Kathleen LaLiberte shared some exciting ways to use black plants in your garden in the Spring Issue of PITH + VIGOR.  Playing off the idea of heightening the darkness by associating it with something else that is light and bright, these seven pairings will get you started when trying to create some show stopping moments in your own garden.

PAIR #1

Coleus ‘Midnight Rambler’ or ‘Black Prince’ with Coleus ‘Lime Time’ or ‘Fishnet Stockings.’

PAIR #2

Aquilegia ‘Black Barlow’ (columbine) is beautiful with Alchemilla mollis (lady’s mantle).

PAIR #3

Buddleia davidii ‘Black Knight’(butterfly bush) and Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ makes a strong statement.

PAIR #4

 Sempervivum ‘Spherette’, would look good with any lime-colored succulent, such as Sempervivum ‘Little Bobo.’

 

PAIR #5

In a container or along the edge of a bed, Ophiopogon ‘Nigrescens’ (black mondo grass) or a variety of black Ajuga is striking with Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea.’

PAIR #6

In the spring, Tulipa ‘Violet Beauty’ works well with Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’ or Berberis ‘Concorde’ (a barberry that does not produce seed).

 

PAIR #7

 Begonia rex ‘Fire-works’ is an indoor or porch plant that is very pretty with a bright pink cyclamen or a bright pink tuberous begonia like Roseform Pink Begonia.

All images courtesy of Longfield Gardens except for image #5 by Karl Gercens.