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Black and Red or Black and Blue

UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
in Plants
I have some Festuca Elija Blue and Japanese Blood Grass and want some black plants of similar height to mix with on a border in sun/some shade. I have tried Kokuryu but they seem to flop rather than stand.Is there anything similar ?
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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Ophiopogon
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Tha black form of ophiopogon will grow well in sun or some shade and spread happily if it the soil is not too moist - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/147694/ophiopogon-planiscapus-nigra/details   It's not a grass so its foliage does lie down rather than stand up.

    There are very dark forms of heuchera that would give you a contrast in foliage texture and shape.  It will make rounded clumps but has vertical, frothy flower stems - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/198988/i-heuchera-i-obsidian-sup-(pbr)-sup/details

    For a contrast, have a look at the lovely golden form of hakonechloas which has a similar height to your existing grasses - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/47928/i-hakonechloa-macra-i-alboaurea-(v)/details 




    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Apparently Kokuryu is a common name of Ophiopogon, so @Unionworkeruk has tried that and found it not suitable, which is a shame because it's what I call a really good do-er. Spreads well but not excessively, evergreen (or rather, ever-black), has withstood both heat/drought and cold without turning a hair.
    I'm struggling to think of anything else that would be small-but-upright. There are a few dark-leaved geraniums (eg "Purple Ghost" and "Black Beauty") but they're more moundy than upright, not really black, and they die back over winter.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    @Unionworkeruk One of the dark leaved Pennisetums? Ophiopogon is in the lily family and the blackest plant that I am aware of, perhaps a dark leaved penstemon with blue flowers, Phormium Platt's Black if you can get it to flower they are red, or Heuchera Obsidian height is in the flowers which are white so may not work? Only the Ophiopogon is hardy here tiny lilac flowers.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited April 2023
    I have a couple of Penstemon "Dark Towers" in pots waiting to be planted but the leaves aren't really black, more maroony red newer growth above more green older leaves.
    Had a quick look around the garden for anything else that might work. Dark foliage but transient (biennials, but self-sow where they like and come up in different places each year so maybe not for a very controlled style of garden): Lunaria "Chedglow" (please excuse compost corner in the background) and Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing' (growing in amongst an emerging peony)
     
    And the purple form of culinary sage
    None is as black as the ophiopogon.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The problem is that the bed is partially shaded so not good for pennisetums and sage both of which also get much bigger than the imperial red grass and the OP asked for similar sizes.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    Japanese Blood Grass is short lived here. I have seen it at Bressingham weaving it's way front to back in a border, very effective. An alternative but much taller is Pannicum Squaw needs sun and shelter for good flowers, may not flower if your summers are short.
    Blue's and Red's make lovely colour combinations but thought needs to be given when it comes to the tones used. A red leaved Heuchera might work but the shade of it can vary through the season.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    My purple sage doesn't get very tall (it grows mostly sideways) and it's on the west side of the house so shaded in the mornings. It's old and getting a bit gnarly (characterful :D) but otherwise seems to be fine. Possibly needs more sun if it's in moister soil.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    The problem is as @Obelixx mentions these plants need sun and there is a limited choice.
    Ajuga repens also comes to mind but even A Catlin's Giant isn't very tall at 1ft.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I have difficulty establishing the red grass too @GardenerSuze.  Too wet and cold in my old Belgian garden and, it seems, too hot and dry here.  Fussy plant then.

    Persicaria Red Dragon is a possibility but may be too tall - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/181707/persicaria-red-dragon/details 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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