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| Black (or dark purple) is a color not often seen in plants. However, there are a decent number of plants with dark foliage or flower. With all the amazing breeding programs that we have, the list just keeps getting bigger every year. Please tell us about any interesting plants you have (or are interested in growing). |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Dahlia 'Roxy' and Dahlia 'Happy Single Party' are two I've grown that I chose for their dark purple foliage. Roxy has a lovely bright rose pink flower and HSP has bright yellow flowers. Queen of Night Tulip has a really deep purple flower (but in my garden tulips need protection from the voles, so they aren't too perennial for me), and I also have a single hollyhock that I got from a neighbor (so that I don't know its name) that has the deepest maroon flower I've ever seen. I have other plants with dark foliage or flowers, but those 4 are the closest to black I've grown. |
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| Black Pearl Pepper, it's an ornamental pepper, grows 2.5 feet tall and the peppers look like shiny large jelly beans; mine did fill out enough to become round. Black leaves and stems...a very interesting plant. In Sept. the peppers start to turn reddish. Just google Nancy Ondra's site Hayefield.com and black pearl peppers; she's got some great pics to see. |
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- Posted by Gyr_Falcon Sunset 23 USDA 9 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 28, 14 at 23:14
| Salvia discolor has my darkest flowers. They are nice plants, but I thought the hummingbirds would enjoy them more than they seem to. It is too dark outside to take a photograph of the blooms tonight, so I provided a link to an online photo. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Salvia discolor
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- Posted by christinmk z5b eastern WA (My Page) on Mon, Apr 28, 14 at 23:15
| Nice idea for a thread. I had been wondering what other dark/purple leaved plants were out there too... What I grow or have grown: Actaea Atropurpurea group and NOID one with nearly black leaves Snapdragon 'Black Prince' There are many Hellebores with black(ish) flowers. I sowed seeds of 'Black Beauty' from a trade, but they turned out pink ;-( On my want list...most are more chocolate-y than purple but... |
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- Posted by nutmeg4061 5b (My Page) on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 3:37
| There are a variety of easy black/dark Heuchera to choose from. |
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| * Heuchera * Persian shield (I grow as an annual in my zone) * Purple basil (grown as an annual in my zone) |
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 12:30
| Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ Bronze or Red Lettuces :-)
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| I second Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus). A lovely annual for this zone. Unfortunately, to be a perennial one has to live in zone 9 or warmer. Though I have not had any success with it, Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis or Lobelia 'Queen Victoria', or L. 'Black Truffle) is lovely. Heuchera Midnight Rose is a very nice one, IMO. Not totally surprised the hummers didn't go nuts over the Salvia discolor, GF. Hummers tend to go for the bright reds and oranges. |
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- Posted by Gyr_Falcon Sunset 23 USDA 9 (My Page) on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 17:39
| Paul, considering that the deep purple, local hummingbird approved, Salvia 'Amistad' is planted beside the Salvia discolor, I don't thing it is a matter of flower color this time. |
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Hmm, maybe, maybe not. Perhaps if you place a survey next to the plants for them to fill out?   |
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- Posted by Gyr_Falcon Sunset 23 USDA 9 (My Page) on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 22:41
| Ha. I already have completed the research, Paul! Throughout the year, I regularly study the individual hummingbirds that visit and hang around my garden, separating them by their unique feather patterns. Most are Allens and Annas, but Rufous and other migrants are not uncommon. Then I determine the individuals' territory/favorite flowers, personality and individual behaviors, and note their trespassing habits into the land claims of other birds. It would be easier if they would do the survey results for me, but then I'd miss out on too much of the fun! |
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| Black Magic elephant ear. |
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| Great pic Gyr_Falcon! Oooh, yes - definitely Black Magic elephant ear! How could I forget that one, I've grown it off an on for many years. There are other great dark-leaved elephant ears, too. I especially like the dark ones with the green veining (the name of my favorite escapes me right now BAH!). |
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| Oh, and while many of them aren't THAT dark, how about the dark leaved canna like: 'Australia' Tropicanna Black' 'General Eisenhower' 'Assaut' 'Black Knight' 'Durban' to name a few? |
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- Posted by Gyr_Falcon Sunset 23 USDA 9 (My Page) on Wed, Apr 30, 14 at 17:03
| Thanks, mxk3. :) Did I miss someone listing the Black mondo (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens')? I got curious if anyone had photos of a "black" garden along the lines of a moon garden. I did a quick search for images, but a lot of unrelated stuff came up. It could be interesting, or horrid; I cannot decide, but leaning towards the latter. lol I usually use the dark items only for contrast or focal. |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a N CT (My Page) on Wed, Apr 30, 14 at 20:36
| Sedum 'Blackjack' is growing in a part sun bed on the north side of my house. I know--sedum prefers full sun but I wanted something with dark foliage for that spot and 'Blackjack' was all I had available when it came time to plant something. It does flop, chances are due to insufficient hours of sun, but I put a short peony ring around it to help support it. The bees are on it from early morning until sunset once it blooms so I'm not inclined to move it anytime soon. Given the fact it comes up reliably every season (and has for close to a half dozen years), I'm inclined to leave it where it is, flopping notwithstanding. My S. 'Autumn Joy' is growing in a bed that gets quite a bit more sun and it flops as well. I don't fertilize perennials or over-water them so I'm guessing my acid, sandy loam soil is just too healthy for them. Some of my tall garden phlox send up nearly black foliage when emerging in spring but I don't recall the foliage retaining the dark hue once the plants begin to bloom later in the growing season. |
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- Posted by river_crossroads 8b Central Louisiana (My Page) on Wed, Apr 30, 14 at 22:26
| Dark purple foliage: Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’ / ‘Purple Heart’ (spiderwort) reportedly native to Mexico, Louisiana and Florida. Invasive in south FL and other places where it does not freeze. Overwinters well as a houseplant, brightens up other pots. Dark stem and calyces, medium purple colored flower: Purple Heart flowers |
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