The Black Beauties

Plants on the dark side of the spectrum add impact and glamour to modern gardens

- Tess Paterson

As the little black dress is to fashion, so dark plants add a sense of depth and intrigue to the outdoors. The very antithesis of all things cottagey, they are viewed as sombre by some – the moody Goth cousin to the more colourful country aesthetic.

Near-black plants, though, are remarkably beautiful, and all the more so for their relative rarity in nature. Whether you’re into meadow-style landscapes à la influential Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf or bold succulent-filled containers, dark plants are playing a leading role.

BLACK IN BLOOM

‘In domestic gardens, dark plants are best used with some restraint,’ says Joburg based landscaper Tim Steyn. ‘But by contrasting almost-black plants with shades of grey, white or green, the effects can be spectacular. It’s about creating tonal layers and interspersing these dark accents as focal points within your planting.’