Most people are familiar with those colorful paint swatches available for choosing that perfect shade of color for your home – be the kitchen, the bedroom, or outdoor shed. But what if you could just as easily choose the best colors for the garden in a similar way? You can, and PlantSwatchâ„¢ is the answer!

What is PlantSwatchâ„¢?

PlantSwatchâ„¢ is just like a paint swatch but deigned for choosing garden plants instead of paint. This nifty little “tool” is basically an easy-to-carry index that’s arranged by color and hardiness zones. It features over 230 plant varieties, each with its own growing conditions. From shrubs and trees to grasses and flowering plants, you’ll find everything you need right at your fingertips. The product was created to provide the “average” gardener, as well as newbies, with a more practical solution to selecting plants for the garden. And it’s fun!

How Does PlantSwatchâ„¢ work?

I recently used the PlantSwatchâ„¢ in my own garden. After removing some monstrous shrubs left by previous owners, I was left with a fairly large space in need of something… and what gardener doesn’t love the chance of starting over with a clean slate. Sure, it’s easy enough to get the beds started, but then the real task begins: choosing plants.

While it is always fun to purchase new plants, this can also be difficult, especially if you’re new to gardening. Of course, even for those of us that have been doing it awhile, we can find ourselves struggling with suitable plant choices. I mean, there’s just so many and while they may very well grow fine in a particular area, not all colors work that great together. And this is one place where the PlantSwatchâ„¢ helps.

You can literally see how certain colors look next to each other. Choosing the wrong color palette can make or break the space. You want the colors to complement each other, not fight one another. This product is designed to make plant selection easier, putting the fun back into your garden planning. Just follow the color and number coded bars on each page, and look for plants within that range. Already have existing plants but looking to add more? Put the swatch next to your current plantings and see how the colors work together.

But it doesn’t just stop there. Color is important but so is choosing the right plant for the spot you want, and in the correct growing zone. You might love that zone 10 shade flower, but if you’re in zone 5 or in a sunny location, it won’t make any difference. It won’t thrive in the wrong zone or growing area. It’s just that simple. PlantSwatchâ„¢, however, makes this easy too. Along with each colorful photo, you’ll find the plant’s hardiness zone and general information on:

• what conditions it grows best in – sun, shade, part shade, etc.
• which soil it prefers – well-drained, warm, poor, nutrient-rich, cool, etc.
• its moisture requirements – moist, dry
• its height and width
• when it blooms and what color – spring, summer, year-long foliage, etc.
• the type of plant it is – annual, herbaceous perennial, shrub, etc.

It’s made figuring out what I want to plant in my new bed, an area with morning shade and afternoon sun, much easier – and quicker. It could take tons of time browsing plant nurseries looking for suitable choices, but with the PlantSwatchâ„¢ I can simply plan ahead. Now when I go to the nursery to purchase the plants on my list, I know I won’t be wasting money on plants that won’t thrive. And, best of all, it’s small enough to carry with me so if I come across something new that captures my attention, I can double check that it will work with my other plant choices. Plus, it doesn’t cost much – only $14 plus tax and shipping. I’ll spend far more than that on new plants.