Dark and handsome, for Foliage Follow-up

It’s no secret I have a thing for dark foliage, I love the contrast of the dark purple, burgundy, brown or almost black leaves with the green of the garden. Last week I realized I've upped the darkness in the garden quite a bit this year, so I thought for this Foliage Follow-up (hosted by Pam at Digging) I'd give you a glimpse at the dark side of the danger garden…

Aeonium 'Silk'

Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'

Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop'

Newly planted, Acaena purpurea. I've watched this ground cover in other gardens and decided to finally try it out for myself. (horrible photo!)

Canna 'Australia' (one of several) with Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’ visible at the top and Ricinus communis (Castor Bean) to it's right.

Another canna, perhaps Canna 'Australia' but I'm not 100% sure.

Ricinus communis (Castor Bean)

Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’

This is the year for the Cotinus ‘Royal Purple', finally! After 3 (4?) years in the ground it's finally decided to do something.

Cotinus ‘Royal Purple' with Eucomis oakhurst

Geranium maculatum 'Elizabeth Ann'

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Hindwarf'

Ophiopogon planiscapus (black mondo grass)

Pennisetum 'Vertigo'

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Atropurpureum’

And look! It's the tiniest little black flower...

Leucadendron 'Ebony'

Rhododendron 'Ebony Pearl'

Only the new growth is dark on the Rhododendron sinogrande, but it's pretty fabulous...

Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

Thalictrum 'Evening Star'

Yucca desmetiana 'Blue Boy'

Zingiber malaysianum 'Midnight'

A bit of a cheat, but with that dark "V" it goes so well, Persicaria runcinata 'Purple Majesty'

Okay I'm in full on cheating territory now, what the heck! Aloe dorotheae..

Aloe marlothii

And finally the dark, peeling bark of the Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths'...

Isn't it fabulous?

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.