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Dark, spooky plants for the Gothic gardener in all of us

Do you prefer the “dark side” of things? If your wardrobe rivals the Dark Knight’s, then I have good news for you. There are plenty of plants and flowers that fit your Goth style. If Batman had a garden, he would have these dark beauties growing in it.

Blue Lady hellebore

Photo credit: Margrit via Flickr

Blue Lady hellebore is an evergreen perennial flowering plant. It is a great plant to have in the garden because it blooms in early winter when most plants are dormant. The blooms last for a long time and are striking against a snowy backdrop. During medieval times, hellebores were considered a weapon against witches, evil spirits and madness.

Queen of the Night tulips

Photo credit: Jaydot via Flickr

Who doesn’t love the showy blooms of a tulip in the spring? Instead of the regular ol’ pink, white and yellow blooms, try the Queen of the Night. The blooms are so dark purple they look black. Add some high drama to your spring garden with this flower. The mere darkness of the petals will stand out against their brighter siblings.

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Black Mondo grass

Photo credit: Brewbooks via Flickr

Black Mondo grass makes a great border plant in your Goth garden. Its deliciously dark and spiky foliage is intriguing as well as intimidating. In the summer the plant will show its softer side with bell-shaped pink flowers and globular bluish-black berries. Don’t worry, it’s still hardcore.

Aeonium Zwartkop

Photo credit: Badthings via Flickr

Aeonium Zwartkop are winter-blooming succulents with rosettes of blackish leaves that resemble flowers. To keep the succulent’s dark coloring, it needs to receive at least a half day of full sun. When grown in the shade, it’s more purple with a green center. Zwartkop has a secret sunny side that it will only reveal in the winter: bright yellow blooms.

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Black bamboo

Photo credit: Howard Dickins via Flickr

Black bamboo is a plant for the patient. The stems are green when young and become a lustrous ebony after two to three years. At maturity, it’s an impressive sight to behold. Boasting a shiny black body with bright green leaves and reaching to 15 feet tall, the black bamboo is a statement piece for any Goth garden.

Purple basil

Photo credit: Chupacabra Viranesque via Flickr

Skip the basic Italian Genovese and try purple basil. Its clove-like taste will add a burst of flavor to your cooking and give plenty of interest to your herb garden. Use it in vinaigrettes, as a salad green or on top of a freshly sliced tomato.

Black Velvet petunias

Photo credit: Virginia Sanderson via Flickr

If you think that petunias are for the meek, you haven’t set eyes on the Black Velvet petunia. This dark lovely has sweet-scented charcoal-black blooms. Plant these babies in your garden and they will reward you with velvety blooms all summer and well into fall. This is a perfect flower for Halloween planters.

Black hollyhock

Photo credit: Bluecherry 1408 via Flickr

If you want a real showstopper in your Goth garden, get a black hollyhock. They can grow up to six feet tall and have dark, purple-black blooms. Plant them in the background of your flower garden. No need to worry that it will get lost in the back; the black hollyhock cannot be ignored!

Black pansies

Photo credit: Eric Parker via Flickr

The quintessential Halloween bloom of all time is the black pansy. This petite beauty thrives in cooler temperatures, making it an ideal bloom for fall and winter gardens. Black pansies look great in containers and hanging baskets. Pair them with orange or deep red mums this fall for festive seasonal color.

Looks like Batman gardens after all.

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