Flowers by colour

Pink flowers, and why two pinks can look wrong together

Pink is the most planted colour in the garden and the easiest to get wrong, because there are two of them. Cool pink has blue in it, warm pink has orange, and side by side they make each other look grubby. Here is which is which.

Deep rose Peony Garden phlox Cosmos Blush rose Apple blossom Shell pink Almost white
The flowers

Every pink flower in the library

59 of the 82 flowers here carry this colour, ordered by how much of it the photograph actually shows. The library keeps one picture per flower and most of these come in several colours.

TulipBlush and pale pink TulipTulipa spp. (incl. Tulipa gesneriana hybrids)Spring bloomer
8 photos of Tulip
Pink tulip beside a budding flower Pink tulip with morning dew. Pink tulip blooming from above. Delicate pink tulip with morning dew Single pink tulip against blurred skyline Single pink tulip against blurred background Delicate pink tulip in soft focus Pink tulip with raindrops on petals
AnemoneCool pink AnemoneAnemone coronariaSpring bloomer
Garden VerbenaBlush and pale pink Garden VerbenaVerbena x hybridaSpring bloomer
DahliaWarm pink DahliaDahlia pinnataSummer bloomer
8 photos of Dahlia
Beautiful pink dahlia flower in sunlight Beautiful pink dahlia by fence. Pink dahlia flower beside white fence Pink dahlia flower with dew drops Pink dahlia flowers in forest setting Pink flower with water droplets Pink flower with water droplets Beautiful pink dahlia flower blooming
PetuniaBlush and pale pink PetuniaPetunia x hybridaSpring bloomer
CamelliaBlush and pale pink CamelliaCamellia japonicaCool-season bloomer
8 photos of Camellia
Pink camellia flower with dew Pink camellia flower with dew Pink camellia near purple flowers Pink camellia flower with raindrops Pink camellia flower with raindrops Pink flower against city skyline backdrop Pink camellia flower on green leaves. Pink camellia flower against blue background
RoseBlush and pale pink RoseRosaSummer bloomer
8 photos of Rose
Beautiful pink rose with green leaves Delicate pink rose with dew drops Pink rose near a white fence Delicate pink rose with raindrops Close-up of pink rose with droplets Single pink rose in glass vase Delicate pink rose against blurred background Single pink rose in soft background
CarnationBlush and pale pink CarnationDianthus caryophyllusSummer bloomer
8 photos of Carnation
Pink carnation with delicate petals Pink carnation near wooden fence. Delicate pink carnation flower blooming Pink carnation with dew drops Pink carnation blooming near fence Single pink carnation in vase Pink carnation with water droplets Pink carnation against a rainy background.
ConeflowerBlush and pale pink ConeflowerEchinacea purpureaSummer bloomer
8 photos of Coneflower
Vibrant pink coneflower with dew Dewy pink coneflower in sunlight Pink coneflower in soft sunlight. Close-up of pink coneflower with droplets Pink flower against blurred city skyline Purple coneflower beside a wooden fence Pink coneflower with soft background Pink flower with raindrops on petals
SnapdragonWarm pink SnapdragonAntirrhinum majusSpring bloomer
8 photos of Snapdragon
Pink snapdragons in a glass vase Pink snapdragon flowers near rustic bench Pink snapdragon flowers beside wooden bench Close-up of pink flower with droplets Pink flower in a misty forest Delicate pink snapdragon flower in sunlight Delicate snapdragon flower in sunlight Pink snapdragon flower with dew
PeonyCool pink PeonyPaeonia lactifloraSpring bloomer
8 photos of Peony
Pink peony flower with dew drops Pink peony flower with dew drops Pink peony flower with bee Pink peony flower on wooden fence Single pink peony in garden Single peony in a vase Large pink peony in vase. Pink peony with raindrops glistening
Bearded IrisCool pink Bearded IrisIris germanicaSpring bloomer
ZinniaWarm pink ZinniaZinnia elegansSummer bloomer
8 photos of Zinnia
Vibrant pink zinnia flower in bloom. Pink flower beside white picket fence Pink flower against city skyline backdrop Pink flower in a garden setting. Single pink flower in glass vase Pink flower with yellow center. Pink flower in soft golden background Pink flower with raindrops on petals
Sweet AlyssumBlush and pale pink Sweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaSpring bloomer
Garden PhloxCool pink Garden PhloxPhlox paniculataSummer bloomer
8 photos of Garden Phlox
Cluster of pink phlox flowers blooming Pink flowers beside a white fence. Cluster of pink phlox flowers blooming Pink flowers amidst lush greenery. Pink flower with water droplets Pink flowers in a vase indoors Pink flowers on a marble surface. Delicate pink flowers in soft background
Busy Lizzie (Garden Impatiens)Warm pink Busy Lizzie (Garden Impatiens)Impatiens wallerianaSpring bloomer
GeraniumWarm pink GeraniumPelargonium x hortorumSummer bloomer
AlstroemeriaWarm pink AlstroemeriaAlstroemeria aureaSpring bloomer
LilacCool pink LilacSyringa vulgarisSpring bloomer
MagnoliaBlush and pale pink MagnoliaMagnolia grandifloraSpring bloomer
AmaryllisWarm pink AmaryllisHippeastrumSpring bloomer
ClematisCool pink ClematisClematisSpring bloomer
Cornflower (Bachelor's Button)Cool pink Cornflower (Bachelor's Button)Centaurea cyanusSpring bloomer
Canna LilyWarm pink Canna LilyCanna x generalisSummer bloomer
BegoniaWarm pink BegoniaBegonia x semperflorensSpring bloomer
8 photos of Begonia
Delicate pink begonia with dew drops Delicate pink begonia flower in bloom. Delicate pink flowers with yellow centers Delicate pink begonia flowers blooming Delicate pink begonia flowers blooming Close-up of a dewy begonia flower Pink begonia flower against city backdrop Delicate pink begonia flowers glowing softly
Candle larkspurCool pink Candle larkspurDelphinium elatumSummer bloomer
AnthuriumBlush and pale pink AnthuriumAnthurium andraeanumCool-season bloomer
LantanaWarm pink LantanaLantana camaraSummer bloomer
Scarlet SageWarm pink Scarlet SageSalvia coccineaSpring bloomer
Virginia BluebellsCool pink Virginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaSpring bloomer
AsterCool pink AsterAster amellusSummer bloomer
AzaleaCool pink AzaleaRhododendron spp.Spring bloomer
8 photos of Azalea
Pink azalea flowers with dew drops Pink azalea flowers with dew drops Pink azaleas with lavender background Pink azalea flowers near white fence Pink azalea flower in garden setting. Pink azalea in a cozy room. Pink azalea plant in decorative pot Pink azalea flowers on marble surface
PoppyWarm pink PoppyPapaverSpring bloomer
RanunculusWarm pink RanunculusRanunculus asiaticusSpring bloomer
Lenten Rose (Hellebore)Blush and pale pink Lenten Rose (Hellebore)Helleborus × hybridus (syn. H. orientalis hybrids)Cool-season bloomer
Lily (true lily)Blush and pale pink Lily (true lily)Lilium spp. (genus Lilium; includes Oriental hybrids, Asiatic hybrids, L. longiflorum, L. orientalis 'Stargazer')Summer bloomer
Moth OrchidBlush and pale pink Moth OrchidPhalaenopsisCool-season bloomer
CosmosBlush and pale pink CosmosCosmos bipinnatusSummer bloomer
8 photos of Cosmos
Pink flower with dew drops Pink flower with yellow center Pink flowers among green foliage Pink flower with water droplets Pink flowers in a grassy field Delicate pink flowers against blurred background Pink flowers blooming in a field Single pink flower in vase
Love-in-a-MistCool pink Love-in-a-MistNigella damascenaSpring bloomer
IrisCool pink IrisIrisSpring bloomer
CatmintCool pink CatmintNepeta x faasseniiSpring bloomer
ViburnumBlush and pale pink ViburnumViburnum spp. (genus; principal species include V. opulus, V. carlesii, V. x burkwoodii, V. plicatum, V. dentatum)Spring bloomer
Morning GloryCool pink Morning GloryIpomoea purpurea / Ipomoea tricolorSummer bloomer
HibiscusWarm pink HibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensisSummer bloomer
8 photos of Hibiscus
Large pink hibiscus flower in bloom Pink flower with green leaves Pink flower with raindrops in forest Close-up of vibrant pink hibiscus flower Pink flower near rustic barn Pink flower with delicate petals Pink hibiscus flowers in soft light Pink hibiscus flower among tall grass
LupineCool pink LupineLupinus polyphyllus (and Russell hybrids, Lupinus × hybridus)Spring bloomer
Calla LilyBlush and pale pink Calla LilyZantedeschia aethiopicaSummer bloomer
Balloon FlowerCool pink Balloon FlowerPlatycodon grandiflorusSummer bloomer
Gerbera DaisyWarm pink Gerbera DaisyGerbera jamesoniiSpring bloomer
8 photos of Gerbera Daisy
Pink gerbera daisy with dew drops Pink gerbera daisy by white fence Pink gerbera daisy in garden setting. Vibrant pink flower with water droplets Pink flower against city skyline backdrop Pink gerbera daisy in garden setting. Pink gerbera daisy against sunset backdrop. Pink flower amidst golden grass
African Lily (Lily of the Nile)Blush and pale pink African Lily (Lily of the Nile)Agapanthus praecoxSummer bloomer
BellflowerCool pink BellflowerCampanula persicifoliaSummer bloomer
BellflowerCool pink BellflowerCampanula spp.Spring bloomer
YarrowBlush and pale pink YarrowAchillea millefoliumSummer bloomer
Forget-Me-NotCool pink Forget-Me-NotMyosotis sylvaticaSpring bloomer
Dancing Lady OrchidBlush and pale pink Dancing Lady OrchidOncidiumFall bloomer
Coreopsis (Tickseed)Warm pink Coreopsis (Tickseed)Coreopsis grandiflora / C. lanceolata / C. verticillataSpring bloomer
Common JasmineBlush and pale pink Common JasmineJasminum officinaleSummer bloomer
ChrysanthemumCool pink ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum × morifoliumFall bloomer
DaylilyWarm pink DaylilyHemerocallisSummer bloomer
Bigleaf HydrangeaDecided by your soil Bigleaf HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaSummer bloomer
8 photos of Bigleaf Hydrangea
Pink hydrangea with morning dew Pink hydrangea blooming by white fence Pink hydrangea blooms with dew drops Pink hydrangea in lush green forest Pink flower with water droplets Pink hydrangea blooming near fence Pink hydrangeas in a clear vase Vibrant pink hydrangea on marble surface.
Why

Why pink is the colour it is

Pink is red at low volume. The pigments are the same anthocyanins that make a flower crimson or scarlet, simply present in smaller quantity or spread through paler tissue. Which pink you get depends on which anthocyanin the plant builds: cyanidin leans blue and gives the cool, cold pinks of peony and lilac, while pelargonidin leans orange and gives the warm corals of geranium and impatiens. Breeders have pushed pink harder than any other colour because it is the safest seller, which is why the shelves carry forty shades of it and no honest label.

The test that takes two seconds

Hold the flower against a white page. If the pink shifts towards purple it is cool; if it shifts towards peach it is warm. Buy one temperature per bed and the planting reads as deliberate rather than accidental.

The honest sort

How pink each one really is

The same flowers again, this time grouped by how much of the colour is actually there in ordinary daylight rather than on a label.

Cool pink20Blue underneath. Sits with purple, lilac and silver.
Pink peony flower with dew dropsPeony AnemoneAnemone Cluster of pink phlox flowers bloomingGarden Phlox Bearded IrisBearded Iris Pink azalea flowers with dew dropsAzalea
Also here Lilac Aster Bellflower Cornflower (Bachelor's Button) Catmint Balloon Flower Forget-Me-Not Love-in-a-Mist Virginia Bluebells Clematis Candle larkspur Morning Glory Chrysanthemum Lupine Iris
Warm pink, coral and salmon17Orange underneath. Sits with apricot, gold and rust.
Delicate pink begonia with dew dropsBegonia Pink gerbera daisy with dew dropsGerbera Daisy Vibrant pink zinnia flower in bloom.Zinnia Beautiful pink dahlia flower in sunlightDahlia Pink snapdragons in a glass vaseSnapdragon Large pink hibiscus flower in bloomHibiscus
Also here Geranium Busy Lizzie (Garden Impatiens) Alstroemeria Canna Lily Amaryllis Ranunculus Coreopsis (Tickseed) Daylily Lantana Scarlet Sage Poppy
Blush and pale pink20Almost white until the light goes low, then unmistakably pink.
Pink camellia flower with dewCamellia Beautiful pink rose with green leavesRose Pink carnation with delicate petalsCarnation Pink tulip beside a budding flowerTulip Pink flower with dew dropsCosmos PetuniaPetunia Garden VerbenaGarden Verbena Vibrant pink coneflower with dewConeflower
Also here Sweet Alyssum Magnolia Moth Orchid Calla Lily Anthurium Common Jasmine Viburnum Yarrow Lenten Rose (Hellebore) Lily (true lily) Dancing Lady Orchid African Lily (Lily of the Nile)
Decided by your soil1Pink in limey ground, blue in sour ground, same plant.
Pink hydrangea with morning dewBigleaf Hydrangea
Putting it together

What pink sits well with

Cool pink and deep purpleReads rich and old-fashioned; the safest pink pairing there is.
Coral pink and bronze foliageWarm on warm. Add nothing blue.
Blush and pure whiteAlmost no contrast, and that is the point at a wedding.
Meaning

What pink says

Pink carries affection without the declaration that red makes: gratitude, admiration, gentleness, and in a lighter shade the beginning of something. It is the colour most often sent to say thank you.