CONSUMER TRENDS Pantone's Color of the Year selections reflected in shades in horticulture. By Jess Schmidt | Staff Writer A s one of the industries that looks to Pantone for color inspiration each year, the horticulture industry and breeders celebrate the Color of the Year with matching florals or foliage. Since Pantone recently announced the 2021 Color of the Year (COTY) - Ultimate Gray and Illuminating - we thought we'd share a retrospective on the last five years' colors of the year and how they have been represented in the industry. 20 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | THRIVING IN 2021 2015: Marsala A color that indicates opulence, it's often found in bouquets for fall and winter weddings and a timeless touch in any garden. Pantone suggested pairing Marsala with peaches and pinks, metallic gold and smoky shades. Marsala is a shade rife with tradition in the garden and with fresh flowers, with many varieties already available in the rich winey, burgundy shade.