Black Foliage/Stems or Marked with Black

A dwarf, densely branching upright selection of the evergreen Japanese Cedar with dark blackish-green mature foliage and soft green new growth. An excellent specimen plant and backdrop for lighter flowers and foliage. Item # 9111.

The dark purple to deep burgundy foliage nearly black foliage of this sturdy perennial is topped by spikes of sweetly contrasting purple to lilac flowers in mid to late spring. Flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Blackbeard Penstemon or Beardtongue is hybrid selection of our native species (Penstemon species are found native only in North America) whose intensely colored foliage is sure to provide wonderful contrast with surrounding perennials in the garden and landscape or use it as a specimen in containers. Provide a full to mostly sunny location for the darkest foliage coloration and a well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Blackbeard Penstemon was selected not only for its foliage color but also for its compact habit and flower power. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11904

One of the hottest new native grasses on the market! Blackhawks Big Bluestem starts off in spring as a deep green clump of upright to arching blades that may be tipped with red to purple. It is in late summer when the real show begins with the upright and arching foliage and flowering stems of August deepen to red to red-purple and further deepening and intensifying as the cooler fall weather arrives becoming nearly all black as its sturdy and showy flowering stems begin to mature. Blackhawks Big Bluestem is a slightly more compact plant reaching about 4-5' high when in flower. The species is native throughout much of the eastern 2/3's of the US and is a clumping to slowly spreading rhizomatous grass whose seeds are utilized by a number of seed eating birds. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with an average to well-drained, acidic soil for the deepest foliage colors and optimum vigor. Plants are in their best form when grown in a low fertility soil. Overly fertile soils can cause them to topple at maturity. Images courtesy of Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12169

The dark purplish-bronze, finely textured, licorice scented foliage makes a beautiful addition to the perennial border or the butterfly garden. Mix Bronze Fennel with yellow and chartreuse foliaged and flowering plants for a great combination. The foliage and stems are utilized by the Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly as a caterpillar host plant. For optimum health and vigor plant Bronze Fennel in a full to mostly sunny site, in a well-drained, fertile soil. It can be grown as a reliable perennial in gardens and landscapes as well as in containers, either as a specimen plant or in mixed company. Item# 9121

A dwarf Loropetalum! The deep burgundy, purple, to near black foliage is accented by frilly bright cerise pink flowers in spring flowering a few weeks later than most Loropetalums and are so the flowers are less likely to get burned by a late freeze or frost. Cerise Charm™ Loropetalum, a.k.a Chinese Witch Hazel, is a new dwarf and compact selection that naturally develops into a dense rounded mound of dark foliage making this a great low-maintenance choice for small hedges, as accent plants, and even as a container specimens. Chinese Witch Hazel has few pests or disease problems when grown in an average to well-drained, acidic to neutral soil with average fertility in a full sun to partly shaded site. Images courtesy of Star Roses and Plants®, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12747

The near black to dark burgundy, large, sagittate to near heart-shaped tropical foliage adorns the black to deep burgundy stems of this reverted form of the Pink Princess Philodendron. The Duchess of Burgundy Philodendron, Philodendron erubescens, is the non-variegated form of this species. It is a slow growing mounding to vine-like Philodendron and can be trained to a wooden support where its sturdy adventitious roots will attach to it. Provide an average moist, fertile, high quality, well-draining potting soil in high light for optimum vigor and color. During the warmer months of the year, when night time temperatures remain above about 60-65^oF, the Princess of Burgundy Philodendron can be enjoyed on a brightly lit porch or patio. Item# 11700

Exceptionally dark purple to black shamrock-like foliage creates the perfect foil for the white to light pink trumpet shaped flowers that are produced during much of the the growing season. Ebony Allure™ Purple False Shamrock, a selection of Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionaceae, is the latest, darkest foliaged cultivar of this popular container and garden plant which can be enjoyed indoors or out. This is a clump-forming bulbous and non-aggressive Oxalis that slowly multiplies into larger and larger clumps. Ebony Allure™ Purple Oxalis will perform best in a well-draining, average moist, fertile soil under lightly shaded conditions. Easy and rewarding! Images courtesy of AG3, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12456

Deep dark red petals contrast nicely with the golden yellow centers of Ebony Embers' flowers all held above the dark, nearly black, burgundy foliage. This disease resistant introduction has a naturally upright to vase-shaped habit and enduring foliage color that lasts throughout summer. The contrasting foliage color and deep darkly colored flowers are sure to make a statement in the landscape. Item# 10734.

Spring and summer offer up a mound of dark purplish-black foliage that covers up in late summer and fall with contrasting white daisies with a purplish-red eye. The flowers of Lady in Black Calico or Woodland Aster attract a myriad of pollinators like bees, smaller butterflies, and other garden beneficials at a time when many are stock piling for winter. This is an easy and reliable clump forming native perennial selected for its deep dark foliage. Lady in Black Woodland Aster is tolerant of light shade but will have the darkest foliage where it receives the most direct sunlight. May reseed on exposed soils. Caterpillar host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12114

Large 8-9" wide glowing deep red flowers are held against the dark burgundy maple-like foliage of this hardy Hibiscus. Midnight Marvel Perennial Hibiscus is a show stopper that absolutely pops in the summer and early fall landscape! Another excellent Walter's Gardens introduction, this hardy Hibiscus is sure to make a statement whether in the garden and landscape or all on its own. Like some of the other Walter's Gardens Hibiscus introduction, Midnight Marvel flowers all the way from the top to the bottom of these naturally rounded plants. Provide full to mostly sun and a moderately rich moist soil. Item# 11420

The large minty green elephant-ear shaped foliage is flecked, spotted, streaked and randomly splashed with dark purple to black creating a very cool tropical eye-catching effect. The Mojito Elephant Ear is a rhizomatous tropical perennial in zones 8-10 but is vigorous enough to enjoy as a summer annual in northerly climates. Elephant Ears can be grown in moist to wet fertile soils and can be lightly submerged in water gardens as well as in medium to large containers. Colocasias can be invasive in warm southern climates please plant and dispose of plant parts responsibly. Provide a deep mulch where winters experience hard freezes to promote larger foliage the following season. This variety is  colocasias.  Item# 12177

The large minty green elephant-ear shaped foliage is flecked, spotted, streaked and randomly splashed with dark purple to black creating a very cool tropical eye-catching effect. The Mojito Elephant Ear is a rhizomatous tropical perennial in zones 8-10 but is vigorous enough to enjoy as a summer annual in northerly climates. Elephant Ears can be grown in moist to wet fertile soils and can be lightly submerged in water gardens as well as in medium to large containers. Colocasias can be invasive in warm southern climates please plant and dispose of plant parts responsibly. Provide a deep mulch where winters experience hard freezes to promote larger foliage the following season. This variety is  colocasias.  Item# 12719

The exceptionally dark purple to near black foliage provides the perfect foil for the numerous 2-3' high spikes of light lavender tubular flowers that appear white against their backdrop. Onyx and Pearls Penstemon or Beardtongue begins flowering in late spring to early summer providing weeks of color and a feast of nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Even when not in flower the cloak of dark foliage provides a wonderful contrast for its neighbors. This easy to grow, clump-forming perennial is a selection of our native Foxglove Beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis, and will perform best in a moist to average moist, well-drained soil and a full to mostly sunny site will provide the darkest foliage color. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12308

A slightly more compact Joe-Pye Weed-like hybrid, in summer Phantom Eupatorium produces large rounded clusters of purplish-pink flowers that sit atop sturdy dark maroon stems adorned with large medium green Joe-Pye Weed-like foliage. This clump forming herbaceous perennial was selected for its shorter branchier habit, excellent flower power, and mildew resistance but in all other regards is very similar to its larger growing parent. At maturity Phantom Eupatorium develops into a large rounded perennial to about 5'x5' whose stems are topped in 12" wide clusters of nectar rich flowers for weeks attracting a bevy of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and a wet to moist soil and can be used in bog gardens and near ponds or other water sources. Received 4 out of 5 stars in Joe Pye Weed trials at Chicago Botanic Gardens. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11976

The black to deep burgundy, glossy, heart-shaped tropical foliage is splashed and flecked with white and pink. An easily grown indoor or tropical plant that is sure to make a statement. This is a slow growing vine-like philodendron which can be trained to a support or allowed to trail. Item #12594

The near black to deep burgundy, glossy, heart-shaped tropical foliage is splashed and flecked with pink and white and the images shown are examples of how extreme the variegation can be with entire leaves or large portions of leaves being entirely pink. The Pink Princess Philodendron, a selection or hybrid of Philodendron erubescens, is a slow growing vine-like tropical plant which can be allowed to trail or trained to a support. It is tolerant of medium to semi-bright light conditions indoors and should not be exposed to direct sunlight even through a window. Outdoors on or a shaded porch or patio, the plants should be in light shade with no direct sunlight which can burn the foliage. Provide an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and never allow the plants to remain soggy wet even for short periods. These are well-established, vigorous plants with good variegation and will be selected from our current crop. Item# 9028

A breakthrough in Loropetalum breeding producing frilly bright white flowers in spring that absolutely shine against the foil of deep burgundy, purple, to near black foliage. Ruby Snow™ Loropetalum, a.k.a Chinese Witch Hazel, is an exciting new selection with a naturally rounded habit that can be utilized as a large hedge or screen and can even be trained into tree forms and espalier. Chinese Witch Hazel is fast growing and has few pests or disease problems when grown in an average to well-drained, acidic to neutral soil with average fertility in a full sun to partly shaded site. Images courtesy of Star Roses and Plants®, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12748

The large pink, white, and rose colored flowers are set against a foil of starkly contrasting near black, maple-like foliage of this hardy Hibiscus. Starry Starry Night Hibiscus has some of the darkest foliage of any of the new cultivars of perennial Hibiscus and the light colored flowers definitely stand out dramatically! This Walter's Gardens introduction was selected not only for its amazing foliage and flowers but also for the fact that it flowers from the top to the bottom of the naturally rounded plants unlike some of the older cultivars. Provide a moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny position. Item# 11419

The summerlong display of 8" wide intense deep magenta pink, crinkly flowers are centered by a deep burgundy eye and are held against a foil of near black foliage. SUMMERIFIC® Evening Rose Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a densely branching, clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Evening Rose is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating a traffic stopping display in the garden and landscape. The dark foliage and hot pink flowers are sure to make a statement in the garden and landscape. From Walter's Gardens: "we are proud to introduce 'Evening Rose' as an excellent combination of hot pink flowers and near black foliage. 8" puckered flowers cover the round, dense habit top to bottom. Compared to 'Berry Awesome', the foliage is much darker and the flower color is more magenta than lavender. A must have statement piece for your garden!" Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12496

The pinnacle of Hardy Hibiscus breeding in traffic stopping form! The summerlong display of huge 8-9" wide, textured, dark red flowers are set against a foil of deep dark maroonish-purple near black foliage all on a heavy flowering well-branched plant. SUMMERIFIC® Holy Grail Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Holy Grail is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12498