How to Grow a Black Garden
Growing your own Victorian black garden is not hard at all. It’s basically done just like any other garden. Careful planning always helps beforehand. One of the most important factors is proper positioning. Dark-colored plants need to be placed in sunny areas to prevent them from becoming lost in the dark corners of the landscape. They should also be placed against a lighter backdrop in order to stand out more effectively. Another aspect of the black garden is learning how to use the various tones and hues correctly. While black plants mix rather easily with other colors, some work better than others. The best thing to keep in mind when working with black palettes is choosing lighter shades that will contrast well with the black colored plants you’ve chosen. This will actually help intensify their color and allow them to stand out easily. Black flowers/foliage can accentuate other colors if carefully placed. For instance, black plants work well when combined with silver, gold, or bright-colored tones. In addition, keep in mind that when choosing black flowers for the garden, some may actually appear dark purple or red rather than pure black. Plant color is also likely to change depending on location and other factors, such as soil pH. Black plants may also require additional watering as their darker shades can make them more susceptible to withering from the hot sun.
Black Flowers for the Garden
When using black plants for the garden, consider their various textures and forms. Look for different types of plants with similar growing requirements. There are numerous black plants to choose from that will add drama to your black garden—far too many to name. However, here is a list of black or dark-colored plants to get you started:
Black Bulb Varieties
Tulips (Tulipa x darwin ‘Queen of the Night,’ ‘Black Parrot’) Hyacinth (Hyacinthus ‘Midnight Mystique’) Calla Lily (Arum palaestinum) Elephant Ear (Colocasia ‘Black Magic’) Dahlia (Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’) Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus ‘Black Jack’) Iris (Iris nigricans ‘Dark Vader,’ ‘Superstition’) Daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Black Emanuelle’)
Black Perennials and Biennials
Coral Bells (Heuchera x villosa ‘Mocha’) Hellebore, Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger ) Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’) Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus nigrescens ‘Sooty’) Rose varieties (‘Black Magic,’ Black Beauty,’ Black Baccara’) Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris var stellata ‘Black Barlow’) Delphinium (Delphinium x cultorium ‘Black Night’) Andean Silver-Leaf Sage (Salvia discolor) Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana ‘Bowles’ Black’)
Black Annuals
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’) Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) Sunflower (Helianthus annuus ‘Moulin Rouge’) Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus ‘Black Prince’)
Black Foliage Plants
Pussy Willow (Salix melanostachys) Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Moudry’) Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’)
Black Vegetables
Eggplant Bell Pepper ‘Purple Beauty’ Tomato ‘Black Prince’ Corn ‘Black Aztec’ Ornamental Pepper ‘Black Pearl’
