A clonal hybrid of the slipper orchid called Paphiopedilum St. Albans ‘Crimson’ in the Smithsonian Garden Orchid Collection
Hannele Lahti/Smithsonian Open Access Collections
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Hannele Lahti/Smithsonian Open Access Collections
Gardens are in bloom across the country, and while you may see plenty of roses and brightly colored zinnias on your porches and patios this summer, one much-hyped trend is moodiness. It’s a Victorian romance and it’s very, very dark.
Trend watchers are taking notice of gothic gardening. Searches for “Gothic Garden” on Google have more than doubled in the past five years – a notable spike after the heroine of Netflix’s hit series Wednesday Start finding solace in a creepy greenhouse filled with ghost orchids and carnivorous plants.
Want to create your own atmospheric Gothic garden? We have some suggestions.
Use dark plants (duh)
The Chocolate Cherry Sunflower variety has become Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds’ best-selling variety. Other gardening companies are also reporting increased sales of dark-colored flowers and foliage.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds/rareseeds.com
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Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds/rareseeds.com
“I can tell you that the dark varieties have been one of the best-selling varieties,” Michelle Johnson, a spokesperson for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, said in an email to NPR. “For example, the Chocolate Cherry Sunflower is the best-selling sunflower; the Black Magic Cosmos is one of the top Cosmos flowers, and our deep red and black vegetable varieties (tomatoes, carrots, etc.) always sell well.
That’s right: don’t forget your vegetables (and herbs)
“I love the crimson basil there,” says New Orleans event designer James Clawson, pointing to a pot of black, sparkling herbs on the patio behind his shotgun shack.
“You can also grow vegetables there,” he added. “Crimson lettuce would be beautiful. Kale would be really pretty. “
Don’t just use black plants
Experts at the nonprofit National Park Service have created a YouTube video filled with tips.
Although it may be tempting, they advise against relying too much on black foliage, as without contrast, the plants won’t pop.
And consider adding darker shades of hollyhock, fake indigo and coral bells to the mix in “thrillers, spills and fillers.”
Try some decorative items
Even crass HGVTV and Better Homes & Gardens rave about the wrought iron gates and broken statues. The Gardinista website suggests using “old animal cages” as decoration. While weeping angels may strike some as cliché, as one admiring commentator pointed out in the above Instagram post, they can still be strong.
add spikes
Finally, thorny plants can bring a pleasantly menacing atmosphere to your garden.
A bromeliad in Miami, Florida.
Lorna Wise/AFP via Getty Images
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Lorna Wise/AFP via Getty Images
James Clawson recommends growing bromeliads in tropical climates. They are a member of the bromeliad family and are commonly found in garden stores with long, green, spiky leaves and eye-catching flowers in the center.
“Those last forever. And they die beautifully,” he said.
Gothic gardens aren’t actually supposed to be deadly
One last suggestion:
“Don’t spray too much poison,” Clawson advises. “Butterflies are a good thing.”
Even Wednesday Addams might agree that the Gothic Garden could use a bit of ethereal joy.
