Pantone's 2026 Color of the Year
- Diana Pierce
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Start Growing Your Own Version Indoors Right Now
By Diana Pierce, Dec. 10, 2025
Pantone surprised everyone last week.
The Color of the Year for 2026 isn’t bold or bright—it’s white. More specifically, Cloud Dancer, a soft, serene shade that feels like an exhale.
The best part? You can start growing your own version of it today, right on your kitchen counter.
White may seem like a “non-color,” but Pantone describes Cloud Dancer as “a billowy white imbued with serenity... a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.” After the last few years, doesn’t that feel oddly perfect?
Why Gardeners Should Pay Attention
A color announcement might sound like something only designers follow, but these forecasts quietly shape what we all see—and buy—in the coming year. Gardeners included.
A friend who works in sourcing at Target told me their teams use both Pantone and Archroma as color authorities to set direction across materials, finishes, and textiles. When Pantone leans toward soft white, the ripple travels into outdoor pots and planters, patio cushions, watering cans and gloves, nursery displays—and yes, even the flower varieties growers will highlight next season. (See my Bailey Nurseries announcement down below).
For Minnesota gardeners planning 2026 containers or refreshing patio spaces, Cloud Dancer is about to be everywhere.
What You Can Do This Week: Start (or Check On) Your Paperwhites
My paperwhites are about 2–3 inches tall right now, cheerfully growing in a little bowl of stones on the counter. If yours look similar—or you’re inspired to start some—here’s how to keep them growing strong.
Paperwhite Care
Light
Give them bright light while shoots grow. Once buds appear, shift to indirect light so they last longer.
Growing Medium
No soil needed. A shallow bowl plus sanitized pebbles is ideal.
Water
Fill to just below the bulbs. Let the roots drink—never submerge the whole bulb, or it will rot.
Temperature
Cooler during the first week, then around 65°F once leaves appear for sturdy stems.
These care instructions are adapted from Bachman's .
The Alcohol Trick (Yes, Really)
Here’s a secret from experienced paperwhite growers: once your shoots are about 2 inches tall, switch from plain water to a 5% alcohol solution to keep stems shorter and prevent flopping. Mix 1-part hard liquor (vodka, gin, whiskey, or isopropyl alcohol—not beer or wine) with 7-parts water.
Cornell University research shows the alcohol slightly stresses the plant just enough to limit stem growth without affecting bloom quality.
Your paperwhites stay upright and compact instead of sprawling across the counter.
Bloom Timeline
They typically bloom in 3–4 weeks and last about two weeks. Deadhead spent blooms to keep things tidy.
Reblooming?
They’re meant for one glorious winter show. Compost afterward.
I used alcohol on my Paperwhite’s and they turned out great!
One more pro tip: Keep turning the container. They will grow toward a light source so little quarter turns will keep the stems straight.
Cloud Dancer in Nature: A Color Already Living in Your Garden
White is never just white. It holds light, depth, temperature, and mood. Cloud Dancer is the kind of white that glows from within—exactly like the center of these roses.
A Quick Note on the Symbolism of White Blooms
White Roses — new beginnings, remembrance, devotion·
Paperwhites — hope in winter, clarity, renewal
Peonies — peace, honesty, abundance
White Chrysanthemums — purity, innocence, loyalty
Choose plants with meaning, and your garden becomes a story.
Cloud Dancer Beyond Winter: A New Variety From Bailey Nurseries for 2026
If you’re planning summer containers or garden beds, look for a new product for 2026. It’s called DreamCloud® Reblooming Hydrangea.
Refined and compact reaching 3–4’ tall and wide, DreamCloud® fits easily into focal-point designs, mid-border layers, or decorative containers.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 4-9
They’re locally produced, reliably hardy for our zone, and bloom from June through frost with that same soft white glow.
If You Want to Go All-In on Cloud Dancer in 2026…
Expect to see white ceramic planters, white rattan or woven-texture outdoor furniture, soft linen-toned textiles, and white-blooming hydrangeas, daisies, lilies, and drift roses featured prominently at Minnesota garden centers this spring. Bachman’s, Gertens, and other local growers often expand offerings around trending palettes—when Pantone speaks, the industry listens.
Your Turn
Will you be forcing paperwhites this winter? As you plan your 2026 garden, are white blooms calling to you?
Just hit reply and let me know what you are looking to add in 2026.
Diana
