Pantone's Colour of the Year is an important reference in the world of fashion, design and living. The shade on everyone's lips this year is Viva Magenta, a scarlet hue that strikes a balance between warm and cool,  encouraging optimism in bohemian times.

The team at Pelargoniums for Europe has put together some ideas to bring this vibrant hot shade of pink to your outdoor space and new plants from early summer. The best time to think about new growth of your geranium plants or buying these popular plants is now. Given the many different types of geraniums, you are bound to find something which suits your garden. 

Pelargoniums in a pink colourway will bring a bright spirit of optimism to a garden to banish the wintery weather blues.  The shade’s bold accent will bring both luminosity and a positive mood whether planted outdoors or indoors.   Magenta can make a bold and beautiful statement when paired with cooler tones in flower borders or as a centrepiece in a container, table display, hanging basket or window box.  When used, it will breathe a fresh breath of air into tired displays and is a colour that you will never tire of in your garden beds.

 For a quick-fix garden style, look no further than the pelargonium in this year’s hottest colour trend. Here are some of our ideas on how to use magenta pelargoniums and geraniums for the outdoor vibrant pop this summer…

Be bold with magenta pelargonium borders

Magenta is a warm colour that complements hues like moss or light green beautifully. The fragrant foliage of geranium leaves will give a fantastic contrast to the hot pink flowers, making them a showstopper to use in any garden display.

Try using a darker, more contrasted green ivy-shaped leaves if you want it to add more intensity.  Ferns make the ideal companion for any plant with their rich green tones and would look fantastic planted in a border display in front of a house or garden fence.

 Try a gentler shade of green for a more calming appearance. Grasses offer a great textural contrast with the hue of the pink petals, adding both movement and sound to a border.

The colour is also complementary to a paler shade of pink or white so will go well with blush begonias or aquilegia, whilst when coupled with magenta pelargoniums, Feverfew's lovely, straightforward daisy blossoms give off a natural, relaxed appearance.

Magenta pelargoniums in pots

One of the easiest and most effective ways to cover a patio, balcony, or garden with brilliant magenta colour is by planting pelargoniums in containers as they are such low-maintenance plants. 

Why not use a block colour and create a magenta showpiece on your decking or light up a much darker area of the garden?

They are popular bedding plants for containers, hanging baskets or window boxes, pair your magenta blooms with silver foliage to add a touch of elegance. They will also work well with white flowers and lilac plants such as lavender, nemesia and lobelia for the perfect cottage garden container.

Planting magenta pelargoniums in terracotta or neutral-coloured pots for the kitchen table or work surface will bring both summer and colour inside. Pelargoniums adore being indoors and thrive when placed in the sun. They can also be used as cut flowers because they keep well in vases for up to three weeks.

Combine pelargonium varieties

 With more than 500 varieties of geraniums, including upright bushy regals, cranesbill geraniums, trailing ivy geraniums, and the scented green leaves variety, combining magenta pelargoniums with plant blooms in red, burgundy, pastel pink and white will result in a spectacular, attention-grabbing spectrum of colours and growth patterns which will make your flower beds look cheery all summer long.  Whether it be in large pots,  display or floral crafts, Viva Magenta can be fully encapsulated with these versatile plants.

Growing conditions and geranium care

Most annual geraniums need a spot in full sun, except for the ivy geranium, which grows best in partial shade. Perennial geraniums, on the other hand, grow in either sun or shade, depending on the type.

The growing season for hardy geraniums is from early spring onwards, (mine in London have always flowered early) but mainly from early June due to danger of frost and they flower well into late summer. If grown as indoor geraniums; they can flower all year round if you place plants on a sunny window ledge.

If you're looking to buy some of these for your own borders or to plant in larger containers instead of the local garden center, check out specialist grower Pelargonium for Europe .

Frequently asked questions:

Q: What is Pelargonium x hortorum?

A: Pelargonium x hortorum, also known as common geraniums, are a popular species of pelargonium that is widely grown for its colorful flowers and ease of cultivation. It is a tender perennial plant that is often grown as an annual in cooler climates.

The garden geranium has thick, fleshy leaves that are often serrated or lobed and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Its flowers are typically clustered in large, showy heads and come in shades of pink, red, orange, white, and bi-colors. Garden geraniums are commonly grown in containers, window boxes, or garden beds, and they prefer full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. They are also known to be excellent plants for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Q: Can you grow the plants from geranium seed?

A: Yes, it is possible to grow seed geraniums, although the process can be a bit challenging and time-consuming. Pelargoniums grown from seed may not produce flowers that are identical to their parent plants, and it may take several years for the plants to reach maturity and bloom. For this reason, many gardeners prefer to propagate pelargoniums from stem cuttings or purchase established plants from a nursery.