What is your favourite colour flower? Study reveals what your preferences say about you
- Study found blue and white flowers are the most relaxing colour of plant to have
- But orange, yellow or red flowers such as sunflowers or roses are most uplifting
For garden novices and experts alike, it’s the key to flower planting that might just change your feelings.
And it all hinges on colour and what you want from your garden.
A study established that blue or white flowers, such as hyacinths or lilies, are deemed the most relaxing colours of plant to have. And those which are orange, yellow or red, such as sunflowers or roses, are the most uplifting.
Researchers did this by showing 670 Britons images of daisy-like flowers in eight colours and quizzing them on their preferences and emotional responses.
But the University of Sheffield study also discovered a participant’s favourite colour had an intense personal effect. For example, of those who said purple was their favourite, around half said they found it to be the most relaxing colour and the other half the most stimulating.
A study established that blue or white flowers, such as hyacinths or lilies, are deemed the most relaxing colours of plant to have
Flowers which are orange, yellow or red, such as sunflowers or roses, are the most uplifting
This is despite the fact that, overall, purple was not deemed particularly uplifting or relaxing.
Writing in the Urban Forestry & Urban Greening journal, the team said there were some ‘universal truths’ about floral colours and the link to emotions.
They added: ‘The second phenomenon [we found] suggests that… an individual preference for a particular given colour can also elicit positive psychological benefits. Retaining a variety of flower colours in the landscape is still important.’
