Colors of Distinction
Powerful pairings of exact complements—those opposite the color wheel from each other, like red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and violet—are for gardeners with particular tastes. Understated shades of otherwise-too-obvious pairings, however, can create a subtler effect, as happens when bright green and chocolate-dappled geranium leaves match up with the mauve checkered lily flowers here, all of which are best grown in partially shaded beds.
1. Left: The burgundy foliage and purple-green late-spring bracts of Euphorbia dulcis ‘Chameleon’ contrast smartly against green leaves. 2. Middle: A late-spring bulb, Fritillaria meleagris requires wet soil and partial shade to flourish. 3. Bottom: A brownish purple hue marks the leaves of Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor,’ whose waxy purple flowers shoot up on a spindly stem.
