In our annual quest here at Northscaping to uncover the hottest new plant introductions for the year, it has become rather apparent that wine or burgundy colored flowers and leaves will be the big deal showing up at the garden centers this season. Throw in a few flowers in the peach or orange range, and you could easily host your own tasty ‘wine and cheese’ party in the back yard without serving any food at all! Mmm, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

	Dianthus ‘Ideal Violet’

I have always liked the rich colors of deep reds and burgundies. Those who have been to my home know that my great room walls are that color. So with these new plant introductions, it will be easy for me to make a visual connection between my indoor and outdoor spaces.

Basics Of Burgundy

In terms of color theory, burgundy is a tertiary color formed through the combination of red (a primary color) and purple (a secondary color). Being a hot color, the red ancestry in burgundy invites ‘Magic and Passion’ as well a stimulus for joy. The purple parentage is more or less a cooler color, which helps to morph the intensity of red into a more palatable hue. Purple is often referred to as a ‘regal’ color, traditionally used by kings and emperors, as it was once a very difficult tone to produce. It has also been associated with the mystical and spiritual aspects of the unknown.

Though deep burgundy is easily identifiable as maroon, both extremely deep red and purple in plants are often referred to as ‘black’ - further giving credence to the mysterious aspect of the color. When one combines red and purple to make a burgundy hue, it exudes a feeling of joyous mystery or spirituality with the garden. And how better to ponder the aspects of spirituality in the garden with a cherished friend than over a fine glass of Burgundy or Merlot wine? When one looks to the language of flowers, the symbolism of burgundy or wine colored roses is “unconscious beauty” or the statement “you are so beautiful without even knowing it”.

	Petunia ‘Wave Purple’

So what are the big new burgundy flowers that the breeders are offering this year?

For starters, the one winner of the All American Selections (AAS) for 2007 is Vinca ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’, which can be found on the All-America Selections website along with other 2007 winners. Other annual flowers that have been tested and introduced by AAS over the years that have a burgundy or wine color are:

Bedding Down With Burgundy

These previous varieties are still available at most garden centers. To add to this color range, the National Garden Bureau has identified the following bedding plants as new for this year:

	Verbena ‘Burgundy’

Amaranthus 'Dreadlocks' (Park Seeds Company) - Similar to regular Love-Lies-Bleeding except the clusters of florets are more defined and spaced further along the limp spikes of flowers. Looking like Rastafarian dreadlocks, these large plants can offer an interesting middle to background accent in a large bedding plant border.

Of some of the old time favorite annual bedding plants, consider using the many varieties of burgundy petunias. In mass, they can offer a grand impact where space is ample. If the area is shady, I would suggest a burgundy variety of impatiens or even a mix that would include some red (not orange or scarlet) and some mauve or purple varieties to give a bit of undulating color change while still maintaining a general appearance of burgundy.

From Proven Winners, Verbena superba ‘Burgundy’ is a great clustered flower that can give a border a bit a texture as well as, a deep burgundy flash. Coleus ‘Black Knight’ with its lime and wine bicolor leaves will provide color through the season even when the weather isn’t cooperating. Annual garden Phlox instensia “Cabernet’ will delight you with its pompom tight flower clusters.

	Heuchera ‘Dolce Licorice’ foliage

Burgundy Foliage, Too!

And though they are often referred to as black or purple leafed plants, the following Proven Winners varieties have a stronger burgundy tone which could be easily added to accent any garden:

	Celosia ‘Fresh Look Gold’ planted with burgundy

Now that you have a backbone of burgundy for your gardens in both floral and leaf, you may consider intensifying that color by throwing in a few dabs of orange or even peach colored flowers. Another winner for 2007 from the AAS is Celosia ‘Fresh Look Gold’ with plumes that hold on throughout the season without turning brown as most celosia tend to do.

So when you start your trek to your favorite nursery or garden center this spring, consider the new burgundy and wine arrivals and see how they can be used to decorate the garden. You’ll find that a relative monochrome in this color range is rewarding and will have you thinking about your garden at a deeper level. Who knows, you may even be spiritually uplifted!

Until next time... Happy gardening - in shades of burgundy!

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