Gothic Gardening

By Alex May

Brown really is the new black when it comes to dark-coloured flowers, which can add just the right kind of drama to all kinds of gardens.

Mother Nature just doesn’t seem to like black. Flowers, that is.

Despite attempts by generations of obsessed plant breeders, none have yet managed to create a truly black flower. Pinks, yellows and purples. Easy. Black? Well, you’ll just have to settle for something close.

Patio Landscape Architect Giselle Barron says the almost-black plant or flower is the next best thing. There is an array of deep burgundy and dark chocolate-coloured foliage plants and flowers that can create just the right kind of gothic drama in a garden.

“Black is always kind of cool and in fashion and it goes with anything so it works really well in gardens,” she says.

Barron says the true colours of the plants range from deep plums and purples to browns and blues and are striking when planted near brightly coloured walls or other plants.

“I would use these plants as a feature plant. Just as you might use a black cushion to create some drama in a lounge room, you can use these plants as a feature in a garden,” she says.

There are all kinds of dark-coloured plants available, and Barron suggests using deep-coloured succulents like aeoneums and echeverias in drought-tolerant gardens and striking black tulips and irises in a contemporary garden.

“I think the cordylines and the New Zealand flax plants – which have dark foliage – look great in a contemporary garden,” she says.

“These black plants can also work well as part of a cottage-style garden, especially the black pansies (viola ‘molly sanderson’) and the chocolate cosmos (cosmos atrosanguineus).”

The chocolate cosmos is a plant that has a specialcharm – especially for Patio’s horticulturalist Sebastian Tesoriero, who is on a quest to grow it successfully.

“The cosmos holds this fascination because it smells like chocolate but it can be hard to grow in some parts of Australia,” Barron says.

“There are plenty of interesting dark plants to choose from – tulips, irises, pansies and cordylines.”

• SPATHYPHYLLIUM ‘Sensation’: This black lily plant is dramatic and bold – perfect as as a standalone feature.
• COSMOS ARTROSANGUINEUS ‘Chocolate Cosmos’: The chocolate-scented plant works well in cottage gardens.
• CORDYLINE ‘Sensation’, CORDYLINE ‘Black Beauty’: A modern foliage plant for contemporary gardens.
• IRIS ‘Black Out’: You can buy the bulbs on the internet or by mail order, but be careful where you import them from.
• VIOLA ‘Molly Sanderson’: Also known as the black pansy. Works well as a floral cover in cottage gardens
• TULIP ‘Queen of the Night’, TULIP ‘Black Parrot’: Try growing them in a beautifully placed pot for something striking.
• PRIMULA POLYANTHUS ‘Gold Lace’, PRIMULA POLYANTHUS ‘Gelderson Green’: Flowers in late spring and looks lovely in a cottage garden to add some drama.
• AEONIUM ARBONEAM: This succulent will add colour and save water.