The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is famed for its vibrant displays of colour, but while yellow and purple dominated this year, one underrated shade was quietly stealing the show: orange.
We first spotted the scene-stealing colour in the RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden, designed by Frances Tophill. Set against deep purples, vibrant yellows and lush greenery, the hit of orange immediately stood out.
Pops of red-orange appeared again in the balcony garden Tales from the Riverbank Garden, sponsored by Kennedys’ Independent Property Agents, and in A Little Garden of Shared Knowledge, sponsored by Viking.
We asked Katerina Kantalis, designer of A Little Garden of Shared Knowledge, why orange works so well in a garden scheme. 'I feel like it's the colour of earth – it's like a burnt orange,' she said. 'You get just a really nice lift within the space.'
According to Katerina, one of orange’s biggest strengths is its versatility. 'Of course, there are really bright oranges, but I think you've got different tones throughout,' Katerina told us. Pointing to the nasturtiums in the balcony garden as an example of a more vibrant shade, Katerina explained that orange can also feel softer and more muted when paired with peachier tones.
What we saw again and again at RHS Chelsea was how just one pop of orange could instantly elevate a space. It reminded us of the viral interiors trend, the unexpected red theory. The idea that adding a dash of red to your interiors – whether through a ruby cushion or crimson vase – can instantly make a home feel more considered.
We’re calling it now: orange is the ‘unexpected red’ of garden design.
Orange, rust and sun-baked tones were also visible across materials and structures at RHS Chelsea this year. We spotted the trend in the rust-toned structures at The Children’s Society Garden, designed by Patrick Clarke Landscapes, and again in the towering red sandstone cliffs, coloured with natural ochre pigment, in The Project Giving Back Garden, designed by James Basson.
In Sarah Eberle's The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden: On the Edge, even the paving made a case for orange, with a sun-baked winding pathway that brought warmth and earthiness to the planting. An orange wall was the backdrop to the ever-colourful Seasalt Painted Garden, while glossy rust tones dominated the Alzheimer’s Society: Microbes and Minds Garden with a curved wall structure and in-built bench.
Consider introducing an unexpected pop of orange – from planting schemes through to furniture and accessories – in your own space. As RHS Chelsea proved, this unassuming colour can instantly add warmth, vibrancy and a sense of joy to every garden.
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