What Is Goth Gardening?

What is Goth Gardening?

Goth gardening, also known as gothic gardening or black gardening, is a unique horticultural style that focuses on remarkably dark flowers and plants.

Goth gardening embraces the dark, mysterious by fusing gardening and gothic aesthetic. These gardens draw inspiration from the macabre and the mysterious, offering a stark contrast to traditional gardens with their pastel blooms and cheerful gnomes (oh dear, know the gnoooomes…!). In a goth garden, plants and decoration tell a story of mystery and perhaps a subtle rebellion, creating a space that resonates deeply with those who appreciate the darker side of beauty. Besides, black is a rare color to find in nature. Even with black flowers, there is a twist – more about that soon.

In contemporary practice, goth gardens have evolved to balance the rich historical themes of their predecessors with modern sensibilities. While staying true to their roots of embracing the aesthetic of decay and the supernatural, today’s goth gardens have become carefully curated sanctuaries that incorporate native plants, sustainable practices, and innovative design elements. These spaces might still feature the quintessential creeping ivy, aged stone, and dark-hued flora, but they are also likely to house contemporary sculptures and water features that enhance their enigmatic charm. The modern goth garden is a testament to the enduring fascination with nature’s cycles of life and death, effortlessly blending old-world charm with new-world wonders.

Black lily

Black tulip

Black pansies

Why Are People Fascinated by Black Gardens?

There are many reasons why people – like me – get excited about dark flowers and plants. For me, there’s always been this deep fascination of themes that others consider darker. But I’d say the concept of darkness is often misunderstood, and I see some great beauty in the colors of the night.

Besides, I’m simply just attracted to black, dark greys and other extremely dark colors. (Okay, I do have a secret pastel-lover side, too, but let’s not go to that just yet…) I’m also interested in things people find somehow controversial. When I showed my black flowers in a garden group on Facebook, in addition to all the lovely comments, I also received a few comments that commented how it’s outrageous to ruin beautiful gardens with black flowers and why does everything have to be like from funerals… Oh dear…

If I summarize the common reasons for people enjoying goth gardens, here is a brief list:

Contradictory Symbolism: Black flowers and plants represent both mystery and death, as well as rebirth and transformation.
Rarity and Elegance: The scarcity of natural black flowers adds to their allure and symbolism of elegance and sophistication.
Cultural Significance: Black flowers have different meanings in various cultures, such as mourning in Western societies or luck and protection in other traditions.
Connection to Gothic Imagery: Black flowers and plants are commonly associated with Gothic literature and art, conveying a sense of darkness and melancholy.
Personal Interpretations: The symbolism of black flowers can be subjective, allowing individuals to attribute their own meanings based on personal experiences and beliefs.

Goth Garden, Gothic Garden or Black Garden?

All of these terms are basically the same and can be used as synonyms. However, I do personally see that each term carries also unique connotations and design elements, although there is considerable overlap.

To understand the differences, we need to naturally understand the key words. “Goth” refers to a modern subculture that emerged from the post-punk music scene in the late 1970s, characterized by a distinctive style involving dark fashion, makeup, and music with themes of melancholy and the macabre. (Yes, your’s truly could be counted as part of this subculture.) Then again, “gothic” pertains to a historical and artistic style originating in the medieval period, encompassing architecture, literature, and art, known for its intricate and dramatic designs, as well as themes of mystery, romance, and the supernatural.

Black Garden – A black garden centers around flowers and foliage that are predominantly black or dark-hued. This garden style is all about creating a dark aesthetic by using black foliage, flowers, and even black hardscaping materials. A black garden is more about color uniformity and less about cultural or historical references. For me, having a black garden is the first priority. Gothic elements come as second priority.

Goth Garden – A goth garden often reflects the subculture associated with the goth movement, integrating not just black flora but anything that fits the modern goth subculture’s views of aesthetics. Think along the lines of dramatic roses, patterned coleus leaves and statues that evoke a melancholic yet romantic vibe. These gardens could also feature plants that showcase deep purples, reds, and blacks, with a strong emphasis on creating a brooding yet alluring environment. The philosophy mphasizes personal expression, rebellion against traditional norms, and a celebration of the macabre and unconventional beauty.

Gothic Garden – A gothic garden draws inspiration from classic gothic literature and architecture, such as the works of Edgar Allan Poe and the medieval gothic era. If we emphasize the architechture, gothic gardens might incorporate pointed arches, lancet windows, and intricate stone carvings reminiscent of Gothic cathedrals. Such gardens can emphasize symmetry and grandeur, often including garden paths that lead to focal points like imposing statues or water features. Traditionally, gothic gardens were designed to evoke the inevitable decay of life, often featuring overgrown sections, weather-worn statues, and shadowy alcoves that spoke of lost stories and forgotten times. The medicinal and mystical herbs that thrived within these spaces served not just practical but symbolic purposes, contributing to the gardens’ aura of the arcane. These gardens were the physical manifestations of gothic literature and art, bringing to life the themes of darkness, romance, and the ethereal, creating a sense of perpetual twilight in the midst of the day. The gothic garden philosophy focuses on evoking a sense of mystery, romance, and the supernatural, celebrating the eerie and haunting beauty reminiscent of gothic novels and historical gothic style.

Often, when a person chooses the path of dark flowers and foliage, the garden will be a mix of all of these three. But for those who aren’t that much into philosophy, rebellion or Edgar Allan Poe, the easiest term that focuses purely on the plants and flowers would be the term “black garden”.

However, if you’d like to know more about this specific topic, here are some of my deeper thoughts regarding the distinguishment of these garden types.

If you’d like to learn more, here’s an article about the distinguishion.

What are the characteristics of a black / goth / gothic garden?

So, perhaps you would like to have your own goth garden. Then what are some of the basics you should consider when starting?

Choose Black Flowers: Choose plants that are D A R K! I’m not talking about a little bit dark, but so dark that they will seem nearly black in shadows. There are several options if you are willing to search a bit. Lilies, tulips, roses, bachelor’s buttons, irises, sun flowers – and more!
Choose Black Foliage: Flowers aren’t the only part of the plant that be black – also the leaves can be quite dark! For example elderberry has a lovely variation ‘Black Lace’, and even the decorative sweet potato, Ipomea batatas, has gorgeous black variations. Heuchera and Coleus are also your friends. If you are lucky and live in warmer zones, consider dark Colocasia esculenta variations.
Use of Ornate Elements: Incorporate intricate wrought iron gates, gothic statues, and antique garden furniture to enhance the dark oasis theme.
Lighting: Light can make a big difference. You can use gothic-inspired lanterns, fairy lights or other types of lights of your preference to create a mystical ambiance.
Water Features: If you aren’t afraid of seeing a bit extra effort, one of the coolest things to add to your garden is a water elements, such as a fountain, a pond with water lilies, or a moody reflecting pool.

Examples of black plants:

Not sure what to look for? One of the easiest ways to start would be black tulips, especially if you are reading this blog post before the fall. You can also scan your local garden houses. But to give some extra inspiration and keywords, here is a list of some black flowers and plants:

– Black Tulip (Queen of the Night)
– Black Rose (Black Baccara)
– Black Dahlia (Arabian Night)
– Black Calla Lily (Black Star)
– Black Hellebore (Onyx Odyssey)
– Black Pansy (Black Beauty)
– Black Petunia (Black Velvet)
– Black Hollyhock (Nigra)
– Black Iris (Before the Storm)
– Black Hyacinth (Dark Dimension)
– Black Peony (Black Beauty)
– Black Scabiosa (Black Knight)
– Black Lily (Landini)
– Black Viola (Molly Sanderson)
– Black Orchid (Fredclarkeara After Dark)
– Black Calla Lily (Schwarzwalder)
– Black Cosmos (Black Magic)
– Black Daylily (Black Emmanuelle)
– Black Snapdragon (Black Prince)
– Black Columbine (Black Barlow)
– Black Cornflower (Black Ball)
– Black Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri)
– Black Geranium (Purple Ghost)
– Black Sunflower (Black Magic)
– Black Elderberry (Black Lace)
– Black Fritillaria (Fritillaria persica)