grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends
The Colour Guide Mini Series #7: The washed palette - Episode 269
Apr 09, 2026
Episode 269
Sarah Raven
There’s something uniquely calming about a garden washed in cool pastels – soft tones that feel like frosty mornings and freshly laundered linen.
Moving us onto the 4th and final palette in Sarah’s colour system, we explore the washed palette in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’. She takes you through the colour combinations, productive plant families, and tips for crafting a soothing, contemplative feeling in your garden.
In this episode, discover:
- How to use Sarah’s washed colour palette of cool pastels to create a calm, clean and harmonious garden
- Which plant families and specific varieties reliably deliver this palette from late winter to autumn
- How to plan colour through the year in two‑month blocks, ensuring there’s always something in flower without breaking the palette
- Simple design techniques to avoid jarring colour clashes
- Why sticking to a coherent palette can make your garden feel both deeply restful and quietly bold
Products mentioned:
Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter
Narcissus ‘Avalanche’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche
Narcissus ‘Thalia’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-thalia
Narcissus ‘Actaea’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea
Tulip ‘White Triumphator’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-triumphator
Tulip ‘Purissima’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purissima
Fritillaria acmopetala (likely "Green Eyes"):
sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-acmopetala
Sweet Pea ‘Nimbus’:
sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-nimbus
Nicotiana sylvestris:
sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-sylvestris
Nicotiana alata ‘Grandiflora’:
sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-alata-grandiflora
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Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
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