Gothic Gardening?

Greenfingers gave me the idea for this post when he said that he liked Dahlia Chat Noir (Black Cat) because it 'appeals to the ageing rocker in me'. It really is a striking looking flower with its dark and dramatic colours. Say hello to Greenfingers here. I've never grown dahlias before but I'm tempted to try this one.

Dahlia Chat Noir

In the last couple of years very dark coloured flowers have been highly fashionable such as this glorious Tulip.

Tulip 'Queen of the Night'

It looks fantastic either on its own or complimented with other varieties of tulips in paler colours. Can you imagine it teamed with a snow white tulip? Wow! I've grown Queen of the Night together with a pale pink tulip and it gave a lovely show.

This is Iris Chrysographes, the nearest variety to a black iris.

Iris Chrysographes

........ and here's a grass that would look just right in Count Dracula's garden!

Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens


..... how about this, the ultimate in gothic gardening?

Tacca chartrieri (Bat Flower)

I haven't tried this one yet but I do know that it was highly sought after on eBay this year. It looks stunning and would make a great talking point in the garden. Imagine sitting out for afternoon tea with granny and auntie discussing the finer points of this little beauty!

I like bats. We love to watch them flutter round the house at dusk. I'm going to have a go with this plant..... if there are any left to be got!


There are lots more exciting dark coloured flowers. Here's a list of others to look out for:

Helleborus orientalis (Hellebore) 'Black Beauty'.
Viola 'Black Jack'.
Viola 'Bowles Black'.
Viola 'Black Moon'.
Day Lily (Hemerocallis) 'Starling'.
Sweet William (Dianthus) 'Sooty'.
Hyacinth 'Midnight Mystique'.
Bearded Iris 'Superstition'.
Dahlia 'Arabian Night'.