No shrub or tree can be considered a true ebony. Instead we seem to have agreed to call many very deep toned leaves "black" even though they are somewhat obviously red or purple or even green. Here are the deepest of shrubs, starting with two that almost qualify as black, and then many more that are at least very deep in color.
Sambucus - the Darkest of Shrubs
Two Sambucus have the darkest leaf color of any plant - such a deep, deep purple that they truly appear black.
- The darkest of shrubs – near black with only a hint of the underlying purple is Sambucus ‘Black Lace’, with finely cut foliage that almost resembles a Japanese maple, soft pink flowers in early summer and red berries in autumn. The berries are edible and can be used to make jam – or wine!
- The close runner-up is another Sambucus, ‘Black Beauty’, which also looks more black than purple but is not quite as deep in color as ‘Black Lace.’ It also has edible berries in purple which follow the pink, lemony scented flowers. Both shrubs can grow to 6’ x 6’, but can be pruned to suit the growing space.
The Darkest Purple Shrubs and Trees
Members of the prunus family do a good job of growing deep purple leaves. But there are several shrubs and trees that grow satisfactorily deep purple foliage.
- Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ with purple black leaves that are nearly as black as the Sambucus.
- Prunus cerasifera ‘Thundercloud’ plum tree
- Prunus persica ‘Duranzo Bonfire’, a patio peach which stays quite small and can be container grown.
- Prunus x cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’, a flowering plum that grows to 18’ with purple-black leaves and stems and light pink flowers in spring.
- Prunus cistena, a flowering cherry with no appreciable fruit but whitish pink spring flowers and a deep purple leaf.
- Malus ‘Royalty’ has rich, lustrous purple foliage which holds up well throughout summer. It also has purple flowers and reddish purple crabapples.
- The purple Cotinus, ‘Royal Purple’, ‘Purple Robe’ and ‘Velvet Cloak’, often called smoke trees because of their feathery flowers that resemble puffs of smoke, all produce small rounded leaves of deep purple. ‘Velvet Cloak’ is the deepest and when contrasted with a white flowering plant can look truly like a study in black and white.
- Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ qualifies as a deep purple black in its early leafy growth which is a rich, deep purple that almost appears to have been lacquered. As summer goes on, however, the mature leaves become suffused with green and only the newest growth really qualifies as near black.
For more, see Trees and Shrubs with Purple Leaves
The Darkest Red Trees
The largest number of good deep burgundy trees belong to the Japanese maple family, but members of the beech and myrtle family also qualify.
- Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ emerges bright red, but matures to a very deep burgundy which holds up fairly well in summer when most of the red Japanese maples turn a greenish bronze.
- Acer palmatum ‘Ukigami’ is an upright growing tree with deep black-red foliage until fall when it turns flaming red.
- Acer palmatum’Trompenburg’ has shiny, deep purple leaves and is popular as a street tree in Australia. The leaf edges roll down, giving them an intriguing finger-like effect.
- Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ is deservedly popular for its deep red foliage that holds well throughout summer unless it receives too much sunlight (this is true of most red Japanese maples) when it matures to a bronze tone.
- Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Filigree Lace’ has very finely cut almost thread-like leaves of deep burgundy or maroon and a delicate, weeping habit.
- Acer palmatum ‘Inaba Shidare’ has foliage of deep purple-red that does hold the red color throughout summer, instead of turning to bronze.
- Agonis ‘After Dark’ is a new variety whose parent plant is the West Australian weeping myrtle. ‘After Dark’ has burgundy to purple leaves and is another popular Australian street tree. Oz residents do seem to love their dark foliage!
- Fagus’ sylvatica ‘Riversii’ is a beech with foliage that emerges coppery purple and matures to a deep purple maroon.
For more information on red-black foliage plants, see Plants, Trees and Shrubs with Red Foliage.
The Deepest Green Shrubs
- Ilex ‘Bordeaux’ has new foliage that emerges deep, Bordeaux red then matures to a lustrous deep green. The winter foliage of this holly is burgundy (which makes it a bit difficult to decide which color to list it under.)
- Ficus benjamina ‘Midnight’ is more suitable as an indoor plant than in the garden, but for those who like indoor drama this small tree has deep, deep green foliage with a hint of deep blue.
And One Dark Brown Shrub
The Ninebark tree, Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diablo' is a deep, bronzed brown in leaf color and retains its color relatively well throughout the season, even in full sun, although the color, which can be very dark in the right light conditions, is definitely superior with a bit of shade.
For information on getting the best depth of color from dark plants, see Making Your "Black" Plants Really Dark.
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