In the Garden Trends Report 2023, Dubow stated terra-cotta is the Colour of the Year. Just like in the fashion industry, warm palettes of sage greens, creams, tans and browns are getting a pull from the market in the retail landscape this year. From terracotta planters and containers to decorative outdoor rugs and pillows. As inspiration for the garden centres stocking up on this trend, we’ve listed a few incredible varieties that not only provide stunning displays when combined with terra-cotta but will also impress with their garden performance.

Varieties like the new Ajuga Feathered Friends boast incredible contrasts with their foliage and intensely coloured flowers. Planted in terra-cotta planters, these colours will impress even more so. The Feathered Friends® bloom profusely in the spring and provide colour all year round in any type of garden. The series consists of various innovative colours and growth habits that suit any type of garden. The Feathered Friends are hardy, low-maintenance and offer spectacular year-round colour. 

The same can be said for the Coreopsis Twinklebells-series and the recently introduced Coreopsis Solar-series. Both series consist of extremely colourful and profusely flowering Coreopsis, adding a splash of colour to any terra-cotta base. Boasting a profusion of showy, bright-coloured flowers that either contrast the terra-cotta containers or, like Twinklebells Copper, complement the terra-cotta hues.

If you want varieties that complement the terra-cotta colours in garden centres, novelties such as Mahonia Volcano, Heuchera Frilly, Delosperma Sun Diamonds Orange, and Sempervivum Chick Charms® Gold Nugget will do the trick. Each variety has been introduced to lift the current range to a higher level and boasts unique characteristics when it comes to performance, colour, foliage and maintenance. Other stunning varieties that complement terra-cotta planters are the extra-long flowering Isoplexis Bella, the colour-changing Abelia Kaleidoscope and the prolific flowering Dahlia Mystic Haze. 

If you’d like to know more about any of these varieties, please reach out to [email protected].