It is finally February and the darkness that covers the earth—at least the part of the earth where I live—is receding as we gain minutes of light each day. But as I welcome the fact that I can now see my garden at 5:30 pm, I am thinking about adding a bit of darkness to that landscape come spring.
The inspiration for this came from a gardening program that showed black mondo grass or Ophiopogon planiscapus used very effectively as a groundcover. Native to parts of east Asia, the evergreen grassy leaves are as close to true black as any plant can get, and that dark foliage is a great foil for the species’ purple summer flowers and fall berries. More to the point from a landscaping perspective, the dark grass makes a great backdrop for flowers and leaves of just about any color.
Of course, not all black-leafed plants are created equal. Some have very dark foliage, while others bear leaves that are a very dark shade of purple or maroon. Light and soil conditions play a role too, resulting in variations in dark leaf color. Notwithstanding those factors, most really dark-leafed plants appear black at distances greater than 12 inches.
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ is another ebony-hued groundcover. It shares the shade-loving disposition of all ajugas, and multiplies quickly. In low light situations, ‘Black Scallop’ is very close to true black. Add a bit more light and the foliage may have greenish overtones. The spring flower spikes are blue-purple.
Black can also make a dramatic impact, even if it is not used in mass plantings. Years ago I fell in love with ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, a tall dahlia with bright red flowers and near-black leaves and stems. The color contrast between flowers and foliage is dramatic. ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ was introduced in 1927, and people were so drawn to it that breeders eventually produced a generation of offspring with variously colored flowers and the same dark foliage as the parent. These plants are usually marketed as ‘Bishop’s Children’, and they are as beautiful as the parent plant. Sprinkle the ‘Bishop’ or its ‘Children’ throughout the garden for pops of color and dramatic emphasis.
Few specimen shrubs are as close to true black as ‘Black Lace’, a variety of black elderberry or Sambuccus nigra. With dark leaves that are reminiscent in size and shape to those of Japanese maple, ‘Black Lace’ can grow six to eight feet tall and wide. The contrast between the lacy pink spring flowerheads and the dark leaves is stunning. It is a great habitat plant for birds and small animals, and, if you are so disposed, the fall fruits make great jams, cordials and wines.
In my garden I grow a dark-leafed hardy geranium, ‘Midnight Reiter’, which features gorgeous periwinkle-blue flowers against a background of leaves that are dark chocolate brown in my soil, but can be closer to black elsewhere. Reaching only eight to ten inches tall, the clumping plants work well in containers or at the front of garden beds, and the foliage is lovely even when the plant is between flower flushes. ‘Midnight Reiter’ is a cultivated variety of meadow cranesbill, or Geranium praetense, and prefers sun to light shade. The fact that deer tend to ignore the dark leaves is an added bonus.
People who grow herbs, either in garden beds or containers, can also participate in the dark foliage vogue. Purple-leafed basil, especially varieties like Occimum basilicum ‘Purpurescens’ or ‘Dark Opal’, boast leaves that appear almost black. While some gardeners grow this herb for its culinary properties, others use it as a highly decorative ornamental. Either way, it features all the toughness of its basil and mint family relatives. To use black-leafed basil in cooking, harvest the leaves regularly, and don’t allow the plants to flower, as this makes the leaves bitter. If you are using the plants as ornamentals, the flower spikes attract pollinators.
Physocarpus opulifolius is a native shrub that can also be grown as a small tree. Varieties like ‘Summer Wine’ feature black foliage, which is a great foil for the white, spirea-like flower clusters that appear in spring, and the red fruits that follow in fall. Growing anywhere from five to eight feet tall, the plant also features lovely, cinnamon brown exfoliating bark, which adds interest after the deciduous leaves have left the scene. Ninebark is an unfussy plant that can make itself at home in both large containers and in-ground situations.
Garden merchandisers offer a range of plants with black or near-black foliage, from smoke bush to perennial penstemon. Don’t be afraid to use them. In most areas of life, going over to the dark side has a bad connotation, but you can do it in the garden with a perfectly clear conscience.