Paint it black

What is a “gothic garden,” and why should you be interested in examining that style of garden? If you were to speculate on what might be found in a gothic-style garden, the focus on dark plants used as the foundation of a mysterious but engaging space would be entirely accurate but not the complete scene.

Gothic gardens are not a new concept, and while they are a bit of a novelty, they have shifted to the front burner as a garden theme of interest. The Garden Media Group listed gothic gardening as one of its seven garden trends for 2024 and has been promoting the supporting tagline of “Delight in the Dark.” I’ve had some interesting projects over the last 20 years that lend themselves to this theme, including many exciting plants and creative elements that can be extrapolated and utilized in the landscape at large.

Yes, gothic gardens include plants featuring the darkest of foliage along with those that have near-black, maroon or red flowers. We’ll get into the plants a bit further in the article, but what is truly exciting is the extremely broad palette of plant candidates that can be sourced and utilized for their rich and deep colorations. While black has been described as the most mournful of colors, I disagree with this implied somberness and feel strongly that dark colors can be utilized to great effect in the garden at large.

Dark colors tend to recede in the landscape, so they are best appreciated from a closer, more intimate distance. This feature is ideal for the gothic garden, which is experienced not only visually but through immersion and exploration (during both the day and night). The breeding of plants with increasingly darker foliage or flowers continues in earnest, so there truly isn’t a better time to find, grow and feature these delectably dark treasures.

The gothic period is generally categorized as starting in the mid-12th century and lasting until the end of the 16th century. A “gothic garden” is not trying to replicate an actual garden of that period but borrows from gothic art and architecture, which is known for height in open spaces, tall arches and slender vertical pillars. One reference regarding gothic gardening states that the goal is to “entwine botanical beauty with foreboding overtones.” This doesn’t necessarily make a gothic garden a scary or unsettling space but simply an area of mystery, antiquity and serenity. Vertical accents and archways in these garden spaces can define smaller pocket gardens or more private respites in the garden. Stylistically, informal, meandering paths offer the traveler “destination guidance” but also embrace the excitement of “what is yet to come?” The combination of layout, plantings and select features are what blend to create a true gothic garden experience.

When I was director of horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin, from 1998 until 2019, I was fortunate to have the freedom to select and explore a lot of different color schemes, and we crafted intentional gothic themes in 2007 and 2015. It was an exciting study in finding the darkest foliage plants along with deep, rich flower coloration to create what would become a tapestry featuring a significant depth of exciting, bold, dark colors. While these themes — spread over 4,000 square feet in our entrance garden beds — were well received overall, admittedly, there were some that felt that while beautiful, the combinations appeared a bit too somber (mission accomplished with the foreboding overtones). The gothic theme at the botanic garden was also echoed in other locations around the grounds to connect with that first impression at the main garden entrance. If anything, I knew that visitors would be exposed to the potential of dark foliage and flowers and perhaps come away with an appreciation for their impact and value in compositions.

Keeping in mind the Midwest location of Rotary Botanical Gardens, we intentionally focused on a wide range of seasonal plantings to achieve our gothic garden goals for the growing season. Bold foliage plants with near-black foliage like ‘Black Coral’ and ‘Black Magic’ elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta), ‘New Zealand Purple’ castor bean (Ricinus communis), ‘Australia’ canna and VERTIGO elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) offered stunning textural contributions. Finer textures were offered by ‘Summer Chocolate’ mimosa trees (Albizia julibrissin) and a wide range of other selections. Black-foliage sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) were common, and our focus included a wide range of the darkest selections of Alternanthera sp., Pseuderanthemum sp. and near-black coleus varieties like ‘Midnight Rambler’. The hit of the entire display was the 500 ‘Black Pearl’ ornamental hot peppers (Capsicum annuum), with their black foliage and glossy black fruits maturing to a bright red in late summer. Keep in mind that there are many woody and perennial selections that feature deep maroon and near-black foliage for a similar effect, with the benefit of an extended contribution over the years. I use dark foliage perennials and woody plants for backdrops, visual depth and foils for lighter colors in many landscape situations.

Thirty years ago, I could list only a couple of plants featuring black flowers. There are now many varieties available for the discerning gardener. Black pansies and petunias are commonly available, and deep maroon and blood red flowering selections of many types of plants also abound. In both of the gothic garden themes I devised, we used vast amounts of ‘China Town’ plume celosia (Celosia plumosa) and ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ dahlias. Both selections have the benefit of bright, blood-red flowers and deep maroon foliage. In mixing both dark foliage and flowers, I would say the combination was at least two-thirds foliage impact. There was not a lot of green foliage in the overall composition, as again, dark maroon/black foliage plants are quite available and effective. It’s important to mention, though, that just planting dark plants together does not a gothic garden make.

Elements in a gothic garden should also include features that contribute to that feeling of antiquity and mystery. Old statuary is fun to incorporate strategically in the garden. Consider a visit to your local antique and second-hand stores, as you might be successful in sourcing some exciting options that can help add that medieval charm in the garden. Imagine a well-placed gargoyle or angel in a prominent spot that becomes a focal point and accent in the space. Or perhaps a partially hidden, broken garden statue that looks like it’s been there for hundreds of years can have a subtle spot? A patina of moss on containers, sculptures and other elements can also lend some age to the setting, as can including and featuring “elements of decay,” like dead trees or stumps. Wrought iron gates, arches and outdoor lanterns can also add impact and nuance, contribute to the overall scene and help define the space.

The gothic garden style is intentionally dramatic, impactful, memorable, oddly engaging and ultimately a conversation starter. The elements of this garden style are not uncommon, but combining select plants with a layout featuring supportive elements will help successfully “entwine botanical beauty with foreboding overtones.” For further inspiration on this topic, the National Garden Bureau has some great information at ngb.org/goth-garden-ideas.