2023 Color of the Year & Your Plants

It’s that time of year again when the world eagerly awaits the announcement of the 2023 Color of the Year by Pantone. This is a great place to find inspiration for interior design, fashion, beauty, graphic design, and most important to us - garden design! This year the selected color is Viva Magenta 18-1750. A vibrant color that packs a punch no matter where or how it is used. Representing bravery, fearlessness, and empowerment, and promoting joy and optimism, it’s a playful color that makes a definite statement.

“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known. Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”

LEATRICE EISEMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PANTONE COLOR INSTITUTE

The description of the color itself is inspirational, getting our creative engines revving. “As a nuanced crimson red tone that presents a balance between warm and cool, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta is also a hybrid color, one that comfortably straddles the physical and virtual in our multi-dimensional world. It is assertive, but not aggressive, a carmine red that does not boldly dominate but instead takes a “fist in a velvet glove” approach. Exuding dynamism, the 2023 color of the year PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta is a transformative red tone capable of driving design to create a more positive future.”

  • Witherod Viburnum (Viburnum cassinoides) * Native *
  • Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah')
  • Royal Raindrops® Crabapple (Malus 'JFS-KW5' PP14,375)
  • Double Play Doozie® Spirea (Spiraea x 'NCSX2' PP30,953)
  • Chameleon Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium 'Chameleon' PP31,339)
  • Kismet® Raspberry Echinacea (Echinacea x 'TNECHKR' PP28,768)
  • Fanal Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii 'Fanal')
  • SunSparkler® Dazzleberry Sedum (Sedum 'Dazzleberry' PP22,457)
  • Summer Crush Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmacfive' PP30,359)
  • Leading Lady Razzberry Bee Balm (Monarda x 'Leading Lady Razzberry' PP34,130)
  • Red Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox 'Coccineus')
  • Ann Magnolia (Magnolia x ‘Ann’)
  • Tempo™ Rose Geum (Geum x 'TNGEUTR' PP31,209)
  • Mystic Ruby™ Buckeye (Aesculus x bushii 'Aaron1' PP29,092)
  • Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers')
  • Dark Horse Weigela (Weigela florida 'Dark Horse' PP14,381)
  • Wine & Roses® Weigela (Weigela florida 'Alexandra' PP10,772)
  • Pearl Glam® Beautyberry (Callicarpa x 'NCCX2' PP28,312)
  • Tricolor European Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Tricolor’ (‘Roseo-Marginata’)

There are many trees, shrubs, perennials, and even ornamental grasses that are Viva Magenta-esque and we’re highlighting a few below. If you want help planning your landscape, start your journey with We Plan, You Plant. This service is designed for homeowners who want to DIY their landscape as a family-friendly and hands-on option. We’re always here to help!

Find Viva Magenta In Your Landscape