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Dark Academia Cut-Flower Garden
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items All the dark, moody flowers and foliage for making Dark Academia-inspired bouquets. Also great for a goth cut-flower garden! I've included a mix of annuals, perennials, and foliage that would work for flower arrangements.
Sections
4
Perennial Flowers
Annual Flowers
Foliage
Bookish Decor
Perennial Flowers
Perennials come back year after year. Choose flowers that bloom at different times (noted in my description) and you'll have a garden that's always got something exciting happening.
Siberian Iris have grassy foliage and can thrive in moist soil. They are lower maintenance than the big bearded varieties and, I think, easier to tuck into perennial beds. Spring flowering.
Iris chrysographes black-flowered
Black irises are so sophisticated. Though they'll only bloom once, maybe twice per year if you're lucky, irises are perennial and will come back every year. Spring Flowering.
Black Is Black Bearded Iris
Lilies only bloom once a year but are perennial. Plant once and enjoy for years to come. Early summer blooming.
VAN ZYVERDEN Lilies Asiatic Black Charm Bulbs (7-Pack) 11356
Another super-dark lily; appears black in light shade and violet-black in sunlight (mid/late summer blooming).
Lily Bulbs - Night Rider
This shrub is a stunner with dark foliage and deep pink flowers. I love using hydrangeas for cut flowers. They last a long time and dry well. Summer blooming.
Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea
Penstemon is easy to grow and attracts so many butterflies and hummingbirds. Midnight Masquerade has super-dark foliage and gorgeous blossoms. Late spring-early summer bloom.
'Midnight Masquerade' - Beardtongue - Penstemon hybrid
Stonecrop sedums are one of my favorite perennials and the dark leaf color on this Back in Black sedum is phenomenal. The flowers are long lasting in bouquets too. Late summer to early fall bloom.
Rock 'N Grow® 'Back in Black' - Stonecrop - Sedum hybrid
I love this shrub. It has gorgeous, dark, lacy leaves and pretty pink flowers in early summer. Plus it's medicinal. FYI, this can get large. Late spring to early summer bloom.
Black Lace® Elderberry (Sambucus)
Hellebores, or Lenten Roses, are hardy perennials that bloom super early in spring. This one has stunning black flowers that would look amazing at that time of year. Late winter to early spring bloom
Hellebore, Wedding Party Dark and Handsome
Annual Flowers
A few annuals in deep shades can round out a garden and fill in the summer bloom gaps. Combine these with perennials above for continuous blooms.
I love the iridescent purple undertone on this deep burgundy ball dahlia
IVANETTI - Swan Island Dahlias
Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia are easy to grow and come in shades of dark red.
Cherry Brandy Black-Eyed Susan Seeds
The rich reds in this cosmos always catch my eye in the garden; looks stunning en masse in a vase
Rubenza Cosmos Seeds
I love the rich purple color of this dinnerplate dahlia and it was super-productive in my garden last year
Dahlia Thomas Edison
Love the quilled petals on this semi-cactus type dahlia!
Dahlia Tubers (Semi-Cactus) - Black Narcissus
I'm trying out this oddball this year; I was really drawn to the dark color of the petals and the weird shape of this type of dahlia!
Dahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian' - White Flower Farm
This dahlia has the darkest foliage I've ever seen. The flowers are pretty too!
Black Forest Ruby Dahlia Seeds - Annual Flower Seeds
I love scabiosa. It's a fun word to say and the flowers look so cute on top of those thin wiry stems.
Black Knight Scabiosa Pincushion Flower Seeds
Dianthus smells like cloves and this black and white variety is so striking! These are a bit short, but I love the look of them. Probably works best for Mason jar bouquets.
Dianthus Seeds, Zebra Crossing
Calla lilies are easy to plant and grow, but are only hardy from zones 8-10. Dig the bulbs and save them in the fall if you live in cooler zones, then replant in the spring.
Black Star Calla Lily
The Procut series of sunflowers are super easy to grow and are pollen-free. Procut Red is very dark, almost black at first and then lightens to a deep red.
ProCut® Red Sunflower
Foliage
Plants with dark, moody leaves to carry the color scheme when flowers aren't blooming.
Heuchera or coral bells are perennial and grow well in my garden. This one has deep, dark, nearly black foliage!
Primo® 'Black Pearl' Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Super-dark, grassy foliage on this black mondo grass makes a great border and is sure to contrast broadleaf foliage that most plants have.
Black Mondo Grass
Ajuga/bugleweed is one of my favorite perennial groundcovers. It spreads easily and quickly so you don't need much to fill out an area. Black Scallop is one of the darkest ones.
'Black Scallop' Bugleweed (Ajuga)
These tiny, fern-like leaves are adorable and darken as they age.
'Platt's Black' Brass Buttons (Leptinella)
Deep purple basil is moody and perfect for the dark academia vibe. (annual)
Deep Purple Basil
Another purple-leafed basil (annual)
Purple Petra Basil Seeds
It's hard to choose a coleus, as there are so many good ones, but this one would vibe well with the other red flowers in this list. (annual)
Black Dragon Coleus Seeds | Park Seed
How could you not include a coleus called “Wicked Witch” in this garden?? I love the chartreuse on the margins of the leaves. (annual)
COLORBLAZE® WICKED WITCH™ Coleus
Fountain grass adds so much texture in bouquets and in the garden. This variety has dark leaves and airy plumes. (annual in lower zones)
Graceful Grasses® Purple Fountain Grass - Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Ninebark has great foliage for cut flowers.
Tiny Wine® - Ninebark - Physocarpus opulifolius | Proven Winners
Bookish Decor
Bring the library aesthetic to the garden
Great tutorial on painting landscaping bricks to look like books
Painting Pavers To Look Like Books
More book bricks in a different style
How to Paint Bricks That Look Like Books - Painting: On The Rocks
Handmade garden planter that looks like a stack of books to really seal in that academia vibe
LIBRARY PLANTER (Title & Color Options): Solid Stone Book Saucers w/ Herb Box. Creative Thought Gift. Sealed for Outdoors. Handcrafted U.S.A
Love these directional signs to fantasy book places!
Directional Destination Fantasy Sign Post Signs / Custom Carved Wood Outdoor Backyard Garden / Arrow Trail Sign 6 piece arrow set