Dark foliage for home and garden

Gothic Plants

Black, plum and burgundy leaves for shady shelves, bright windows and borders. Every plant on this page is in stock and ready to send.

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Choose your dark side

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Dark leaves, bold contrast

Black and plum foliage makes greens and silvers look brighter. Pair one with a variegated plant and both stand out.

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For inside and out

Alocasia, Begonia and ZZ for the home, plus shrubs, maples and grasses for the garden.

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Gothic plants for home and garden

What Makes a Plant Gothic?

A gothic plant is any plant with dark, dramatic or slightly sinister looks. That usually means foliage in deep purple, burgundy, charcoal or near-black, but it also covers unusual forms such as living stones, carnivorous traps and flowers shaped like bats. The dark colour comes from high levels of anthocyanin pigments, which give ZZ Raven its glossy, almost black leaves and turn Alocasia Red Secret a metallic maroon. Set against pale walls or paired with brass and black planters, gothic plants make a bold statement in a way that green foliage alone cannot.

Dark Foliage Houseplants

For an easy start, the ZZ Raven and Ficus elastica Abidjan both offer deep, glossy leaves and tolerate a range of conditions. Tradescantia Purple Heart and Gynura Purple Passion add rich purple colour and grow quickly. For a dark trailing plant, Scindapsus treubii Dark looks superb cascading from a high shelf, and our Scindapsus range has more to choose from.

Black Anthurium and Alocasia for Collectors

Some of the most sought-after gothic plants are aroids. Velvet-leaved Anthuriums from the Ace of Spades and Dark Phoenix lines in our Anthurium Hybrids collection produce leaves so dark they seem to absorb the light. Among the Alocasias, Alocasia Ninja has near-black leaves, Alocasia azlanii mixes deep purple with a metallic sheen, and Alocasia Antoro Velvet has soft, dark velvet leaves with pale veins. Browse our full Alocasia range for more.

Dark Begonias, Prayer Plants and Jewel Orchids

Begonias bring some of the darkest patterns of all. Begonia Black Mountain, Begonia Inca Night and Begonia Jungle Wonder Ebony all have deep, near-black foliage and suit a bright, humid spot. Calathea Crimson has pink-flushed leaves with purple undersides, and the jewel orchid Anoectochilus chapaensis has velvety dark leaves traced with fine, shining veins.

Gothic Plants for the Garden

The gothic look works outdoors too. Black Mondo Grass forms neat clumps of jet-black leaves, Sambucus Black Lace has finely cut purple-black foliage with pink flowers, and Loropetalum Fire Dance keeps its burgundy leaves all year with pink flowers in spring. Find more outdoor plants in our Hardy Exotics range.

How to Care for Dark-Leaved Plants

Dark leaves contain more pigment and often less chlorophyll per leaf, so most gothic houseplants need bright, indirect light to hold their colour. In low light, purple and black foliage can fade towards green. Avoid harsh, direct summer sun through south-facing glass, which can scorch velvety leaves. Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of compost feels dry, and feed every two to four weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser in spring and summer. Succulents and cacti need much less water and a very free-draining mix.

Bring the drama home

From a shady shelf to a sunny border, there is a dark plant for every spot.

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Gothic plant questions

Gothic plants are houseplants and garden plants with dark, dramatic looks: near-black, deep purple or burgundy foliage, unusual shapes, or a slightly sinister character. Popular examples include Alocasia Black Velvet, ZZ Raven and Gynura Purple Passion.

The category also includes oddities such as Lithops, the Black Bat Flower and carnivorous plants. Together they create a moody, dark-academia style display that works in any room.

For true black foliage, look at ZZ Raven, Philodendron Black Cardinal, Ficus elastica Abidjan and Scindapsus Black Mamba. All four are relatively easy and hold their dark colour well in bright, indirect light.

Collectors often go for velvet-leaved Anthuriums such as Anthurium Black Magic and Dark Mama, which have some of the darkest leaves of any houseplant.

ZZ Raven is the most forgiving: it copes with lower light and irregular watering. Tradescantia Purple Heart and Gynura Purple Passion grow quickly and recover well if you forget to water.

If you would like something unusual but still easy, Ludisia discolor Black is a jewel orchid grown for its dark velvet leaves rather than its flowers, and it is happy on a shaded windowsill. Browse our easy care plants for more options.

Light is the key. Dark and purple foliage needs bright, indirect light to keep producing the pigments that give it colour. In a dim corner, new leaves on plants like Purple Heart and Purple Passion often come through greener.

Avoid strong, direct summer sun through south-facing windows, as velvety leaves such as those on Alocasia Black Velvet scorch easily. Feed every two to four weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser in spring and summer to support healthy, richly coloured growth.

It depends on the plant. Aroids such as Alocasia, Anthurium, Philodendron, Scindapsus and the ZZ Raven contain calcium oxalate crystals and can irritate the mouth and stomach if chewed, so keep them out of reach of cats and dogs.

Gynura Purple Passion, the Venus Fly Trap and Ludisia are generally considered safer choices. Always check the individual product page, and see our pet safe houseplants collection for more ideas.

Yes. Black Mondo Grass and Sambucus Black Lace are fully hardy and hold their dark colour all season, making them ideal for a gothic border or container display.

Aeonium Schwarzkopf and Colocasia Black Magic are perfect for summer patios but need to come indoors before the first frost. See our Hardy Exotics range for more outdoor plants.