‘Blossom buddies’ − how do flower colour combinations affect emotional response and influence therapeutic landscape design?

Natural landscapes are linked to health and well-being outcomes. This research investigated emotional responses to colour in the landscape. An online questionnaire (with 715 respondents) was employed to capture participants' preferences and positive psychological reactions to key flower colours and combinations. Images were created using combinations of pansy flowers in various colours. Flower combinations explored the effects of complementary, analogous and warm/cool colour harmonies. Orange flowers (a warm colour) provided a strong uplifting emotion in participants: an emotional response that was maintained even when up to 50 % of the orange flowers were replaced by the complementary (and cool) colour of blue. In contrast, the relaxing effect of 100 % blue flowers was lost when 25 % or more of the flowers were replaced by orange. Using analogous cool colours, it was evident blue provided more feelings of relaxation than purple, and adding purple to a blue combination (50:50) reduced the capacity of the floral composition to promote relaxation. The colour found to be most relaxing, however, was white; but again mixing this colour with either blue or purple tended to reduce its capacity to relax. Thus, the study suggests that certain patterns of colours and combinations provide a generic response in enhancing emotional well-being of individuals; a point that can be exploited in designed therapeutic landscapes. The data also indicated, however, that cool colours scored quite highly for positive uplifting emotion (mean score > 6.5) and people's favourite cool colour/combination was often described as uplifting (7.4), indicating the subjective nature of colour preference and emotional response. Thus, whilst understanding key principles about colour and therapeutic responses, designers also need to take account of personal preference and should provide some variety of colours/colour combinations in different parts of a garden/park. These findings provide valuable insights for horticultural design practices, emphasizing the importance of colour selection and user preferences in creating supportive environments for mental well-being.