27 Alluring Dark Plants That’ll Make Your Garden Stand Out

Yearning for something that adds a touch of drama, mystery, and intrigue to your garden? Welcome dark-colored plants into your outdoor space.

These gorgeous dark beauties are far from ordinary, boasting deep purple, maroon, or nearly black foliage that will transform your outdoor space into a show-stopping oasis.

1. Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus)

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Image Credit: Peter Turner Photography/Shutterstock

This perennial grass forms low clumps of strappy, jet-black leaves. It thrives in partial shade and makes an excellent border or ground cover.

2. Chocolate Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus ‘Chocolate Cherry’)

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These sunflowers boast deep, velvety brown petals, reminiscent of rich chocolate, adding a unique touch to summer gardens. Their tall stalks and large blooms make them an eye-catching focal point.

3. Zinfandel shamrock – Black Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis)

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Image Credit: Molly Shannon/Shutterstock

With deep purple, triangular leaves that resemble shamrocks, this oxalis adds a touch of mystery and elegance to shaded areas. Its delicate pink or white flowers provide a charming contrast to its dark foliage.

4. The Watchman Black Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea ‘The Watchman’)

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These towering hollyhocks showcase almost black blooms, creating a dramatic statement in the garden. Their height and striking color make them an excellent backdrop for other plants.

5. Drama Queen (Papaver somniferum ‘Drama Queen’)

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Known for their large, ruffled petals in deep shades of plum and purple, these poppies add a touch of drama and intrigue to flower beds. Their short blooming period makes their appearance all the more special.

6. Black Hellebore (Helleborus niger)

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Often called the Christmas Rose, this hellebore blooms in winter, showcasing white or pink flowers with dark nectaries. Its evergreen foliage adds interest to the garden even when not in bloom.

7. Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa ‘Black Magic’)

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This tropical plant features strappy, burgundy-black leaves that create a dramatic focal point in landscapes. Its upright growth habit and vibrant foliage add a touch of the exotic to gardens.

8. Black Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’)

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This ornamental vine boasts deep purple, almost black foliage that adds a touch of drama to hanging baskets, containers, and landscapes. Its cascading growth habit makes it an excellent ground cover or spiller in mixed plantings.

9. Black Daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Black Stockings’)

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Image Credit: Ludmila Kapustkina/Shutterstock

With its velvety, dark purple petals that appear almost black in certain light, this daylily offers a unique and captivating bloom. Its contrasting yellow throat adds a touch of brightness to its dark allure.

10. ‘Paul Scherer’ Tulip (Tulipa ‘Paul Scherer’)

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Image Credit: Alex Manders/Shutterstock

This single late tulip variety displays striking, deep maroon petals with a velvety texture, reminiscent of dark chocolate. Its strong stems and long-lasting blooms make it a favorite for spring gardens and cut flower arrangements.

11. ‘Hollyhill Black Beauty’ Dahlia (Dahlia ‘Hollyhill Black Beauty’)

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This dinnerplate dahlia showcases large, dramatic blooms with deep red petals that appear almost black. Its impressive size and dark hue make it a showstopper in late summer and fall gardens.

12. ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ Dahlia (Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’)

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This single dahlia variety features vibrant red petals that surround a golden center, creating a striking contrast. Its dark bronze foliage adds another layer of interest to its overall appeal.

13. ‘Black Narcissus’ Dahlia (Dahlia ‘Black Narcissus’)

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This dinnerplate dahlia variety displays large, captivating blooms with deep red petals that appear almost black, creating a dramatic and elegant presence in gardens. Its impressive size and dark hue make it a showstopper in late summer and fall displays.

14. Frosted Purple Barberry (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Rose Glow’)

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This deciduous shrub features stunning purple foliage with a frosted appearance, adding a touch of elegance and contrast to landscapes. Its small yellow flowers in spring and red berries in fall provide additional visual interest.

15. ‘Black Lace’ Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’)

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This elderberry variety showcases finely dissected, dark purple leaves that resemble lace, creating a delicate and dramatic effect in gardens. Its pink flowers in spring and black berries in fall offer a contrasting charm.

16. Purple Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’)

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This deciduous shrub is renowned for its fluffy, smoke-like plumes of purple flowers that emerge in summer, creating a hazy and enchanting display. Its rounded shape and vibrant foliage make it a focal point in landscapes.

17. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’)

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Image Credit: Marie Shark/Shutterstock

This cultivar of Japanese maple boasts deep burgundy, almost black leaves that retain their rich color throughout the growing season. Its delicate, lobed foliage and graceful form make it a prized ornamental tree.

18. Black Diamond Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Black Diamond’)

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This crape myrtle variety features stunning, dark purple foliage that deepens in color as the season progresses. Its showy pink flowers in summer and attractive peeling bark in winter add to its overall appeal.

19. Coppertina Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Mindia’)

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This deciduous shrub features stunning copper-colored foliage that transitions to deep purple-red as the season progresses. Its white or pink flower clusters in spring and exfoliating bark add to its visual interest.

20. Midnight Wine Weigela (Weigela florida ‘Elvera’)

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Image Credit: Aleksandr Naumenko/Shutterstock

This compact shrub showcases deep purple, almost black foliage that provides a striking backdrop for its vibrant pink flowers in spring. Its compact size and attractive foliage make it suitable for small gardens and containers.

21. ‘Edge of Night’ Hibiscus (Hibiscus ‘Edge of Night’

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This hibiscus cultivar features dramatic, near-black blooms with ruffled edges and a velvety texture. Its striking flowers and dark foliage create a captivating focal point in tropical and subtropical gardens.

22. ‘Merlot’ Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’)

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This ornamental tree is known for its stunning display of deep purple, almost maroon flowers that cover its branches in early spring. Its heart-shaped leaves emerge burgundy and mature to a deep green, adding to its visual appeal.

23. ‘Burgundy’ Peppermint Willow (Agonis flexuoso ‘Burgundy’)

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This evergreen tree features graceful, weeping branches adorned with narrow, aromatic leaves that release a minty fragrance when crushed. Its unique weeping habit and aromatic foliage make it a captivating addition to landscapes.

24. ‘Summer Chocolate’ Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’)

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This deciduous tree showcases delicate, fern-like foliage in a rich chocolate-brown hue, creating a dramatic and eye-catching display. Its fluffy pink flowers in summer add a touch of whimsy to its dark elegance.

25. ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ (Dahlia ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’)

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Image Credit: Alex Manders/Shutterstock

This is a decorative dahlia variety with a striking two-toned effect. Its fully double blooms feature violet petals with a bold cherry-red reverse, creating a beautiful contrast that adds a touch of vibrancy to gardens.

26. ‘Chat Noir’ Dahlia (Dahlia ‘Chat Noir’)

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This is a captivating dark dahlia variety with velvety, deep red petals that appear almost black, creating a mysterious and sophisticated allure. Its dramatic blooms add a touch of elegance and intrigue to gardens and floral arrangements.

27. ‘Arabian Night’ (Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’)

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This is a classic and highly sought-after dahlia variety known for its deep, velvety burgundy petals that appear almost black, creating a dramatic and mysterious allure. Its fully double blooms add a touch of opulence and elegance to gardens and floral arrangements. 

Whether you’re seeking striking focal points, dramatic borders, or unique textures, these plants will undoubtedly boost your garden to new heights.

nancy
Author & Editor | + posts

Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.