brazilian Red Hots™

Orange Hues

• Rhododendron hybrid ‘CONLEB’ PBR Trade Name Autumn Embers™
• Anigozanthos hybrid ‘Amber Velvet’
• Correa pulchella ‘COR11’ PBR Intended Trade Name Fire Bells™
• Aloehybrid ‘ANDsea’ PBR Trade Name Sea Urchin™

Yellow Hues

• Hibbertia scandens ‘HBS01′ PBR Trade Name Groundswell™
• Hibbertia scandens ‘HBS02’ PBR Intended Trade Name Straightup™
• Anigozanthos hybrid ‘KP03’ Trade Name Everlasting Mega Gold™
• Anigozanthos hybrid ‘KP02’ Trade Name Everlasting Gold™
• Anigozanthos hybrid ‘Gold Velvet’
• Tristaniopsis laurina ‘DOW10’ PBR Trade Name Luscious®
• Gazania hybrid ‘GT20’ PBR Trade Name Double Gold™
• Grevillea juniperina ‘H22’ PBR Trade Name Gold Cluster™

Deep Purple Hues

• Dianella tasmanica ‘NPW2’ PBR Trade Name Blaze™
• Cenchrus purpurascens (Syn. Pennisetum alopecuroides) ‘PA400’ PBR Trade Name Purple Lea®
• Loropetalum chinense ‘PEACK’ PBR Trade Name Purple Pixie™
• Alternanthera dentata ‘LRU30’ PBR Trade Name Little Ruby™

Strategic Application

Landscape designers and architects rarely saturate their landscape with hot tones exclusively, as this can be overwhelming. Instead, these colours are often balanced with cooler hues and plenty of greenery to create harmony.

They may also apply these vibrant tones in seasonal drifts—using kangaroo paws in the warmer months and grevilleas in the cooler months—to ensure interest throughout the year. Ultimately, the strategic introduction of hot tones allows designers to craft spaces that are not only visually compelling but also emotionally resonant.

Daniel’s Wrap

By using hot tones thoughtfully, landscape designers shape gardens that not only flourish with flowers but also with the feelings and experiences they inspire.