Page 23 - Cornwall Issue 3 2024

GARDENING

enry Ford famously said:
“You can have any colour,
as long as it’s black”. Little
BLACK Hin all aspects of design,
did he know just how in
vogue black would become
including gardening. It never seems to
IS THE NEW go out of style. Black may not be the
first colour you think of when gardening,
but it is perfect to add depth and a little
drama. Black is bold and makes a strong
statement.
GREEN Here is a list of black and purple-black

plants to have fun with in the garden:
•
Ficus robusta Burgundy is a popular
indoor air-filtering plant with large
glossy, dark leaves and is easy to
grow.

• Colocasia ‘Black Magic’, or black
elephant’s ear, has very large,
dramatic leaves and is well suited to
a shady spot in the garden.
• Petunia ‘Black Velvet’ is an eye-
catcher and looks great in the garden
for both pots and hanging baskets
in the sun. It is the new darling in a
trend towards black-flowered plants.
• Ophiopogon ‘Black Dragon’ is a
stunning, black, strappy grass-like
perennial that looks better and better
the denser the foliage becomes with
age. It produces dainty flowers of
pale violet with shiny blackberries.
Popular for mass planting contrast or
in a mixed contemporary container.

Tip: Black Dragon looks amazing
when planted next to the light grey
Aeonium

Tulip

Pansy Blackberry Rose Primrose

Hollyhock Calla Lily Viola

Cornwall View • Issue 3 2024 21