Here are our top picks for plants to use if you want to add “chocolate” to your landscape.
‘Black Lace’ elderberry (Sambucus nigra) boasts leaves that are similar to lace-leaf Japanese maples, but they’re wider, blacker and more showy. Soft pink flowers emerge in spring. ‘Black Beauty’ elderberry warrants an honorable mention for its dark black leafy foliage and large pink summer flowers that smell like lemon. Both are shrubs that can reach 8 feet or more in height.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summer Wine’), a burgundy-colored shrub, grows up to 4 feet wide and 6 feet tall.
Weigela florida ‘Midnight Wine’ or ‘Ruby Queen’ would make a great addition to a perennial collection with its dark foliage and compact growth habit.
‘Irish Molly’ violets feature three milk chocolatey upper petals and one bright yellow bottom one for contrast. Viola x williamsii ‘Velour Frosted Chocolate’ and Viola nigra ‘Bowles Black’ will also break up your violet boredom in a hurry.
Silver laced primrose (Primula polyanthus ‘Penumbra’) is a rare find with chocolate-brown petals edged with silver (which looks more like white). Look for gold laced primrose or double-blooming ‘Elizabeth Killelay’ featuring similar coloring and bright yellow edges. All exhibit a quaint, heirloom quality.
‘Black Magic’ elephant’s ear (Colocasia esculenta) is a showy, fun plant with leaves of solid, deep purple.
Sedges such as Carex tenuiculmis ‘Cappuccino’ and Carex comans ‘Milk Chocolate’ will add wisps of coppery brown to your containers and mixed borders year round.
Sedums deliver chocolate, too, including ‘Bon Bon’ with maroon foliage and brown-hued flowers as well as ‘Voodoo,’ an evergreen beauty with burgundy foliage.
Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema sikokianun) features a ghostly-white center surrounded by a chocolate-striped hood and coat.
‘Mint Chocolate’ foam flower features light-green oaklike leaves with splashes of brown in the middle that pick up the light-brown hues of the floaty flower spikes.
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