Garden Full of Gems: The Complete Guide to Jewel-Toned Flowers and Plants

Make your yard sparkle with flowers in gemstone hues

Flowering plants on field
Photo: Scott Swank / EyeEm / Getty Images
Flowering plants on field
Photo: Scott Swank / EyeEm / Getty Images
Highlights
  • Jewel gardens include flowering plants in vibrant hues.

  • To protect flowers from wind, install trees and shrubs.

  • Use understated filler plants, like evergreen shrubs, as backdrops.

  • Mulch, deadhead, and annually enrich the soil.

Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Geo Icon

Imagine strolling through a garden with blooms the colors of semi-precious stones. Featuring a riot of hues and textures, these tapestry-like gardens are vibrant and eye-catching. Read on for tips on which jewel-toned plants to include, costs, and more. 

What Is Jewel-Toned Gardening? 

Jewel-toned gardening involves choosing plants and flowers in vibrant gemstone-inspired colors like deep blues, greens, and reds. Whether on your patio or in your front or back yard, adding jewel-colored plants will boost curb appeal and upgrade your space. 

Best Jewel Garden Plants and Flowers 

Start by picking plants in the hues of semi-precious stones (amber, sapphire, amethyst, ruby, pink, peridot), making sure they’ll thrive in your climate. For a constant supply of color, aim to include varieties that bloom at different times from late spring through summer. Think tulips and alliums in late spring and dahlias in summer through fall, for instance. 

Here are some plants to consider, with the jewel tones they come in and their USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:

  • Tulip: pink, red, yellow, orange (3–8)

  • Dahlia: pink, red, orange, yellow (8–11)

  • Zinnia: pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, green (2–11)

  • Rose: magenta, yellow, pink, purple, orange, red (7–9)

  • Crocosmia: orange, red (4–9)

  • Gladiolus: orange, pink, purple, red (6–9)

  • Kniphofia laxiflora: orange, yellow, red (5–9)

  • Harlequin flower: red, orange, yellow, lavender (7–11)

  • Calendula: orange (8–10)

  • Canna: orange, yellow, red (9–10)

  • Allium: purple (3–8)

  • Echinacea (Coneflower): purple-pink (5–8)

  • Lily: orange, red, purple, yellow (8–11)

  • Honey bell bush: yellow, orange (8-plus)

  • Butterfly bush: purple, pink, yellow (5–9)

  • Sunflower: gold (4–9)

  • Freesia: red, purple, pink, yellow (9–10)

  • Hydrangea: pink, purple, blue, red (3–9)

  • Flowering finger: red, orange, yellow (7–10)

  • Tithonia (Mexican sunflower): orange, red (3–10)

  • Rudbeckia: yellow, orange (4–9)

  • Delphinium: purple, blue (3–7)

  • Nerine sarniensis: red, pink (8–10)

  • Helenium: orange, red (3–9)

  • Glaucidium palmatum: purple (6–9)

  • Clematis: purple, pink (4–9)

  • Cypripedium: pink, magenta (2–6)

  • Euphorbia: green (7–10)

Tips for Creating a Jewel-Toned Garden

 Flowers in a house garden
Photo: Brian Harris / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Fashion your own rainbow of a garden on your property. 

Choose a Spot and Create a Bed

Pick a sunny, sheltered space. Ideally, the soil should be loamy, featuring a balance of sand, clay, silt, and humus. Sandy loam, as it’s called, features high calcium and pH levels with a gritty texture. You can expect to spend an average of $2,000 to create a 5-by-12-foot garden bed, according to HomeAdvisor. Hire a local gardener to help create your dream jewel-toned garden. 

Add Windbreaks

Plant windbreaks at a distance around the perimeter to shield your future blooms from the wind. Choose evergreen trees and shrubs that will thrive in your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone, such as Colorado blue spruce, ponderosa pine, and arborvitae. Plant in two to three staggered rows.

Install Filler Plants

Just as white space in art galleries helps art pop, understated shrubs in jewel gardens let colorful blooms shine. Choose plants that serve as a subtle green backdrop, like boxwood or holly. 

Consider a Container Garden

If you don’t have the space or budget for a bed, you can always go the container gardening route. Plant flowers in pots and group them close together for visual impact. Choose understated pots so the blooms can hog the spotlight. 

Plant in Drifts

Wait until the first frost has passed before planting annuals. Then, install flowering plants in irregular groups (called “drifts”) along your garden borders. Since you won’t include as many types of plants along the edges, your garden will be less chaotic, and each plant variety will make more of an impact. 

Include Stakes or Trellises

Support plants with heavy blooms, like dahlias, delphiniums, zinnias, and lilies, with stakes (about $25 for 20 stakes). For climbers, like clematis, use trellises (about $15 to $25 each). 

Mulch and Deadhead

During the summer, add 2 to 3 inches of mulch ($30 to $150 per cubic yard on average) around plants to help keep the soil cool and moist. Check your garden frequently, deadheading spent blooms and treating plants with a high potassium fertilizer (about $10 for three pounds) every two weeks.

Treat the Soil

In the fall, cut back plants, letting your garden hibernate until spring. To improve the condition of your soil, amend it each year. In late fall, after your plants have died, pull them from the ground and place them on top of the soil. 

Make compost for your garden, then add a 2-inch layer to the surface. Wet the area well, then leave in place over the winter. In the spring, turn the soil with a shovel to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
The homeowners guide to landscaping services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Young boy in grassy backyard with play set in background
May 5, 2025
May 5, 2025
Leveling your yard can help with drainage and prevent damage to your home. Learn the cost to level a yard and what factors can affect the price.
Three-tiered home hydroponic garden
Jan 21, 2025
Jan 21, 2025
Growing plants with a hydroponic gardening water system can be a big investment. To know how much it costs to build a hydroponic garden, consider the system, technology, size, and whether you hire a pro. This guide will help calculate costs.
beautiful home front yard landscaping
May 5, 2025
May 5, 2025
Landscaping your yard adds curb appeal and expands your home’s living space into the outdoors. Learn how much landscaping costs for various projects.
front yard flower garden with plastic edging
Aug 15, 2024
Aug 15, 2024
Looking to beautify your outdoor growing areas? This guide will teach you how to install plastic edging around your garden or outdoor spaces.
Man laying down sod in yard
Feb 15, 2025
Feb 15, 2025
Dreaming of landscaping that makes your entire neighborhood jealous but not sure you’re ready? Ask these common landscaping questions before getting started.
A grandfather in a wheelchair playing with his grandson in the backyard
Oct 23, 2024
Oct 23, 2024
Most homes in the United States aren’t adequately accessible, but you can create a wheelchair-accessible backyard with some simple planning.