Plant your own Black beauties

Whether deep purple, wine red or chocolate, a few plants with dark flowers and foliage can totally transform tired borders, taking them from staid to stylish, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

THERE'S something very alluring about dark plants, and they are one of the easiest ways to add sophistication to a border. Flowers that smoulder in shades of midnight navy, damson black and velvet crimson; sultry black and maroon foliage woven in among other plants - both will give gardens an instant lift, creating a mood that is both stylish and modern.

The secret lies in being sparing: only a few splashes of witches' purple and deep claret are needed - too many and the tone becomes morbid. If you already have dark plants, such as a yew tree or a leylandii, go easy; otherwise your garden could start to resemble a graveyard.

Contrasting colours

However in the average summer border, where bright colours tend to dominate, the addition of a few dark flowers such as chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) and port-coloured hollyhock (Alcea rosea 'Nigra') will have a stunning effect.

Not only do these dark tones look intriguing and voluptuous, they also act as great foils for other colours. They contrast attractively with paler shades (pastel pinks and lavender blues) and allow bright, fiery tones (such as orange and red) to blend into the border rather than sticking out. Their dark colouring will also break up the monotony of an otherwise lighter, brighter planting scheme, acting as punctuation marks.

Many of these dark beauties can go in the ground now. Bearded irises (such as 'Ghost Train') can be planted in sunbaked borders, and the moisture-loving black Iris chrysographes can be added to bog gardens for late spring flowers.

Plants that inject winter interest can also be planted. For example the black-stemmed bamboo Phyllostachys nigra, and the dogwood Cornus alba 'Kesselringii', which has beetroot-black stems in the cold months. Likewise, if you fancy some dark hellebores, this month is a good time to plant them.