Black Plants in the Garden???

Gloomy? You must be joking. Take off those dark sunglasses, and open your eyes wide to marvel at the dusky mysterious quality of the sexiest plants on earth. Think black satin, lace, silk and velvet. Luxuriate. Planting black is better than taking a bubble bath. Garden of death? Funereal plants? You really are joking! It is time you got to know black plants, enter the darker side of horticulture and abandon yourself to the primitive qualities of some of the world’s best foliage and flowers.

Black plants? Yes they are. If you don’t believe me take a look, a long look at Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens�? the darkest black foliage is stunning all year round on this grass-like member fo the lily family, closely related to Liriope. A superb performer in moist but well-drained soil, requiring no maintenance, no don’t shear it. Enjoy the spidery foliage and succumb to the tiny flowers followed by persistent black fruits. Will meander slowly through nearby plants as it increases. Underplant with colourful Sedum such as S. ‘Cape Blanco�?

Ground cover is difficult with black plants? So many myths, so easy to dispel. Plant black, let it cover the earth, and underplant with gold or silver. It will sparkle. Easy ground cover is had from the dark leaves of Ajuga ‘Mahogany�? small textured leaves performing well in shade, perfect with the tiny golden leaves of Sedum ‘Ogon�?

However, most black plants are a combination of the darkest shades with hints of black such as sultry goddess of annuals, Alcea rosea ‘Nigra�?which has a definite hint of maroon. This biennial truly should be used as an annual to avoid hollyhock rust. Velvet, luxurious beauty towers over the garden, its stems covered in fabulous flowers summer long. Mine still bloom in November. Use these shades to creatte colour echoes. Deep maroons, purples and raspberry shades with hints of black make for a stunning combination of colours.

How could you possibly live without one dark Arisaema? The come-hither sexuality is unmistakeable. Those unusual spathes that enclose the spadix in shades of dark maroon to black, sometimes maroon and white striped. Luscious and lascivious aroids are an absolute necessity in light woodland or part shade.

The most dramatic black plant has to be another aroid, Dracunculus vulgaris, usually noted for its scent, it should be sold with air freshener, which is necessary for the first day the drama queen opens her flowers until pollination. Afterwards, put the air freshener away and enjoy one of the miracles of the plant world with large purple spathes and near black spadix. Drool, kleenex at the ready.The play does not end with the flowers, the dramatic leaves will be noticed too, and can sometimes be silver splashed.

The most planted Tulipa has to be T. ‘Queen of Night�?and other black tulips are arriving on the market thick and fast from Holland. The deep purpleof this tulip with black shading to the base is approximately the colour echoed by the newer cultivars. These tulips are perfect in spring with pinks and blues that predominate at this time of year. I love to grow it with Dicentra spectabilis.
Gather black plants to your heart with the heart-shaped foliage of Ipomoea batatas ‘Black Heart�? This is no black-hearted creature, the only spell it will weave is one that captures your heart. Surrender at once. Place the sweetheart in a container with chartreuse and gold companions such as Sedum ‘Angelina�?and Solenostemon ‘Pineapple�? Your heart will be captured, but happy.
Immediately desirable is Iris ‘That Old Black Magic�?and many other Iris for that matter in this hue. A tall bearded Iris that would defy anyone who did not admit that it is black. An elegant beauty with the sexy qualities of black satin and silk. Dressed to thrill and kill.

One excellent black plant that is often described derogatively is Tacca chantrieri, the bat plant. Change your vocabulary, just because a plant is unusual does not make it weird nor a curiosity. Black plants are highly garden worthy. In flower this not so easy to grow plant is fantastic. Everyone who sees this will stop and stare. deep purple with long whiskers, but nicer than any cat I have ever seen.
The sexy qualities of black plants are often pre-told in their names. Dan Heims named the black Cimicifuga, now Actaea, found by Marietta O�?Byrne, A. ‘Black Negligee�? It might be a little too obvious, but it aptly describes the qualities of these black plants. They are so dark, the darkest plants you can find in horticulture, so why argue over the how black they are? Dan Heims himself has bred the darkest Heuchera yet, H. ‘Obsidion�? the leaves are incredible especially when compared to the foliage of the first purple Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple�?

Your black plants are turning green? For foliage, it is all to do with pigment, a pigment depending usually on sun and light. It also depends on pH, and feed. Treat your black plants well, give them the right conditions, they will reward you by shining like the night. Black plants will often turn green under cover in a greenhouse and also if overshadowed by other foliage.

Black plants add drama to the garden, whether by their sheer flamboyance or by their mysterious quality. They are apt to have a little secrecy about them as they lure, tantalise and bewitch. It is the black magic quality, they will entrance. Allow them to take centre stage or let them mingle in the garden taking a secondary role.

Many gardeners long for black, breeders seek to satisfy demand and plants are getting darker. You need to be uninhibted to plant black. Be bold. Open your mind, throw out misconceptions and preconceived ideas and go for stunning, black. Black plants are the ultimate in sophistication, perfect for today’s modern garden. Turn your garden into a desirable paradise by planting desirable black. Weave a little black magic with passion.