Unicorn trend: 4 ideas for a poetic, feminine garden

Garden, rarely short of inspiration, suggests enticing colour trends each year to imagine new borders.
For romantics who favour softness and pastel tones in the garden, here is the Unicorn trend, a new hue devised by promesse de fleurs, blending graduated and iridescent shades from pink to straw-yellow.

What exactly is the Unicorn colour for the garden?

Inspired by the legendary white, pure animal, the "Unicorn in the garden" trend actually draws on the enchanted world of childhood, which associates pink and yellow hues, through to mauve, as if straight from a fairytale.
The garden introduces these fairy-like, very girly notes — powdered and old-rose tones, marshmallow to lavender, touched with very soft yellows — to create a decidedly romantic atmosphere. This garden universe aims to be both poetic and very feminine, approaching a "cotton candy" aesthetic but more subtle, with less acidity and more pastel nuances.

Among plants ticking all boxes of this subtle palette are many perennial plants and shrubs softly salmon, apricot and butter-fresh shaded, tones that catch the light and recall gentle spring colours.
We suggest some planting combination ideas for different garden styles and enticing borders!

garden trend colour 2026 — *Columbine 'Musik Rose', Dahlia 'Karma Serena' and Verbascum 'Jackie'*

In a cottage garden

This border, both rustic and sophisticated, remains very natural thanks to soothing colours from pink to apricot, with a well-measured touch of yellow. It suits a south- or west-facing position.

Here we showcase an intersectional peony Scrumdidleyumptious, indispensable in a country garden for its elegance. As its flowering is fleeting, we surround it with some long-flowering perennials and shrubs: an old-fashioned rose such as the heirloom 'Pénélope', statices and apricot wallflowers. A large drift of Coreopsis 'Uptick Cream' adds further softness…
Also consider adding a few Verbascum 'Jackie' or 'Southern Charm' in a blotting-paper pink that will make you swoon! Also think of adding some olive-green or greyed foliage.

soft-coloured cottage border — *Paeonia Itoh Scrumdidleyumptious, wallflower Erysimum 'Classic Apricot', statice sinuatum 'Apricot', Coreopsis and old rose 'Pénélope'*

In a spring border

A gradient of soft colours will awaken garden in early fine days with these pastel blooms. Gather in a sunny or semi-shaded border a few favourites admired for their simplicity and grace: a Michelia 'Fairy Lime', a small magnolia with evergreen foliage and delicate cream-yellow flowers with a hint of pink, Astrantia 'Florence' for a mauve bloom a little later around June, and hardy geraniums as groundcover such as Geranium 'Katherine Adele', flowering for months from May, nicely veined with dark pink. Another charming small shrub, Japanese quince Chaenomeles 'Falconnet Charlet', will bring salmon tones in March–April alongside the Michelia. A silvery evergreen foliage, for example that of Santoline chamacyparissus if border is in full sun, is an essential complement to the soft ambience.

spring border idea in pink, yellow and mauve — *Michelia 'Fairy Lime', Astrantia major 'Florence', Geranium 'Katherine Adele', Chaenomeles speciosa 'Falconnet Charlet' and Santoline chamacyparissus*

In a secret garden

In the intimate, often shadier setting of a secret garden, invite pale luminous yellow blooms to combine with a few pastel tones, from pearly pink to iridescent mauve.

Rely on a base of climbers to screen views and some supple ornamental grasses, perfect here: Chinese fountain grass orientale 'Karley Rose', a very fragrant yellow star jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum), Thalictrum delavayi 'Splendide', tall and lilac-pink, and two thoroughly voluble climbers: Akebia quinata chosen in a superb bicolour form 'Cream Form', and a persistent Holboellia latifolia. To enliven the base of climbers earlier in the season, plant in autumn a few bulbs of pink or pale-blue grape hyacinths like 'Baby's Breath', some miniature daffodils and Greek anemones 'Charmer'.

secret garden ideas — *Trachelospermum asiaticum, Chinese fountain grass 'Karley Rose', Thalictrum delavayi 'Splendide', Akebia quinata 'Cream Form' and Holboellia latifolia*

In a bohemian garden

The bohemian garden that explores a wide palette of plants also fits perfectly with the Unicorn garden universe. Ultra-soft, soothing colours will be gathered in the joyful mix and abundance of the bohemian garden! It's a garden that comes alive best in summer, in a profusion of flowers and foliage.

Here we've chosen sorbet tones, old-rose and vanilla-yellow to evoke the Unicorn trend. A honeysuckle skilfully blends pink and yellow, double-flowered hollyhocks 'Chater's Double' and a climbing rose 'Papi Delbard' play the apricot notes, delightful gladioli, 'Blue Tropic', and dwarf alstroemerias 'Pitchoune Lucas' reveal a desaturated mauve. In sun, add a few pom-pom dahlias 'Isa's Favorite', preceded in spring by late double tulips 'Charming Lady'. Add a base of foliage to bridge to summer, such as common sage and a dwarf abelia: charm guaranteed!