Since 2000, color experts at the Pantone Color Institute have combed the world looking for new color influences. The selection process requires thoughtful consideration and analysis of trends from the entertainment industry, traveling art collections, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color.

Twice a year Pantone hosts a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups to choose a timely color for the following year. This year’s Pantone is Viva Magenta (18-1750). The Pantone Color Institute describes it as, “vibrating with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”

They went on to describe the Color of the Year as, “powerful and empowering. It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint. Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.”

Just like last year with Very Peri, we couldn’t help but dream up some color palettes using seasonal Colorado blooms!

The cool thing is that, looking back at the bouquets we created in 2022, we noticed quite a few with hints of Viva Magenta! Elycia has always had a passion for rich colors and vibrant jewel tones so Viva Magenta is a familiar guest in our floral inventory.

Before we get into exploring some possible color palettes incorporating Viva Magenta, we looked through all of the local Colorado-grown flowers we’ve photographed over the last 5 years as part of our Seasonal Colorado Floral Guide and found a couple that stood out as the closest matches to Viva Magenta. Below on the left is a shade of celosia and the right is butterfly ranunculus – dead ringers for Viva Magenta! We also found a few other flowers that had notes of Viva Magenta which we’ve sprinkled throughout this post including peonies, dahlias, strawflower and spray roses. The fun thing about Viva Magenta is how dynamic it is: it almost seems to shift between red and pink the longer you gaze at it, leading you further down the path of bold fluidity and exploration.

Viva Magenta, Pomegranate + Fruits

One of the most Viva Magenta-inspired bouquets Elycia created was this stunning and unique June bouquet. The color direction stated, “fruity colors including ruby red grapefruit, pomegranate, and touches of coral/light pink. Viva Magenta popped out in the fluffy stock and hints and shadows of the rose petals, scabiosa center and ranunculus ruffles.

Viva Magenta, Terra Cotta + Earth Tones

This chic and modern mix of earth tones and terra cotta features a pop of Viva Magenta thanks to the endlessly fascinating Coffee Break roses that fade from magenta to vermillion and every hue in between. They are intriguingly paired with buff Sahara spray roses, golden amaranthus, white dahlias, safflower and seeded eucalyptus in this autumn bouquet.

Viva Magenta + Dusty Jewel Tones

Blending hints of Viva Magenta (thanks to a capricious rudbeckia) with buffs and shades of burgundy and sage green led to an intriguing autumn bouquet. The large dahlias also leave a beguiling space for Viva Magenta to bloom as they fade from red to purple.

Viva Magenta + Refined Summer

This summer bouquet went above and beyond to blend a dazzling array of gold mustard, dark purple, salmon, peachy/orange, and a subtle pop of burgundy & rust. The Viva Magenta standouts are the draping amaranthus and the vivid snapdragon with a subtle appearance in the zinnia and dahlias. Rounding out the palette are deep chocolate cosmos, sweet pea, echinops, lisianthus and a touch of rose.

Now that we’ve explored some possible combinations of flowers and color palettes that incorporate Viva Magenta, you can see that it’s an incredibly versatile color! The hue chosen as Color of the Year has become increasingly influential in the vast world of design and brand marketing we’re excited to see how many 2023 weddings incorporate the cutting edge trend of Viva Magenta into their color schemes. The executive director of the Pantone Institute wisely said that, “In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. Rooted in the primordial, Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, it galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.” Viva Magenta clearly has some strong natural roots and floral expressions and it couldn’t be more perfect to inspire the tone of 2023.

If you’d like to check out the Archive of past Pantones of the Year, you can find them here: Pantone Archive.