Choosing the Perfect Plants for Your Dark House Exterior
Introduction
If you have a dark house, choosing the right plants for your foundation can be a challenge. You want plants that will stand out against the dark background and create a beautiful and inviting outdoor space. In this article, we’ll provide you with tips on how to choose the best plants for your dark house exterior, including suggestions for different color schemes and plant types.
Color Theory for Dark House Landscaping
When choosing plants for a dark house, it’s important to consider color theory. Warm colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, can make plants appear closer and create a feeling of warmth. Cool colors, such as blue, green, and purple, can make plants appear further away and create a feeling of coolness.
Foliage Color
Foliage color is another important consideration when choosing plants for a dark house. While green is a classic choice, there are many other colors to choose from, such as chartreuse, burgundy, blue, gray, and variegated. Variegated plants have leaves with multiple colors, which can add visual interest to your landscape.
Evergreen vs. Deciduous Plants
Evergreen plants retain their leaves all year round, while deciduous plants lose their leaves in the fall. Evergreen plants are a good choice for year-round color, while deciduous plants can provide seasonal interest with their changing leaf colors.
Color Schemes for Dark House Exteriors
There are many different color schemes that you can use to create a beautiful landscape for your dark house. Here are a few ideas:
- Monochromatic: This scheme uses different shades of the same color. For example, you could use dark green, light green, and variegated green plants to create a monochromatic landscape.
- Analogous: This scheme uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. For example, you could use blue, blue-violet, and violet plants to create an analogous landscape.
- Complementary: This scheme uses colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. For example, you could use yellow and purple plants to create a complementary landscape.
Plant Suggestions for Dark House Exteriors
Here are a few specific plant suggestions for dark house exteriors:
- Cool color scheme: Hostas, variegated boxwood, panicle hydrangea, azaleas, Japanese cedar
- Flower bed against a dark background: Purple coneflower, yellow daylilies, purple garden phlox
- Native bed: Yellow coneflower, coreopsis, blue false indigo, blazing star, smooth aster
- Bold statement: Orange Rocket or Sunjoy barberry shrubs, butterfly weed, Amber Jubilee ninebark, yellow mums
Seasonal Changes
It’s important to consider how plants will change throughout the seasons when choosing plants for your dark house exterior. Many plants, including shrubs, put on a fall foliage change and may also produce berries. Include all of these variations when planning your landscape.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can choose the perfect plants to create a beautiful and inviting outdoor space for your dark house. With a little planning, you can create a landscape that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
