After several years of what Pantone calls overstimulation, uncertainty, and nonstop visual noise, the color-forecasting firm has picked an unusual choice for their 2026 Color of the Year: Cloud Dancer.
According to Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, the color was chosen because they believe people are "looking to step back." This soft, airy white represents clarity, calm, and the collective craving for space to reset.
Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group and trend forecaster, notes that the choice echoes the emotional landscape her team has been tracking across the industry.
"This calm, pared-back moment is exactly why we selected the Kusumi palette, in particular, Faded Petal as our 2026 Garden Trend color," says Dubow. "This color wheel offers a soft embrace, but unlike white, we believe also offers a touch of optimism. It's a gentle reminder that even in quiet periods, color still has the power to soothe and lift us."
However, Pantone's choice will still make waves, so Garden Media has selected its favorite Cloud Dancer's white blooms and cream-variegated plants, which will no doubt surge in popularity in the coming year.
Cloud Dancer in the garden: Top plant picks for 2026
White Wedding® Hydrangea - A cloudlike hydrangea that mirrors Pantone's pick with its pure white blooms and strong, supportive stems. This Southern Living® and Sunset® Plant Collection standout offers drought tolerance, low maintenance, and lush flowers ideal for both landscapes and cut arrangements.
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Autumn Ivory® Encore® Azalea - A compact reblooming azalea that delivers soft white blooms in spring, summer, and fall. At just 2.5' tall and hardy in Zones 7a–9b, it's perfect for containers, moon gardens, and calming entryways.
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It's a Breeze® Rose in Ivory Blush - This groundcover rose produces abundant ivory blooms kissed with blush pink all season long. It's fragrant, easy to grow, and exceptionally disease resistant — a low-stress rose for a low-stress year. Hardy in Zones 4a–11b.
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Thai Constellation Monstera - Cream and white variegation is trending indoors, and no plant embodies that better than this celestial monstera. Its striking marbling and dramatic leaf fenestrations offer a living expression of Cloud Dancer's softness.
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Jackson & Perkins® Cloud 10 Climbing Rose - Full, creamy white blooms with a soft, cloudlike form appear in steady waves from spring through fall. This vigorous climber, hardy in Zones 5–9, reaches 7–10 feet tall and drapes trellises, arbors, and fences in elegant color and texture.
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Jackson & Perkins® Clouds of Glory Hybrid Tea Rose - Classic, high-centered white blooms with a subtle blush are supported by strong stems. Glowing with soft luminosity, it grows to about 4 feet tall and wide in Zones 5–10, bringing graceful form and beauty to the garden.
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Pantone says that Cloud Dancer isn't just a color; it's a mindset. As people seek emotional clarity and relief from visual overload, white blooms and airy neutrals offer simplicity and grounding. The 2026 Color of the Year invites gardeners and designers to create soothing, intentional spaces that help people slow down and breathe deeply.
For more information:
Garden Media Group
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https://gardenmediagroup.com/
