Top 10 Favorite Black Plants for Halloween

It’s no secret that one of my favorite colors in the garden is black.  It’s pretty hard to find plants that have  true black foliage (most are more like maroon), but here are some that come pretty close.

And just in time for Halloween!

 As the above photo demonstrates, the dark foliage of Black Mondo Grass is stunning (especially when glass koi are swimming through it, as seen at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show last year).

But it’s the ‘Blackbeard’ selection that has even wider, strappier foliage in deeper shades of coal.

I’m a HUGE fan of all aeoniums, but it’s the darkest maroon shades of  ’Zwartkop’ that always make my heart beat just a little bit faster.

And it’s the perfect color to highlight a little praying mantis, too!The delicate pink flowers of both the Sambucus and Cecil Brunner rose contrast so nicely with the jet black foliage of ‘Black Lace’.

This variety holds its color throughout the summer, too, and comes into its full glory in the fall with its 4-foot long gently arching branches.

Sure there’s several varieties of dark phormiums out there, but ‘Black Adder’ is one that I’ve found holds its color throughout the year.

Its one that I always try and plant in my client’s gardens, whether its in a container or in the ground.  People are always surprised at how happy phormiums are in containers, too.

Really – they are!While more of a deeper maroon than true black, the Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’ offers several seasons of interest.

The moment its lance-shaped leaves emerge in early spring the excitement starts.  A crescendo is reached in mid-summer when the towering 6′ plant is covered with airy, white blooms that last for months.

Truly one of my favorites in the garden.

Euphorbias are another favorite of mine with ‘Blackbird’ stealing the show with its black foliage/deep maroon flower combination.

It’s so easy to care for, too – just cut it back in the fall and new shoots will emerge almost immediately.

 Echeverias come in so many sizes and colors, but ‘Black Prince’ is perfect when nestled with those with a pinkish tone.

When provided with partial sun, this variety will hold its chalky black color throughout the year.

Commonly called Snakeroot (perfect for Halloween, don’t you think?) the dark maroon/almost black foliage of Eupatorium ‘Chocolate’ is one of my favorites for a semi-shady bed.

Towering to 5-feet and covered with airy white puffs of flowers in the summer, this plant gives your garden bed a powerful punch.

Ceanothus are a natural in California gardens, but the unusual black foliage of ‘Tuxedo’ never fails to grab people’s attention.

This variety has a delicate and airy habit, growing to about 6′ in the garden.  Paired with a yellow ‘Harmony’ anigozanthos and you have the perfect combination for Halloween!

And last, but not least, is one of my favorite dark bromeliads  that I WISH I knew the name of – alas, I do not.  I took this photo at Annie’s Annuals last year and fell in love with it.

Anyone care to help?

** Update!  Debra Lee Baldwin just informed me that this is Dyckia ‘Cherry Cola’ with angry leaves lined with little knives on either side.  So be careful where you plant this one!

For information on how to effectively use black foliage in the garden, check out this wonderful post written by Genevieve Schmidt at North Coast Gardening!