As every gardener would agree, flowers provide color in the landscape. But it is an understanding of color and its uses that allows gardeners to make the most of their flowerbeds. Color selection can make a flowerbed appear close or distant. A distant planting of bright colors will appear closer if softer shades of the same color are used near the viewer. Using softer colors at a distance and strong colors near the house reverses the effect.
Colors can impart a sense of temperature.
Red, orange, and yellow are considered warm colors. When used on a sunny patio, they give a sense of warmth. The cool colors are blues, purples, and greens. Use them in shady areas, and they make the shade seem even cooler. Use one or two compatible colors throughout the landscape to develop a relaxing mood.