CHARMED TO THE DARK SIDE

A squeaky garden gate might be just the right amount of drama for a spooky entrance into a black garden. What shadowy figures lurk behind the fence? The gardener knows!

I have been in my dark phase for several years now. Black plants charmed me to the dark side. Deepest burgundy and fist-in-the-eye blackeye-purple have made their way into my garden.

These dark wonders are not useful for vistas. They aren't splashy. They are the jewels of the garden, meant to be viewed up close. They set off partners of chartreuse, pumpkin, silver, or yellow.

Black-stemmed hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra') is striking alone. When the pink blossoms appear, it's just like Elvis in a black suit with a pink boutonniere.

Even the early springtime garden can satisfy the blackest craving with the 'Queen of Night' tulip. She is a shimmery tall grower and has been foolproof in my southern garden. She should shine anywhere tulips can be planted.

Ornamental sweet potato vines have been around for a while. 'Blackie', with its deeply lobed foliage, is the most prevalent. Another, 'Black Heart', is slightly lighter in color and has large heart-shaped leaves. It looks good tumbling out of a pot next to the chartreuse 'Margarita' sweet potato vine.

Ornamental millet, 'Purple Majesty', is a structural, tall plant with dark, strappy leaves and long, deep, dark flower heads that resemble skinny cattails. It's striking planted in groups with lower plants in front. Last year, it looked good in a pot next to a pot of black bamboo. This year, it didn't do as well crammed in overflowing pots. The leaves were greener and the whole plant was shorter. Still, it added the needed height to the grouping. Normally, it's four to five feet tall.

More of my favorites, in no particular order, include: Persica 'Red Dragon'; an almost black succulent, Aeonium 'Zwartkop'; a striking red and black thin-leaved croton, Codiaeum variegatum; 'Landini' lily, a deep burgundy red Asiatic hybrid; elephant ears, Colocasia 'Black Magic' and 'Illustris'; Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy', a dark leaved pineapple lily; calla 'Black Pearl'; Sambucus Black Lace (tm); and canna 'Australia'. Depending on where you live, some, or all, of these plants might need to be treated as annuals or wintered indoors.

If you can't find purple/burgundy/black plants to populate your habitat, you're just not trying.

--Posted by Anne K Moore, June 25, 2007--