Thank you @Fairygirl, good idea, I think an Actea will do the trick! I'm also going to try growing some purple leaved Castor Oil plants from seed which will add to the mix too. 😊
I have a Actaea james crompton its a nice plant not I am always a little bit disappointed with it, I am eying one up called Queen of Sheba .
Also consider Eupatorium Chocolate its under another name now but should still be able to find it under the old name . Cryptoaenia japonica atropurpea you might want to look at and some of the Ligularia if your soil is damp enough Britt marie crawford is a great large plant others available think one called BBQ banana with dark foliage . Pittosporum tom thumb is a great little shrub . They are some sedums - penstemon - lobelia tanna sister /others and dahlias with dark foliage and many more plants
I have a couple of Actea varieties - Brunette, and I can't recall the other one, but they're similar. The purple ones are quite dark, but a big stand of them is impressive. I also have The Ligularia @Perki mentions. The biggest problem is that slugs love it as much as the bees do, which is a shame as the foliage is stunning.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Good suggestion @perki I was struggling to think of purple leaved plants, and completely forgot that we have an Ageratina/Eupatorium Chocolate. The foliage is wonderful, purple on top, green on the underneath.
It flops a bit unless you keep the soil reasonably moist, so not so good for dry spots.
I have a P. Midnight, and recently planted a S. Black Lace to form a purple triangle with a Cotinus. Early days yet, but looks as if it might work for me. There is also a purple Actea off to the side.
I do like Physocarpus but haven't grown it so can't compare the different varities. Perhaps the taste police will come and shoot me down, but the red leaved Berberis varieties are useful of you need a purple foliaged contrast plant. They take on searing red autumn colour too. Helmond Pillar is an upright form that looks effective in the right spot IMO.
Agree about the Actaeas too, they are lovely plants.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I have Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Red Baron’, similar to 'Diabolo'. Planted about 5 years ago to fill a vacant space between 2 Trachelospermum jasminoides specimens. I rather like its bronze foliage, but I find it impossible to control. I need to prune it to control it, but then it never flowers. I'll probably get rid of it any time soon, especially since that original "vacant spot" is now almost filled by the growth of the 2 Trachelospermum jasminoides specimens.
I'm afraid I can't give further useful advice re dark foliage shrubs.
I think the key to physocarpus is to be quite proactive with prunning in order to stop them taking over. I didn't to begin with and they reached for the sky, I then cut them back in the autumn and they didn't flower the next year, since then it been pruning out a third each year like with a hydrangea and they have stayed neater and are covered in flowers which the bees love. My neighbour also commented on how nice they looked as they have had them for years but never seen them flower (they prune everything to within an inch of its life each year). I've not tried the smaller cultivars as mine are all cutting from plant swaps but a neat one could make a nice feature.
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Also consider Eupatorium Chocolate its under another name now but should still be able to find it under the old name . Cryptoaenia japonica atropurpea you might want to look at and some of the Ligularia if your soil is damp enough Britt marie crawford is a great large plant others available think one called BBQ banana with dark foliage . Pittosporum tom thumb is a great little shrub . They are some sedums - penstemon - lobelia tanna sister /others and dahlias with dark foliage and many more plants
I also have The Ligularia @Perki mentions. The biggest problem is that slugs love it as much as the bees do, which is a shame as the foliage is stunning.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It flops a bit unless you keep the soil reasonably moist, so not so good for dry spots.
There is also a purple Actea off to the side.
Agree about the Actaeas too, they are lovely plants.
I've not tried the smaller cultivars as mine are all cutting from plant swaps but a neat one could make a nice feature.
The foliage is a good strong colour.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...