Goth Gardens are for Everyone

Goth Gardens are for Everyone

Posted by KK on Sep 19th 2024

Goth Gardens: Embrace the Dark Side

Gardening is often seen as a pursuit of light and color, with vibrant flowers and lush greenery taking center stage. But there’s a growing movement that flips this notion on its head—Goth Gardening. This trend is all about embracing the darker side of nature, blending deep, moody colors, and mysterious, shadowy elements into your outdoor space. While it might sound unconventional, Goth Gardening is a trend that anyone can embrace, and here's why you’ll love incorporating it into your existing landscape.

Dramatic and mysterious, this garden captures all that's best about the Goth Gardening trend, evoking a sense of beauty and tranquility with an undercurrent of wonder and exhilaration. Photo courtesy Pixabay.

A Brief History of Goth Gardening

The Goth Gardening trend finds its roots in the broader Gothic subculture, which has long appreciated the dark, the mysterious, and the romantic. Inspired by Gothic literature, architecture, and fashion, this gardening style emerged as a natural extension of the desire to create spaces that reflect these themes.


Though the term “Goth Gardening” might be relatively new, the concept isn't entirely modern. In Victorian England, for example, mourning gardens were popular, often featuring dark flowers and foliage to reflect the somber mood. Similarly, Gothic architecture with its pointed arches, gargoyles, and stone carvings often influenced garden design, leading to spaces that felt both grand and a little spooky. Today, gardeners taking inspiration from these historical practices embrace non-traditional plants and designs to create spaces that are as hauntingly beautiful as they are unique.

    Why Goth Gardening is for Everyone


    • It’s Incredibly Versatile: Goth Gardening isn’t just for those with a penchant for the macabre. The trend’s versatility makes it easy to integrate into any garden style, whether you prefer a modern, minimalist look or a more traditional, cottage-style garden. The key to Goth Gardening is not about creating a space that’s dark and dreary, but one that is rich with contrast, texture, and depth. By adding a few dark-hued plants, incorporating gothic-inspired hardscaping, or simply playing with shadows and light, you can create a space that feels unique and deeply personal.


    • It’s Surprisingly Relaxing: There’s something inherently calming about a garden that plays with shadows and darker tones. The deep purples, blacks, and rich burgundies found in a Goth Garden evoke a sense of tranquility, making your outdoor space a perfect retreat from the chaos of daily life. Imagine sitting in a shaded corner, surrounded by dark foliage and the gentle trickle of a water feature—it’s the ideal setting for relaxation and reflection.


    • It Encourages Creativity: Goth Gardening is all about breaking the rules and letting your imagination run wild. Whether you’re planting a border of almost-black flowers or designing a moonlit garden that comes alive at night, this trend allows you to express yourself in ways that traditional gardening might not. You can experiment with unusual plant combinations, dramatic lighting, and gothic-inspired garden structures to create a space that’s truly one-of-a-kind.


    • It’s Perfect for Any Size Garden: Whether you have a sprawling estate or a small urban patio, Goth Gardening can work for you. In larger spaces, you can create entire sections dedicated to the gothic theme, complete with dark hedges, pergolas, and water features. In smaller gardens, a few well-chosen plants, a dark-painted fence, or a gothic-style statue can make a big impact. Even container gardens can be transformed with black petunias, dark succulents, and antique-looking planters.


    Plan a view toward the setting sun to make the most of light and shadow. Selectively pruning trees and shrubs to let the light shine through in specific areas can be quite effective.  Photo courtesy Pixabay.

    Design Elements of Goth Gardens

    Creating a Goth Garden is all about balance—combining elements that evoke a sense of mystery with those that make the space inviting. Here are some design basics to help you get started:


    • Dark Colors: The foundation of any Goth Garden is its color palette. Opt for plants with dark, rich colors—think black, deep purples, and burgundy. Complement these with silver, gray, and white to create contrast. Intense blue or red flowers can also be intriguing, but limit the different colors that are blooming at one time. For hardscaping, consider using dark tumbled stones, wrought iron, and aged wood to enhance the moody vibe. Cobblestone paths or gravel walkways in dark hues can guide visitors through the garden, enhancing the theme.
    • Unique Plant Structure:  Victorian gardens and containers traditionally featured substanial large-leaved tropical plants.  Think elephant ears, bananas, fan palms, giant rhubarb (Gunnera manicata), leopard plant (ligularia), castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), or even squash or zucchini plants!  Weeping trees and shrubs, or those with curly or twisted stems or drooping flowers play up the mysterious ambience, as do plants with highly unusual flower shapes like passion vine (Passiflora spp.), pipe vine (Aristolochia spp.), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), flame lily vine (Gloriosa superba), cleome, and crown imperial fritillaria. Consider also plants with interesting seedheads like many clematis, large-flowered Allium, Eryngium, Baptisia, etc.
    • Light and Shadow: The interplay of light and shadow is crucial in creating the right mood. Position plants with dark foliage in spots where they can cast eerie shadows, catch the dappled sunlight or will be backlit by the rising or setting sun. In the evening, use lanterns, candles, fairy lights, or other low lighting to create an enchanting glow. Uplighting inividual specimens emphasizes interesting branch or leaf structure--experiment with both front and back lighting to determine the best effect.
    • Create a Sense of Enclosure: A Goth Garden should feel like a private, secret space. Use hedges, tall plants, or trellises to create natural walls that enclose your garden, giving it a secluded, intimate feel. An ogee style gazebo or pergola echoes the Gothic period style, creating an inspired garden room.
    • Gothic Architectural Elements: Architectural features can elevate your Goth Garden from merely dark to truly gothic. Consider incorporating elements like black metal vine-covered arches or obelisks. Statues or gargoyles can also add a touch of drama, while a weathered stone bench provides a place to sit and soak in the atmosphere.
    • Water Features: While not a necessity, water features like dark, still ponds or bubbling fountains add a layer of tranquility while enhancing the garden's mysterious vibe. A small, reflective pool, or even just a large birdbath, can mirror the moonlight, adding a sense of depth and calm to the space.    


    Incorporating Goth Garden into Your Existing Landscape


    Integrating a Goth Garden into your current landscape doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Instead, think of it as adding layers of depth and intrigue to your existing garden. Here’s how to do it:


      • Start Small with Containers and Accents: If you’re hesitant about diving headfirst into the Goth Gardening trend, start small. Dark-colored containers filled with black or burgundy plants can be placed on your patio or along pathways. Gothic-inspired garden ornaments, like wrought iron lanterns or a stone gargoyle, can add a touch of mystery without overwhelming your space. Try dedicating just one corner or small, secluded area that contrasts with the rest of your garden, then sprinkle in a few dark foliaged plants or similar flowers nearby to create a transition.

      • Incorporate Dark Foliage and Flowers: Look for opportunities to weave dark foliage and flowers into your existing garden beds. Black Mondo Grass, Heuchera ‘Obsidian,’ and Queen of Night Tulips are all excellent choices that blend well with lighter, more traditional plants. Consider planting these darker varieties alongside silver or white plants to create contrast and highlight the unique colors.  You might try this for just one blooming season perhaps, with Persian Lily (Fritillaria persica) and black spring tulips blooming amongst dark ajuga, euphorbia, and heucheras, with flowers in other colors arriving later.  


    • Play with Lighting: Lighting is a crucial element in Goth Gardening. Subtle, low lighting can create an eerie, enchanting glow, especially in the evening. Use lanterns, fairy lights, or ground-level lighting to illuminate pathways, highlight dark corners, or cast shadows on statues and structures. The interplay of light and shadow is what gives a Goth Garden its magical, otherworldly feel.


      • Add Gothic Structures: Garden structures like arches, pergolas, and trellises can be transformed into gothic focal points with a few design tweaks. Consider painting them in dark colors or allowing vining plants like Japanese climbing hydrangea or dark-hued clematis to cover them. If you’re up for a more significant change, installing a wrought iron gate or a small gazebo can create a gothic “room” within your garden that’s perfect for contemplation or quiet conversation.


      • Create a Focal Point: A goth-inspired focal point can be as simple or elaborate as you like. It might be a dark-colored bench beneath a canopy of trees, a stone birdbath surrounded by black and purple flowers, or a small pond with dark stones and aquatic plants. This focal point doesn’t have to dominate your garden but should draw the eye and invite closer inspection.

      • Embrace the Shadows: If your garden already has shaded areas, Goth Gardening is the perfect way to make the most of them. Plant dark-leaved ferns, hostas, hellebores, epimediums and heucheras in these areas, and let moss grow naturally on stone paths or walls. The shade will enhance the deep colors of the plants and create a sense of seclusion and mystery. Add one or just a few (depending on the size of the area) white-blooming or bright silver-foliaged plants to create dramatic contrast without overwhelming the scene--like a moon in a dark night sky.


      • Integrate with Natural Surroundings: If your garden is surrounded by trees or natural landscapes, use these to your advantage. Incorporate the existing natural elements into your goth garden design, using them as backdrops for dark plants or gothic structures. This helps the garden blend into its surroundings while still standing out.


    Goth Gardening is about more than just a color palette—it's a way to create a space that feels mysterious, intimate, and deeply personal. Whether your garden is bathed in sunlight or nestled in shade, you can bring elements of this trend into your landscape, creating a space that reflects your love for the dark and the dramatic. With thoughtful design, the right plants, and well-chosen hardscaping, you can transform your garden into a sanctuary that celebrates the beauty of shadows and light.


    So, why not let your garden embrace its dark side? With a touch of gothic inspiration, you can create a space that is both hauntingly beautiful and irresistibly inviting.


    Goth Garden Plant Suggestions:

    This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to choosing plants to adorn your Goth style garden, but it will get your creative wheels turning!!


    Trees and Shrubs with Dark Leaves or Berries

    • 'Ebony Flame' crape myrtle***.  Many varieties of dark-leaved crapes now exist , trees & large or small shrubs.
    • 'Royal Purple' Smoketree, Cotinus coggygria***.  Just one of several  dark-foliaged smoke tree cultivars.
    • 'Canada Red Select' Chokeberry, Prunus virginiana***. Native cultivar.
    • 'Black Pearl' Redbund, Cercis canadensis***.  One of several rebuds with dark leaves, some have a weeping structure as well. Native cultivar.
    • 'Black Tower' elderberry, Sambucus nigra.*** Excellent narrow form; several other dark leaved cultivars available.
    • 'Purple Daydream' Chinese Fringe Flower,  Loropetalum chinense.*** Many excellent dark foliaged cultivars with pink or red flowers to choose from.
    • 'Autumn Magic' Black Chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa.***  Native cultivar.
    • 'Electric Love' Weigela***.  Several dark foliaged cultivars that grow to various sizes.
    • 'After Midnight' Hydrangea macrophylla.*** A few dark-leaved hydrangeas are just now hitting the market.
    • 'Summer Wine' Ninebark,  Physocarpus  opulifolius.***  One of the best and still underappreciated native shrubs, many cultivars, almost all with bronze, purple, or near-black leaves. Small tree  to small shrub.
    • 'Black Lace'  Elderberry, Sambucus nigra.**  Large growing shrub with lacy foliage on loosely held branches and pink flowers. More and more cultivars becoming available.
    • 'Pearl Glam' Beautyberry, Callicarpa hybrid.***  Both non-native and native callicarpas available, all with bright purple berries in fall, most with green leaves.

    Perennials For with Dark Foliage or Dark Flowers for Shadier Spots

    • 'Chocolate Shogun' Astilbe.*
    •  'Dark Side of the Moon' Astilbe.**
    • Winter Jewels 'Black Diamond' Hellebore.*** Several black-flowered cultivars, some double-flowered.
    • 'Black Negligee'  Bugbane, Actaea simplex.*  One of several dark-leaved cultivars with white or pink flowers. Previously called Cimicifuga.
    • Dark Desire 'Baby Bells' Heuchera .* A plethora of dark foliaged cultivars to choose from with white, pink, or red flowers.
    •  'Britt-Marie Crawford' Ligularia.* Several dark cultivars with yellow or gold flowers, prefer consistently moist soil.
    • 'Black Scallop' Ajuga reptans.* Several dark cultivars with variously sized leaves, with blue spring flowers. Groundcover or trailing container plant, evergreen.
    • 'Sandy Claws' Epimedium.* Great for dry shade, many have new foliage and fall foliage that has red or dark tones.

    Perennials with Dark Foliage or Dark Flowers for Sunnier Spots

    • 'Holy Grail' hardy hibiscus, H. moscheutos.** Plenty of dark-leaved varieties from which to choose, with more ever on the horizon. Native selection.
    •  'Queen Victoria' Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis***.  Native selection, one of several dark leaved types available. Prefers moist soil.
    • Rock  N Grow 'Back in Black' Sedum.* Lots of dark foliaged choices from groundcovers to upright bushy types with pink or reddish flowers. Drought  and heat tolerant.
    • 'Black n White' perennial geranium, Geranium pratense.*  More and more dark cultivars appearing...
    • 'Boom Chocolatta' perennial geranium.** 'Rozanne' is another excellent cultivar.
    • 'Dark Towers' penstemon.*  One of several dark-foliaged cultivars, more coming all the time...
    • Crowning Glory 'Purple Reign' Pineapple lily, Eucomis hybrid.* 
    •  'Dark Chocolate' Baptisia.**  Unique flower color, native cultivar.
    • 'Niobe' Clematis.*** Excellent dark red variety.
    •  'Black Beauty' herbaceous peony, Paeonia lactiflora.* 5-7" very deep red flowers.
    • 'Samobor' perennial geranium, Geranium phaeum.* "Mourning Widow" geraniums--this species bears very dark flowers, some with black markings on the foliage as well.
    • 'Black Barlow' columbine, Aquilegia hybrid. *
    • 'Old Black Magic' German iris.*  Lots of black and near black cultivars.
    •  'Star of Fire' Astrantia.*
    • Pasque flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris*
    • 'Bogeyman' daylily.*
    • 'Black Stockings' meadow rue, Thalictrum.*
    •  'Pink Profusion' meadow sage, Salvia nemorosa.**
    • 'Dark Magic' sedum.*
    • 'Purple Volcano' lyreleaf sage, Salvia lyrata.* Native cultivar.
    • 'Storm Cloud' bluestar, Amsonia tabernaemontana, new growth**. Native cultivar.
    • 'Black Adder' hummingbird mint, Agastache hybrid bewteen native and Asian species.*
    • 'Caradonna' meadow sage, Salvia nemorosa.***
    • 'Dark Blue Bee' Delphinium elatum.***

    Dark-toned Grasses

    • Ophiopogon nigrescens, Black Mondo  grass*
    • 'Regal Princess' fountain grass, Pennisetum sp.*
    • 'Purple Majesty' ornamental millet, Pennisetum sp.*
    • 'Blackhawks' Andropogon.***

    Dark Foliaged or Dark Flowered Annuals, Biennials, and Tender Perennials

    • Angelflare 'Black' Angelonia.*
    • 'Black Ray' petunia.*  New cultivars emerging--note that in some cases coloration is temperature dependent, especially in black-striped types
    • 'Atlas Black' Pansy.*

      Several black and near black pansy or viola varieites may be found

    • 'Plum Dandy' althernanthera.* Many other varieties with purple, burgundy, or bronze foliage, with various leaf forms and habits
    • 'Velvet Curtains' Amaranthus creuentus.*
    • 'Concertina Red Dark Leaf' Celosia cristata.* Lots of varieties with dark foliage, usually with red flowers.
    • 'Black Dragon' coleus.* More dark hued coleus than you can shake a stick at, so go crazy!
    • 'Midnight Fire' ornamental pepper.* Ornamental peppers are technically edible, just VERY hot.
    • Black Pearl' ,* ornamental pepper variety with round fruit that turns from red to black.
    • 'Fancy Feathers' Coleus*
    • 'Purple Queen' Tradescantia, trailing with pink flowers*
    • 'Solar Power Black' sweet potato vine*. Ipomoea sp.  Densely branched and more mounding than other varieties.
    • 'Black Velvet' Begonia*
    • 'Solar Tower Black' sweet potato vine.* A self-climbing variety up to about 4 feet.
    • 'Black Knight' Scabiosa atropururea*
    • 'Charmed Wine' Oxalis triangularis*
    • 'Ballerina Purple' Datura.* Usually reseeds with abandon.
    • 'Ivy League Burgundy' ivy geranium. *
    • 'Black and Bloom' Salvia guaranitica. Perennial up to zone 8 and often 7. *
    • Cut Flower 'Sunfill Purple' sunflower.*
    • 'Purple Kisses' ornamental carrot, Daucus carota*
    • Persian Shield, Strobilanthes sp. *
    • Flower Power 'Spider Purple' cape daisy,* Osteospermum sp. Spoon-shaped petals are intriguing bonus!
    • Kennedia, black coral pea vine. Australian native. ****

    Edibles with Dark Foliage or Fruit

    • 'Blackball' tomato, photo courtesy PIxabay
    • 'Purple Ruffles' Basil*
    • Purple and Tricolor Sage*
    • 'Fairytale' Eggplant*

    Bulbs, Tubers, and Rhizomes

    Some can be lifted over winter where not hardy#
    • 'Mystic Enchantment' Dahila.* Many dark-foliaged varieties are available.#
    • 'Black Knight' Canna*

      Several dark-leaved varieties can be found#

    • 'Black Hero' Calla.* Many different black and near black varieties exist.#
    • 'Blue Hawaii' Colocasia. *  Lots of choices of  elephant ears with dark foliage or dark-hued patterning.#
    • Fritillaria persica*
    • 'Verrones Obsidian' Dahlia*#
    • 'Allison Bradley' tulip*
    • Allium giganteum.* Many alliums have huge blue or purple flowerheads and there are others with smaller maroon flowers.
    Our plant recommendations are only suggestions, and may not be appropriate for your particular area.  Always consult your local cooperative extension service, master gardener's program, or state natural resources department for information on what plants may be invasive in your location. Thank you!

    *Photo courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., www.ballhort.com.

    **Photo courtesy of Proven Winners, www.provenwinners.com

    ***Photo courtesy of Greenleaf Nursery, www.greenleafnursery.com

    ****Photo courtesy of Top Tropicals, Inc., www.toptropicals.com

    Thumbnail photo of Solar Tower Ipomoea courtesy Ball Horticulture

    You may also like

    Embrace the Tranquility of Japanese Garden Design
    In our fast-paced and technology driven world, many of us long for a respite from the stress and anxiety of our daily lives. A peaceful garden is where some of us turn to reconnect with the natural world and rejuvenate our spirit. What could be better than finding that tranquil spot in your own backyard? For the ultimate in serenity, [...]
    Designing a Landscape That's For the Birds
    person_outline Kerry Kelley
    local_offer No tags
    As a child, I remember spending many afternoons on my grandparents’ couch, gazing through their huge picture window at the birds visiting the feeders hung in the magnolia tree outside. It was the one bit of excitement that could be found at their peaceful country home, and I was mesmerized by the comings and [...]
    Native Vines Perfect for Any Size Garden Structure
    There's something so inviting about a vine-covered arbor or pergola. Whether used to create a welcoming entrance, a shady garden nook, or softly frame a beautiful view, such a structure greatly enhances the landscape. There's no denying the drama of a red rose laden arch, or the romantic charm of a [...]