10 Unique Flower Garden Design Color Combinations You'll Love

3. Coastal Dreams: White and Sea Blue

A photo of a garden with a coastal theme. There are white cosmos flowers and blue hydrangeas planted in the ground. The hydrangeas are taller and are placed towards the back of the border. In front of the hydrangeas, there are white cosmos flowers arranged in a wave-like pattern. The garden also has white candytuft, blue forget-me-nots, white alyssum, blue lobelia, white phlox, and blue ageratum. The garden has a sandy area with a few rocks. The background contains a few trees.

Let me tell you about my absolute favorite garden color combination that I discovered quite by accident! I was trying to recreate the feeling of my favorite beach vacation in Maine, and what started as a simple experiment turned into the most photographed section of my garden.

Creating the Perfect Coastal Palette

You know that feeling when you’re standing on the beach, watching white-capped waves crash against the shore? That’s exactly what inspired this combination! White cosmos and blue hydrangeas are the stars of this show. I learned the hard way that hydrangeas need acidic soil to maintain that gorgeous blue color – my first attempt gave me pink flowers instead!

The trick is to plant your tallest specimens, like the hydrangeas, toward the back of the border. I arrange the white cosmos in drifting patterns in front of them, creating a wave-like effect that mimics the ocean’s movement.

Layer Your Beach-Inspired Beauty

One thing that really makes this combination pop is layering. Start with a foundation of white candytuft – it’s like the foam on ocean waves! Intersperse it with clusters of blue forget-me-nots for that perfect seaside feel. The forget-me-nots will naturalize over time, creating beautiful drifts of blue that look just like little pools of seawater.

Ground-Level Magic

Here’s a pro tip I discovered after years of trial and error: white alyssum and blue lobelia create the most incredible carpet effect when planted together. The alyssum’s honey-sweet fragrance attracts pollinators like crazy, while the lobelia adds those perfect touches of deep blue that remind me of the deep ocean.

Adding Height and Movement

For the final touch, I incorporate white phlox and blue ageratum. The phlox adds height and movement (they dance in the breeze just like sea grass!), while the ageratum provides those perfect puffy clouds of blue that look like little pieces of sky touched down in your garden.

Some key elements that make this combination work:

Varying heights for visual interest
Different bloom times for continuous color
Mix of textures from delicate to bold
Plants that thrive in similar conditions

Want to know my biggest gardening secret? I always plant a few extra white cosmos seeds in late spring for continuous blooming well into fall. They’re like the gift that keeps on giving!

Speaking of gifts that keep giving, wait until you see what’s coming up next! Our next color combination, Berry Delight, takes us from the cool coastal vibes to rich, jewel-toned drama. Click the next button below to discover how to combine deep reds and pinks for a garden that looks good enough to eat! 🌸