Very Dark Foliage Plants

Plants with very dark, even seemingly-black foliage are very desirable additions to a well-designed garden. Though not common in nature, their desirability has created an ever-increasing number of cultivars of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, grasses, and bulbs. In other words, the gardener can find a dark-leaved gem to fit in almost any site, from wet to dry, from shade to sun, and even for containers. The cultivar names given to these plants give away their most glorious trait: 'Dark Beauty', 'Midnight Lace', 'Blackie', 'Obsidian', and 'Black Ruffles'. Some names evoke the moody danger of darkness itself: 'Dracula', 'Black Magic', 'Little Devil', and 'Diabolo'.

There are no genuinely black-leaved plants, but there are many that approximate black. Their leaves are actually deep purple, deep maroon, or dark brown. The more sun these plants have, the darker the leaves become. On the same plant, shaded leaves are generally lighter-colored, as often are emerging leaves. Dark leaves do contain chlorophyll and photosynthesis does occur. The green of the chlorophyll is just obscured to the human eye by other pigments.

Dark-leaved plants can fulfill many different goals in a garden design by adding contrast, variety, drama, and visual interest. They can act as focal points. They can also become backdrops to other lighter-colored plants, making them "pop." Black leaves especially seem to stand out against yellow, chartreuse, and red. Their darkness can evoke a moody atmosphere, making shady areas seem even dimmer or gloomier. Dark colors recede into the background, so dark plants in an area can make it seem even deeper or larger. Be careful; too many dark plants can create a mass that appears as one big black hole.

In addition to foliage, black flowers and fruit can also add interest to your garden, including varieties such as 'Queen of Night' tulip, 'Black Cat' petunia, 'Black Suited' bearded iris, 'Nigra' hollyhock, and 'Blackstone' Asiatic lily.

The following list of dark foliage plants is not exhaustive but should provide the Pennsylvania gardener with options.

Trees and Shrubs

Japanese maple - Acer palmatum 'Emperor 1', 'Bloodgood', and 'Tamukeyama'

Smoketree - Cotinus coggygria Winecraft Black® 'NCC01' and 'Royal Purple'

Crapemyrtle – Lagerstroemia The Black Diamond® series of dwarf crapemyrtles

Ninebark – Physocarpus opufolius 'Diabolo', and 'Little Devil'

Elderberry – Sambucus nigra Black Beauty™ and 'Black Lace'

Rhododendron – Rhododendron Black Hat® 'NCRX2' and 'Ebony Pearl'

Perennials and Grasses

Coralbells – Heuchera 'Obsidian', Primo® Series 'Black Pearl', and Dressed Up™ 'Evening Gown'

Beardtongue – Penstemon digitalis 'Dark Towers', 'Blackbeard', and 'Onyx and Pearls'

Sedum – Sedum telephium 'Dark Magic', 'Night Embers', and 'Firecracker'

Bugleweed – Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' and Ajuga pyramidalis 'Metallica Crispa'

Mondo grass -  Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' and 'Kokurya' (means black dragon)

Leopard plant – Ligularia dentata 'Midnight Lady', 'Dark Beauty', and 'Pandora'

Bugbane – Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty'

Annuals and Tender Bulbs

Ornamental peppers – Capsicum annum 'Black Pearl'

Sweet potato vine – Ipomoea batatas 'Midnight Lace', 'Blackie', 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart', and 'Sweet Georgia Heart Purple'

Elephant ears – Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic', 'Black Coral', 'Black Ruffles', 'Aloha', and 'Black Runner'

Canna lily – Canna 'Wyoming' and 'Australia'

Dahlia - Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' and Dark Angel® 'Dracula'