Hauntingly Beautiful: The World of Goth Plants

By Denise Dubose

Hi there gardeners!

I was recently reading in the Oregon Association of Nurseries Trade Magazines about the trends for this year in the nursery business. It’s GOTH! What the heck does that mean? Well, let me tell you … plants with dark, rich tones. Gardeners are pairing the dark foliage with silver, chartreuse or pastel tones to make the dark foliage stand out. It is a fun, moody way to play with color in your garden!   

Growers are now seeing homeowners and even landscapers designing gardens using dark foliage plants intentionally to create depth and contrast, or to anchor more colorful plantings in the garden. 

I will say dark color doesn’t work in shady areas - too much dark! Also, dark foliage plants don’t show up well at night either. That said, there are some real beauties that have been developed and are soon to be released to nurseries. Don’t forget the oldies but goodies though!

Oldies that I am growing are:

• Elderberry, Sambucus nigra

• Ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius

• Weigela, “Wine and Roses” plus a couple of dwarf varieties

• Black Mondo Grass

• Sedum “Candy Chocolate Drops”

• Actaea racemosa “Black Beauty” which has a fantastic smell

Below is the list of newer introductions from the different growers. Remember that these aren’t necessarily tested in this area, so be sure to check the hardiness zones to make sure it’ll survive here. See the photos below of a few suggestions.

• Spice Curls Coral Bell, with purple and silver ruffles, works well for borders or shaded corners that need dimension

• Pink Dynamo Mountain Hydrangea, with pink blooms and dark leaves that gives it a romantic yet edgy look

• Moon Shadow Morello Hardy Hibiscus and Moon Shadow Rosita Hardy Hibiscus, with their dark foliage and oversize blooms

• Kodiak Black Diervilla, with deep, dark tones that stay consistent through the season

• Superbells Black Current Punch Calibrocha

• Sweet Caroline Raven Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine

• Back in Black Stonecrop

• Black Pearl Coral Bells

• Winecraft Black Smokebush

• The Center Stage Series Crapemyrtle, available in coral, pink, and red

• Summer Wine Black Ninebark

• Black Lace Elderberry

• Very Fine Wine Weigela

• Centennial Ruby Hydrangea, with rich ruby red mophead blooms that deepen in color as the long-lasting flowers age

• Ice N’ Roses Merlot Hellebore

• Lilla Smoke Bush

• Velvet Viking Japanese Maple

• Black Forest Cake Heuchera

• Dark Fire Montbretia Crocosmia, with smokey purple-green foliage and bright red and yellow flowers

Happy Gardening!

Denise