Plants with Black or Maroon Foliage

These plants are an important part of creating a colorful foliage garden, providing a dark backdrop for brighter, accent plants. All these perennials, shrubs, and ornamental trees have dark black, maroon, or deep blue colored foliage.

Ornamental Trees and Shrubs with Dark Leaves
b Burgundy Hearts Redbud ,(Cercis canadensis 'Greswan') - Like the Forest Pansy Redbud, Burgundy Hearts has large, heart-shaped leaves that emerge each spring in a dark, purple color. Burgundy Hearts has a deeper purple color to the foliage and the redbud flowers that appear in early spring are a darker lavender-pink than species redbuds.

Diablo Ninebark ,(Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo') - This amazing shrub is hardy all the way to zone 2 and has dark foliage that contrasts nicely against the white summer flowers. The ninebark shrub makes an excellent backdrop for beds and borders, or use it as a thick, dense hedge-bush. Gardeners should expect this dark-leaved bush to grow about 8' tall and wide making it great for using in the back of the border where is will sett off brighter colored perennial plants.

Black Beauty Sambucus (Sambucus nigra 'Gerda') - Zones 4-7. The Black Beauty is one of the newest Sambucus selections in the Black Lace series and, as the name implies, this large shrub has fine-cut, lacy foliage that is nearly black in color. Black Beauty is one of the darkest selections yet and will grow as tall as 12' without pruning. Black Beauty is a must for the Black and Gold foliage garden, as the black foliage will provide a great background for gold foliage plants.

Perennials for a Black Foliage Garden

Voodoo Sedum (Sedum spurium 'Voodoo') - Zones 3-11. Many sedums have colorful foliage and Voodoo is no exception. This drought-tolerant perennial has dark, maroon foliage that provides a lower growing, rounded accent in the garden. Voodoo sedum is a ground cover sedum and only grows about 4 inches tall. The red flowers attract butterflies and if you want a black foliage garden ground cover, this hardy perennial that won't take over your garden, making it the perfect choice.

Black Beauty Coral Bells (Heuchera hybrid 'Black Beauty') - Zones 4-9. The Black Beauty Heuchera is one of the darkest-leaved coral bells available and will add a bold foliage accent to your garden landscape. The leaves are glossy and hold their color great in part shade. Several other heuchera plants have variegated or dark foliage suitable for use in a black foliage garden, so see the Coral Bells Plant Highlight for details on other available selections.

Black Scallop Ajuga (Ajuga repans 'Black Scallop') - Zones 4-9. Ajuga, or Bugleweed, is an easy-to-grow ground cover that is semi-evergreen in warmer climates. 'Black Scallop' has large, glossy leaves that are dark, black colored and grow to 6 inches tall and wide. Ajuga is usually prized for its deer resistance, but this particular variety has beautiful, bold leaves. Be sure to check out some of the other cultivars with darker colored leaves such as 'Chocolate Chip', 'Burgundy Glow' and 'Bronze'.

For a complete list of Black Foliage plants
(Click here),

More Resources

Plants with (Create a Colorful Foliage Garden),

http://www.soonerplantfarm.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.storedSearch/searchID/82/index.htm

Plants with (Gold or Chartreuse Foliage)

This 'Plant Highlight' was written exclusively for Sooner Plant Farm by Angela England
.To read more from this talented writer about other highlighted plants and interesting gardening stories click here.

All copyrights reserved by Sooner Plant Farm. No reproduction of this article in whole or in part is allowed without the permission of Sooner Plant Farm.