Add unique black plants to your garden
A garden doesn’t have to be filled with bright colors to be beautiful. Some of the most captivating landscapes embrace the darker side of the plant world. A midnight garden, or what some might call a gothic-style garden, is designed around plants with moody hues that evoke drama and mystery. While no flower is truly black, many appear nearly so, with deep tones that shift depending on the light — richer and darker in shade, more burgundy or purple in full sun.
Shadowy allies in a gothic garden
Even the darkest colored blooms and foliage need the right company to truly shine in the garden. Think of it as setting the stage — the darker plants create the drama, while their companions provide the perfect lighting. Silvery foliage, such as that of ‘Jack Frost’ brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) and lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), add contrast and make deep colors stand out. Lush green backdrops of ferns or hostas add depth and prevent darker plants from receding into the background. For extra dimension, add white and pale-hued flowers to brighten the space and draw the eye in your garden design.
Set the mood with garden accents to create contrast with black plants
A midnight garden is less about the time of day and more about the atmosphere it creates — mysterious, elegant and a little bit moody. While you’ll most likely admire these dark, dramatic blooms in the daylight, you can carry their magic into the evening with soft, subtle lighting, like solar lights tucked along a path or beside inky foliage. Add a few reflective touches, such as gazing balls or mirrors, to catch ambient light and deepen the mood. Read on to discover some of the most captivating plants to help set the scene.
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Japanese cobra lily (Arisaema sikokianum)
Like something from a forgotten woodland tale, Japanese cobra lily emerges in early spring, its unusual hooded bloom rising above silver-splashed, five-lobed leaves. A dramatic relative of Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), it features an 8-inch-long hooded bract, or spathe, surrounding a snowy white clublike spadix. The hood sports purple, green and white striping outside and white on the inside. As flowers fade, a dense cone of vivid red berries develops in mid- to late summer, lingering for weeks after the foliage has withered away.
Growing tips
Japanese cobra lily thrives in moist, humusy soil, making it a natural fit near ponds, streams or shaded garden beds where the conditions remain consistently damp. A shady planting site is essential to prevent leaf scorch, as too much sun can damage its delicate foliage. Plant Japanese cobra lily in minimally disturbed areas of the garden, where fallen leaves and dappled light provide the perfect setting for its ghostly form. Pair it with perennials that fill out later in the season after the cobra lily’s flower is gone.
Plants are slow to propagate, requiring patience when grown from seed — it may be three to five years before the first blooms appear. Japanese cobra lily rarely produces offsets, but when it does, they can be carefully divided in fall or early spring to encourage new growth.
Type: Perennial; deer-resistant
Blooms: Dark purple to brown hooded spathe with green-and-white striping surrounds a snowy white spadix above green foliage in midspring
Light: Part to full shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Size: 18 to 24 in. tall and wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
‘Green Wizard’ coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
With a name like ‘Green Wizard’, this unique coneflower is sure to cast a spell on your garden. Unlike traditional coneflowers, this variety skips the bright yellow petals and instead boasts green sepals that frame a nearly black central cone. Its bold form stands out in beds, borders or cottage gardens, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies to the tiny yellow flowers.
Growing tips
The 6- to 9-inch cones last long after the tiny yellow flowers have faded. Deadhead to encourage more blooms and to prevent self-seeding. At season’s end, you can cut plants back to the crown and mulch with straw to protect them through winter. Or leave the cones standing for interest and as a food source for birds. To get first-year flowers, start seeds indoors eight weeks before the last frost.
Type: Perennial; North American native
Blooms: Purple to black central cone surrounded by tiny yellow flowers and green sepals in summer
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, well-drained
Size: 36 to 60 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9
‘Black Swan’ poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Boasting deep burgundy, almost black petals and a wildly ruffled, featherlike texture, this poppy looks like it belongs on a Victorian stage. The 5-inch flowers seem to smolder in the sunlight, shifting from dark crimson to near-ebony, depending on the angle, making them a striking focal point in garden beds and borders. Easy to grow and deer resistant, this self-seeding annual returns year after year.
Growing tips
Direct-sow seeds four weeks before the last spring frost or in late fall. Mix the seeds with fine sand and scatter them thinly over the soil to avoid overcrowding. You might need to provide plants with a little support during the growing season to prevent them from toppling over in heavy wind. After flowering, its large, rounded green seedpods keep things interesting long after the petals have fallen, and the tiny black seeds inside can be used for baking.
Type: Annual; deer-resistant
Blooms: Large, fully double, deep burgundy flowers with deeply ruffled and finely cut petals in summer
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Average or moist, well-drained
Size: 24 to 36 in. tall, 10 to 12 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8
‘Nightrider’ Asiatic lily (Lilium asiatica)
A cross between Asiatic and trumpet lilies, ‘Nightrider’ grabs attention with deep burgundy, trumpet-shaped blooms that shimmer in the sunlight. Perched atop tall, sturdy stems, its 6- to 6½-inch flowers appear violet-black in full sun and take on an almost inky black hue in light shade. Each stem produces three to five blooms, making it a striking addition to both the garden and fresh floral arrangements.
Growing tips
Beyond its color, ‘Nightrider’ is a lightly fragrant variety, offering a subtle scent that enhances its charm. Pollinators love it, and once established, it’s drought tolerant too. You can start your lilies from bulbs or purchase potted ones at the garden center for transplanting. If you’re planting bulbs, set them at a depth three times their height in rich, well-draining soil amended with compost or well-rotted manure. Staking may be needed for extra support for these impressive flowers during the growing season.
After flowers fade, allow the foliage to die back naturally, as it helps replenish the bulb for next year’s blooms. Wait until the stems become yellow or brown before cutting them back. If blooming slows after a few years, dig up the entire plant and check for crowded bulbs. Larger bulbs that have grown too close together may need to be split. While you’re dividing, you may notice several small bulblets attached to the larger bulbs. Go ahead and plant them too, but know that it’ll take several years for them to reach blooming size.
Type: Bulb
Blooms: Outward-facing, maroon-black, trumpet-shaped flowers with large recurved petals from summer to fall
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Average or moist, well-drained
Size: 3 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8
Source: The Lily Garden, thelilygarden.com, 360-253-6273
Black bat flower (Tacca chantrieri)
With whisker-like filaments and broad, winglike bracts, the black bat flower looks like something from a gothic fairy tale. Its dark bracts, often mistaken for petals, can grow up to a foot wide, framing small maroon-black flowers that emerge on elongating cymes, or flower clusters, at the center. Below, its dark green foliage forms a rosette of pleated, lance-shaped leaves that can reach 2 feet long.
Growing tips
Native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, this understory plant thrives in warm, humid conditions. It’s often grown as an annual in containers or kept indoors as a houseplant. During the summer, place it on a shaded patio or porch, then bring it indoors before cooler temperatures arrive. Overwinter black bat flower indoors by maintaining warm temperatures and high humidity to keep it from going dormant.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Blooms: Deep purple to nearly black bracts with maroon-black flowers with whisker-like filaments from spring to fall
Light: Part to full shade
Soil: Average or moist, well-drained
Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11
‘Black Barlow’ columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata)
Unlike the delicate, long-spurred petals of traditional columbines, the heirloom variety ‘Black Barlow’ boasts fully double, pom-pom-like blooms in a deep near black shade of plum. Each intricate, layered flower nods gracefully atop slender stems, swaying gently with the breeze like a whisper from another era.
Growing tips
This hardy perennial thrives in full sun to part shade, producing a bounty of flowers in late spring and early summer. Its dusky blooms contrast beautifully against soft-green, lacy foliage, making it a standout in borders, woodland gardens and cut flower arrangements. A favorite of hummingbirds and pollinators, it brings movement and life to the garden. After flowering, ornamental seedpods add continued interest, and if allowed to self-seed, ‘Black Barlow’ will naturalize over time.
Type: Perennial; deer-resistant
Blooms: Fully double, dark plum-purple blooms in late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Average or moist, well-drained
Size: 24 to 30 in. tall, 14 to 16 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9
‘Black Sprite’ perennial bachelor’s button (Centaurea montana)
Delicate yet bold, ‘Black Sprite’ perennial bachelor’s button takes a familiar cottage garden favorite and gives it a moody twist. Its deep burgundy, nearly black blooms have a feathery, thistlelike appearance.
For continuous blooms, deadhead regularly. After the first flush of flowers is done, cut back plants for a tidier appearance and potential rebloom in fall. It readily self-seeds, ensuring its dark, spidery flowers return year after year with little effort. Bees and butterflies flock to its nectar-rich blooms. Long-lasting as a fresh cut flower or when dried, ‘Black Sprite’ is a versatile addition to any garden.
Type: Perennial
Blooms: Black-purple flowers from midspring to midsummer with possible rebloom in fall
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average or moist, well-drained
Size: 12 to 24 in. tall, 20 to 24 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9
‘Black Gamecock’ Louisiana iris (Iris hybrid)
Flourishing in moisture-rich environments, ‘Black Gamecock’ Louisiana iris is a natural fit for rain gardens, pond edges and damp borders. The wetter the soil, the more vigorous its growth. This plant can even be grown in up to 6 inches of standing water and adapts well to clay soils. Satiny, near black standards and falls accented by rusty-orange signals reach up to 4 to 6 inches across, making ‘Black Gamecock’ Louisiana iris a bold standout in the garden.
Heat- and humidity-tolerant, it thrives even in sandy soil as long as moisture is consistent. Blooming from late spring into early summer, just as many spring flowers begin to fade, this plant attracts pollinators while remaining unappealing to deer. Over time, it forms lush, spreading clumps that can be divided every few years to expand its presence in the garden.
Type: Bulb; deer resistant; North American native
Blooms: Satiny near black standards and falls with rusty-orange signals in summer
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist to wet, well-drained
Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9
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Persian lily (Fritillaria persica)
Standing tall like a sentinel of the midnight garden, Persian lily is an unforgettable spring bloomer. Its long, elegant spikes are adorned with rows of dusky plum to near black, bell-shaped flowers and silvery green, lance-shaped foliage, creating a striking vertical accent in garden beds.
Native to the rocky slopes of Turkey and Iran, Persian lily is well adapted to dry, well-drained soils and thrives in full sun, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, Mediterranean-style plantings or gravel beds. If you live in warmer regions, provide plants with afternoon shade to prevent burning flowers and foliage. Avoid heavy, saturated soils, which can cause the bulbs to rot. If your soil tends to be on the wet side, plant bulbs on a slope, in raised beds or in containers to improve their chance of survival.
Growing tips
Plant Persian lily in early fall, about 6 inches deep, in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Persian lily is naturally drought tolerant, requiring little water once established, though occasional deep watering during the growing season will promote stronger blooms. After the flowers fade, allow the foliage to die back naturally, as it helps store energy for the next season. Though not a prolific spreader, bulbs will multiply over time, creating larger, more impressive clumps each year.
Type: Bulb; deer resistant
Blooms: Plum to gray-green, bell-shaped flowers in mid- to late spring
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Average or moist, well-drained
Size: 12 to 36 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8
‘Edge of Night’ calla lily (Zantedeschia hybrid)
A perfect blend of drama and sophistication, ‘Edge of Night’ calla lily commands attention with its burgundy, near black trumpet blooms and gracefully curled edges. Even when not in bloom, its deep green, lance-shaped leaves speckled with silvery white flecks keep the plant visually interesting.
Growing tips
Plant ‘Edge of Night’ in full sun to part shade, offering afternoon shade in hotter climates to prevent leaf scorch. It thrives in rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture but should never sit in waterlogged conditions, as excessive moisture can cause rot. Plant rhizomes 3 to 4 inches deep, with the growing tips facing upward, and water regularly throughout the growing season. Remove the flowers as they start to fade, pulling the entire stem out at the base. In zones 7 and colder, lift rhizomes in fall and store in a cool, dry place until spring. In zones 8 and warmer, they can remain in the ground with a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch for winter protection.
Grow ‘Edge of Night’ in borders, along shaded pathways or near water features where its flowers make an eye-catching focal point. It also performs beautifully in moist garden beds and thrives in containers on a patio. You can even keep it indoors in a bright, sunny location.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual); deer resistant
Blooms: Burgundy-black trumpet blooms and variegated foliage in summer
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Size: 24 to 28 in. tall, 10 to 12 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11
‘Dark Side of the Moon’ astilbe (Astilbe hybrid)
Astilbes are known for their soft, feathery plumes, but ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ adds a bold, unexpected twist. Unlike typical astilbes with bright green foliage, this variety emerges yellow with a dark margin, gradually deepening to rich chocolate brown as the season progresses. The more sun it receives, the more intense the foliage color becomes. By midsummer, rosy-purple flower spikes rise above the dark leaves for a spectacular display.
Growing tips
While astilbes tolerate occasional dryness, consistent moisture during the growing season ensures the best blooms and healthiest foliage. Deadheading spent flowers helps keep the plant tidy, though the dried seedheads add texture and interest into fall. To keep plants from overcrowding, divide clumps every few years by digging up the entire root ball and separating it into sections in early spring or late fall.
Grow ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ in beds, borders, woodland gardens and cutting gardens, where its dramatic foliage and vibrant blooms can shine. For contrast, pair it with silver- or chartreuse-leaved plants. The blooms also make excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements.
Type: Perennial
Blooms: Rosy purple feathery flower plumes in summer and dark chocolate brown
foliage
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Average or moist, well-drained
Size: 20 to 22 in. tall, 28 to 34 in. in bloom, 24 to 28 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9
Source: Bluestone Perennials, bluestoneperennials.com, 800-852-5243
Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus)
Few plants offer the bold contrast of black mondo grass in a midnight garden. With deep purple-black, strappy leaves reaching 8 to 12 inches tall, this slow-growing perennial forms a dense, grasslike ground cover that adds a rich, velvety texture to beds, borders and pathways. Its almost jet-black foliage creates the perfect backdrop for lighter-hued plants, while its tidy, clumping habit makes it an easy fit in any moody landscape. Although it thrives in part shade, it develops its best color in full sun. In warmer climates, providing afternoon shade prevents the foliage from scorching.
Did you know?
Despite its name, black mondo grass isn’t a true grass — it belongs to the asparagus family, which also includes lilies, yucca and many houseplants, such as spider plants.
In summer, delicate pale pink flowers emerge, followed by shiny black berries the birds love to snack on and that persist into fall, adding another layer of interest. Water regularly during its first season to establish strong roots — once settled, it’s remarkably drought-tolerant. For a neat appearance, trim old foliage to the ground before new leaves emerge in spring.
Type: Perennial
Blooms: Deep purple-black, strappy foliage and pink flowers in summer followed by black
berries
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Average, well-drained
Size: 6 to 9 in. tall, 10 to 12 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 6 to 10
