Purple has emerged as the most popular colour in British gardens this summer, with plants such as lavender, salvias, and catmint currently in vogue. This trend was identified by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) following extensive research into gardeners' colour preferences.
An experiment at RHS Garden Wisley’s Hilltop asked over 11,000 visitors to choose their preferred shades. Purple flower hues accounted for the strongest preference at 26.67%, closely followed by red at 25.24%.
This shift towards purple has surprised garden trend watchers, as it departs from recent years where grey hues were popular in home and garden design. London-based garden designer Tom Massey noted that clients are now requesting bright colours, especially purples, moving towards more naturalistic planting.
Laura Carey, co-owner of Carey garden designs, also observed purple as the most popular choice among her clients. The colour's appeal may be linked to the emotions it evokes, with research suggesting purples and blues can create a sense of calm and relaxation.