British Gardeners Choose Purple as Their Favorite Color

British gardens are blooming with purple this season, and science shows it's making people happier.

The Royal Horticultural Society surveyed over 11,000 visitors at RHS Garden Wisley, and purple flowers won by a landslide at nearly 27% of votes. Red came in second at just over 25%, but lavender, salvias, and catmint are the new stars of British backyards.

The shift marks a big change from recent trends. For years, gray decking, pristine lawns, and minimalist designs dominated home gardens across the UK.

Tom Massey, an award-winning London garden designer, says his clients now want bold colors and natural plantings. "We've moved away from the era of large expanses of decking, paving and lawn towards richer, more naturalistic planting inspired by meadows," he explains.

Laura Carey, who runs a garden design company with her husband, confirms purple tops every client's wishlist. Favorites include lavender, alliums, and geraniums, all easy to find and grow in British gardens.

Why This Inspires

Purple's popularity goes beyond aesthetics. Research published in Acta Psychologica found that purple and blue flowers create feelings of calm and relaxation, while yellows and oranges spark joy.

The color works perfectly with greens, silvers, and ornamental grasses, creating gardens that look beautiful and support local ecosystems. Purple flowering plants attract crucial pollinators like bees and butterflies, helping reverse wildlife decline.

Dr. Ashby Sachs, a wellbeing fellow at the RHS, says understanding how colors affect emotions could transform how we design gardens for schools, hospitals, and public spaces. "That different shades of colour can elicit an anticipated emotional response in people is incredibly useful," she notes.

Massey points to successful public gardens like Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and New York's High Line as proof that people crave color-rich, ecologically friendly spaces. These bold landscapes combine beauty with environmental benefits, inspiring homeowners to follow suit.

The purple trend represents something bigger than garden fashion: people reconnecting with nature and prioritizing wellbeing in their outdoor spaces.