Someone once asked me, if I found a truly black plant, how would I use it in the garden. And why would you want to? Think of that little black dress. And let me count the ways. . .
Actually, I've never found a truly black plant, although some come very close. Black mondo grass looks deep ebony to me, but most experts describe it as a deep purple. Viola 'Molly Sanderson" also looks pretty black. And several irises come close. But 'Queen of the Night' tulip is definitely deep purple, and the so-called black Geranium phaeum, known as 'Mourning Widow' is maroon in my garden.
Most flowers that are said to be black aren't. There are no black roses. There is no black dahlia. The Chinese describe many of their fanciest tree peonies as black, but if you plant them and watch the blooms you'll see that they are very maroon -- nothing black about them. Deep maroon is one of the colors that are commonly called black in flower culture; others darks are either red-black, purple-black, blue-black, or dark bronze. I believe there is a true black orchid, and our own Orchid Lady, Linda Fortner says that's a definite maybe. The blackest one she knows is here although there are varieties with jet black bars on the petal.
Many plants are also said to have black foliage, but I have yet to find one other than Mondo grass that really does. Think of the dark heucheras when the sun shines on them and you'll know what I mean. But they certainly can create the effect of black. Using them together without some relief can create one very gloomy garden.
But black is also a color of high drama, and one that can be used to create fabulous contrasts in your beds. When I was in my Art Deco phase I truly wanted to create a garden of stark black foliage with accents of bright white and shocking pink. Shades of the old Good 'n' Plenty packages! Perhaps I was lucky in that while I found plenty of plants in the right color, I never found any with the right form. I really needed a black agave or yucca to get the shapes right, and simply never found one. I was more of a purist back then and couldn't conceive of using a green yucca in my pink, black and white scheme.
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