10 Beautiful Garden Plants with Black Foliage

Sometimes containers or borders need some contrast. Plants with black leaves can add instant depth, interest, and contrast to your garden space. The eye-catching color of their richly pigmented foliage is becoming increasingly popular in modern and urban gardens.

Small gardens in particular often benefit from plants that bring more than just flowers and leafy greens. Black plants look especially dramatic next to plants with silver foliage and pair well with pink or purple flowers.

Why do some plants have black leaves?

Like plants with purple leaves, the black coloring of black leaves is caused by the pigment anthocyanin. Anthocyanin usually produces pink, red, and purple shades. However, in black leaves, the pigmentation levels are so high it completely overpowers the green color of chlorophyll making the leaves look black. Although often in sunlight, you can see a gleam of purple or burgundy shining through!

Black leaves aren’t common in the wild. The plants on this list are all cultivars that have been bred and selected by growers for their black foliage.

Some wild plants do have black leaves, especially tropical plants. Scientists still haven’t confirmed though the exact benefit or reason for some plants having black leaves. The most common reason is that the additional anthocyanin helps to protect them from sun damage!

Outdoor garden plants with black leaves

Able to add eye-catching displays of texture and color to borders or containers. Here are 8 beautiful plants with striking black foliage.

1. Ophiopogon ‘Black Dragon’

The strap-like leaves of Ophiopogon can add amazing structure to a garden. But for even more eye-catching drama, the ‘Black Dragon’ cultivar adds amazing contrast against other plants and flowers.

It looks especially dramatic next to plants with large, soft-colored foliage, like blue-grey hostas or plants with silver leaves. It will only reach a height of about 1.5ft, so works well in smaller garden spaces.

2. Sambucus ‘Black Lace’

For something softer, the Sambucas nigra ‘Black Lace’ shrub (elderflower) has beautiful, lace-like black foliage. In sunlight, the leaves have a very deep purple color, but from a distance, the plant has a beautiful black sheen.

In summer you can also enjoy a flush of delicate pink flowers which contrast beautifully against the dark foliage. The flowers are followed by shiny purple-black berries in autumn. Place it against a light-colored wall or surface for maximum impact!

3. Black Hydrangea 

Hydrangeas are usually loved for their large colorful clusters of blue, pink, or purple flowers and bright green foliage. But did you know there’s actually an amazingly black hydrangea cultivar?

Known as Hydrangea ‘Black Diamonds’, this cultivar has richly pigmented, black leaves. In summer it will produce large clusters of showy red flowers.

4. Acer palmatum ‘Black Lace’

There are some amazingly vibrant Acer varieties, from red and yellow to purple. But for something more dramatic, the Black Lace Acer can be a very eye-catching choice. The leaves are so deeply pigmented and are so full of anthocyanin that they look black.

The leaves are deeply lobed palm shapes, creating very feathery foliage. Paired with the dark leaves it creates a beautiful standalone focal point. Plus, as naturally small trees, they make ideal trees for balconies and other mini garden spaces.

5. Coral Bells (Heuchera)

Heucheras (coral bells) can be great for adding color to gardens, especially shady spaces. The ‘Timeless Night’ Heuchera however has beautiful black leaves that have a purple sheen in the sun.

Like Sambucus ‘Black Lace’, this heuchera variety produces a beautiful display of pink flowers in summer. They are at the top of long purple stems, contrasting beautifully against the deeply pigmented foliage. 

Other heucheras with black foliage:

• Heuchera ‘Obsidian’
• Heuchera ‘Taffeta’
• Heuchera ‘Black Beauty’

6. Hebe

Hebes are wonderful little shrubs that are great for bringing interesting colors to gardens. There are lots of bright pink varieties, but also some incredibly striking black hebe cultivars too.

These hebe varieties can add rich tones to borders, especially when paired with silver-colored plants. Reaching a maximum height of 3ft they make lovely evergreen plants for balconies and other small spaces.

Black hebe varieties:

• Hebe ‘Midnight Sky’
• Hebe ‘Black Pearl’
• Hebe ‘Black Beauty’

7. Astilbe

Astilbe are beautiful plants that can bring color to shady gardens. The upright feathery flower heads packed with pink flowers are simply gorgeous. Most varieties have green leaves, but there are some incredible cultivars with deep purple to black leaves.

It loves moist conditions, so it also makes a great shade-loving plant for a small garden pond.

• Astilbe ‘Chocolate Shogun’
• Astilbe ‘Dark Side of the Moon’

8. Ninebark ‘Midnight’

The darkly colored foliage of Ninebark ‘Midnight’ (Physocarpus opulifolius) is perfect for adding contrast to your garden space. Its foliage has a rich, incredibly dark burgundy to purple hue.

Like most of the other flowering plants on this list, Ninebark also produces flowers in summer which contrast beautifully against its dark foliage. Another darkly colored cultivar option is Ninebark ‘Diablo’.

9. Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’

Ajuga, or bugle, is a striking, low-growing perennial with black scalloped leaves and blue flowers. It can be evergreen in warmer climates, but may usually die back in winter to reappear next Spring.

It’s otherwise very hardy, surviving harsh winters and hot, sun-exposed balconies, making it a good low maintenance plant option!

10. Black Rose Aeonium

At the top of each tall Black Rose Aeonium stem you’ll find a beautiful rosette of black succulent leaves. New growth at the center emerges green, but the anthocyanin levels quickly rise quickly turning the leaves from green to red, then a striking black color.

Looking to plant a rainbow of color in your garden? I put together these other lists of plants with vibrantly colored foliage!

• Plants with silver leaves
• Plants with purple leaves
• Plants with pink leaves
• Plants with orange leaves
• Plants with red leaves
• Plants with blue leaves