Colour of the year – cyber lime
POWERFUL: SIGNIFIES CONNECTION BETWEEN NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY
Lime produces feelings of satisfaction and motivation.
In the spirit of eco-optimism, as a counterpoint to climate-doomism, the Garden Media Group have highlighted cyber lime as the colour of the year for 2024 in its annual Garden Trends Report.
It’s based on a world-wide scope of experts in home design, fashion, horticulture, science, communication and gardeners (like us) and the result is a go-to resource for the green industry.
According to the report, this zesty, neon lime green, which could also be described as chartreuse, “signifies the powerful connection between nature and technology”.
Both are necessary for our survival; without nature we wouldn’t have an environment that makes it possible to produce food, and with technology nature can be harnessed more effectively to feed a growing global population in a climate that is often extreme.
Lime is an revitalising colour, being a blend of tranquil green and energising yellow, that also produces feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation.
What’s nice about lime is that pairs beautifully with fuchsia, bright oranges, yellow and shades of pink and purple to produce a lively effect. Lime pops next to black and also matches well with neutrals like white and coffee.
Lime coloured plants to choose:
Flowers:
Petunia Sophistica Lime Green and Lime Bicolour are bold and unusual petunias with large slightly frilled flowers. Being Grandiflora petunias, they are compact (38cm high and almost as wide) with showy flowers; excellent for making a big impact in small spaces.
Lime Bicolour combines lime and rose pink and the flower colour changes, based on the light, heat and age of the flowers.
The Lime Green petunia is yellow with a strong lime undertone and the flowers do not fade like traditional yellow petunias. This petunia combines very well with Blackberry which is a shimmering black with reddish-purple undertones.
Growing tips:
Plant in compost enriched soil that drains well. Petunias prefer full sun but will cope with a little shade. They prefer to be grown on the dry side, but at the height of summer don’t let the soil dry out completely.
For an ongoing show it is very important to dead head grandiflora petunias.
Foliage:
Coleus Captivate Wasabi (vivid lime green) is part of the range of sun coleus that includes Henna (lime green with scarlet reverse), and Coleosaurus (dark red and lime green edged leaves).
Full sun brings out the strong colour of their leaves but they can also be grown in semi-shade, especially in hot gardens with low humidity.
Plants range in height from 40cm to 70cm. Because they flower late, if at all, they put all their energy into producing healthy leaves.
Growing tips:
Plant in fertile, well mulched soil that retains moisture but doesn’t get soggy. Water well while establishing and then reduce.
Water plants in containers daily or every second day in summer. Feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser, such as Margaret Roberts Organic Supercharger.
Pinch off any flowers and spindly stems to keep the plant bushy. Strictly speaking, coleus is a perennial and can be treated as one in sub-tropical areas. However, it is frost tender and is an annual in cold gardens.
Edibles:
Blood Sorrel is a perennial herb with bright lime-green leaves and red veins.
The slightly sour, lemony flavoured leaves are delicious in salads, on sandwiches, in soups and even as a pesto.
Sorre is similar in growth habit to spinach.
The outer leaves are picked young. Plant in full sun to partial shade, in fertile well composted soil that drains well and water regularly.
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