If you’re anything like me, you know how tricky it can be to find ground cover plants that add something different to your garden. Black ground cover plants can create nice contrast and give your outdoor space a unique look without much effort.
But what if you’re not sure which black ground cover options might work in your yard? Where do you even start? Read on…spoiler alert: WE’VE GOT 6 GREAT OPTIONS FOR YOU!
1. Black Mondo Grass
Black mondo grass delivers drama with its striking jet-black leaves that grow in graceful, grass-like clumps. This slow-growing perennial reaches 6-12 inches tall and spreads gradually through underground rhizomes.
The dark foliage keeps its color year-round in zones 6-11, though growth slows significantly in winter. Tiny purple-white flowers appear in summer, followed by black berries.
Popular varieties include ‘Nigrescens’ with the darkest black leaves and ‘Black Dragon’ with deep purple-black foliage. Grows best in partial shade with well-draining soil but tolerates full sun in cooler climates.
Highly resistant to deer and drought once established. Pairs beautifully with silver or chartreuse plants.
2. Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’
With dark, glossy leaves that look almost black in the shade, Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’ spreads into a dense carpet of foliage reaching just 4-6 inches tall. Short spikes of blue flowers appear in late spring, creating nice contrast against the dark leaves.
This hardy perennial ground cover maintains its color through winter in zones 3-9. Popular varieties include ‘Burgundy Glow’ with burgundy-bronze leaves, ‘Chocolate Chip’ featuring chocolate-brown foliage, and ‘Black Beauty’ with the darkest leaves.
Grows well in full sun to part shade and tolerates poor soil. Drought resistant once established but prefers regular water. Disease resistant and deer rarely browse it.
3. Heuchera ‘Obsidian’
With its glossy, dark purple-black leaves, ‘Obsidian’ heuchera adds deep drama to shady spots. This hardy perennial forms compact mounds of foliage that stay dark all season long.
Small pink-white flowers appear on tall stems in late spring through early summer. Growing 8-10 inches tall with a 12-inch spread, it performs well in zones 4-9.
The leathery leaves resist slug damage and hold up through winter in milder climates. While it tolerates full sun in cooler regions, partial shade is ideal.
Popular dark varieties include ‘Black Pearl,’ ‘Black Beauty,’ and ‘After Midnight.’ Grows best in well-draining soil with moderate moisture.
4. Liriope ‘Royal Purple’
A tough-as-nails perennial that forms dense, grass-like clumps with deep purple-black foliage that adds richness to shady spots. The leaves maintain their color throughout the growing season and produce spikes of lavender flowers in late summer.
Growing 12-15 inches tall, Liriope thrives in zones 5-10 and handles drought like a champ once established. Popular varieties include ‘Gigantea’ with broader leaves, ‘Big Blue’ featuring darker blooms, and ‘Monroe White’ offering white flower spikes.
This ground cover tolerates poor soil, deer, and various light conditions from full sun to shade, though it prefers partial shade in hot climates. Maintains its structure through winter, making it perfect for year-round interest.
5. Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’
Growing just 2-3 feet tall, Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ forms a dense, rounded mound of crinkled purple-black leaves that hold their color year-round. Perfect as a low hedge or foundation planting, this evergreen shrub displays tiny, fragrant purple flowers in spring.
Hardy in zones 8-11, it grows best in partial shade but can handle full sun in cooler climates. Drought-tolerant once established and resistant to deer browsing.
While ‘Tom Thumb’ is the darkest variety, consider ‘Golf Ball’ for its compact shape or ‘Marjorie Channon’ for cream-variegated foliage. Prefers well-draining soil and moderate watering. Handles coastal conditions well and thrives in Mediterranean climates.
6. Lagerstroemia ‘Dark Roast’
Dark-leafed crape myrtles bring drama to sunny gardens with their rich chocolate-purple foliage that deepens in color as summer progresses. This compact shrub grows 4-6 feet tall and produces clusters of deep pink flowers from midsummer through fall.
As a woody perennial hardy in zones 6-9, it handles heat and drought like a champ once established. The leaves emerge burgundy in spring before darkening to near-black.
Disease-resistant and low-maintenance, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Popular varieties include ‘Ebony and Ivory,’ ‘Midnight Magic,’ and ‘Black Diamond.’ Best in warmer climates where it can reach full flowering potential.
7. Viola ‘Bowles Black’ (Black Viola)
Looking nearly black in the garden, these dainty violas produce velvety deep purple blooms from early spring through fall. The compact plants grow 4-6 inches tall with heart-shaped leaves and work perfectly in containers or as border edging.
A hardy perennial in zones 4-8, Viola ‘Bowles Black’ prefers partial shade and consistently moist, well-draining soil. The flowers hold up well in summer heat and continue blooming with regular deadheading.
Popular varieties include ‘Molly Sanderson’ with jet-black petals, ‘Black Magic’ featuring dark purple blooms, and ‘Black Moon’ with near-black flowers and yellow centers.
Disease resistant and deer proof, these violas self-seed readily in favorable conditions.
8. Geranium phaeum (Mourning Widow)
Deep purple-black blooms dance above maple-shaped leaves on this tough shade-loving perennial. Growing 18-24 inches tall, Mourning Widow geranium produces waves of nodding flowers from late spring through early summer.
The foliage takes on burgundy tones in fall and maintains interest through winter in mild climates.
Popular varieties include ‘Samobor’ with dark leaf markings, ‘Raven’ with the darkest flowers, and ‘Album’ featuring white blooms against dark stems.
Drought tolerant once established and resistant to deer and rabbits. Grows best in rich, well-drained soil with partial shade. Hardy in zones 4-8.
9. Sedum ‘Xenox’ (Dark Stonecrop)
Dark stonecrop delivers dramatic color with burgundy-black succulent leaves that form tight, compact mounds. Growing 15-18 inches tall, this hardy perennial thrives in zones 3-9 and maintains its rich coloring from spring through fall.
The fleshy leaves are crowned with clusters of pink flowers in late summer that pollinators love. Perfect for hot, dry conditions and poor soils, dark stonecrop shrugs off drought once established.
Plant in full sun for the deepest leaf color. Popular varieties include ‘Black Jack’ with near-black foliage, ‘Purple Emperor’ showing deep purple leaves, and ‘Night Embers’ featuring chocolate-burgundy coloring. Disease resistant and deer proof.
10. Helleborus ‘Onyx Odyssey’ (Black Hellebore)
Dark purple blooms that open from near-black buds make Helleborus ‘Onyx Odyssey’ a standout among winter-flowering perennials. The double flowers face outward rather than downward like typical hellebores, showing off their deep coloring from December through March.
Plants form clumps of evergreen foliage that reaches 12-18 inches tall. Hardy in zones 4-9, these shade-lovers thrive in rich, well-drained soil and tolerate dry conditions once established.
They resist deer and rabbits, making them perfect for woodland gardens. Notable varieties include ‘Dark and Handsome’ with single black flowers, ‘Black Diamond’ featuring slate-purple blooms, and ‘Winter’s Noir’ with burgundy-black petals.
11. Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ (Black Elephant Ear)
Looking to add some tropical drama to your garden? Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ delivers with its massive, shield-shaped leaves in deep purple-black. This elephant ear variety grows 4-6 feet tall and spreads just as wide.
The leaves darken to their richest color in full sun, though the plant appreciates afternoon shade in hot climates. While technically hardy in zones 7-11, many gardeners treat it as an annual in colder regions.
Plant in rich, consistently moist soil – these are water-loving plants that thrive in humid conditions.
Notable varieties include ‘Diamond Head’ with glossy black leaves, ‘Coal Miner’ showing purple-black foliage, and ‘Black Coral’ featuring dark stems. All are deer-resistant and make bold statements in containers or boggy areas.
