As the spooky season approaches, Superbloom celebrates Colorado’s abundant sunshine while cherishing the cool, shady retreats our gardens provide. The vibrant sun-drenched days we enjoy make those unique shaded spots even more special—offering sanctuary for both plants and wildlife.

Designing shade gardens allows us to explore deep, dark tones and ethereal, ghostly white flowers, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. These shaded areas not only enhance a garden’s character but also serve as essential habitats for diverse species.

The Allure of a Goth Garden

A goth garden evokes a sense of mystery and suspense, inviting visitors into a world rich with dark, mysterious, and macabre elements. Here are some idea to consider when crafting your own goth-inspired garden:

Phantom Plants

Choose dark-colored flowers and foliage to create an enchanting palette. Think deep purples, burgundies, and even black. 

Native Colorado species like Sedum lanceolatum (Native Sedum) flower from May to August and provide a gremlin-like low groundcover. Although not Native to Colorado, varieties like Back in Black Sedum and Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe provide a striking contrast against a lush green backdrop, while ghostly white blooms of the Colorado Native, Datura wrightii (Sacred Datura) or the Aruncus dioicus (Goat’s Beard) add an ethereal touch. 

The Wild Garden

Embrace a natural, hands-off approach to maintenance. Allowing dead leaves, fallen stumps, and faded flowers to remain in the garden can add to the atmospheric decay, fostering a wild, untamed feel. This approach not only enhances the aesthetic but also supports pollinators. LINK SOURCE

By thoughtfully blending these elements, your goth garden can become a sanctuary of mystery and beauty—a place where shadows dance and the spirit of the season thrives.

Check out the photos of our fall blooms below, and if you want to join in the fun, use these ideas to plant your own goth garden!

Here’s a link to the Pinterest board fueling our Inspiration!

 

List of plants for the Shady Denver Garden: 

  1. Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (American Elderberry)  Native to Colorado! 
  2. Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ (Black Mondo Grass) In well protected areas! 
  3. Viola ‘Black Devil’ (Black Devil Pansy)
  4. Angelica sylvestris ‘Purpurea’ (Wild Angelica)
  5. Aquilegia vulagris stellata ‘Black Barlow’ (Black Barlow Columbine)
  6. Aquilegia caerulea (Colorado Columbine) Native to Colorado!
  7. Tulipa cv. Black Hero (Black Hero Tulip)
  8. Nemophila ‘Penny Black’ (Baby Black Eyes)
  9. Allium sphaerocephalon (Drumstick Allium) 
  10. Anemone patens (Pasque Flower) Native to Colorado!
  11. Aruncus dioicus (Goat’s Beard)
  12. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Autumn Colors’ (albeit the less sun the less showy their flowers!)
  13. Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ 
  14. Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’
  15. Heuchera ‘Obsidian’
  16. Heuchera ‘Black Pearl’
  17. Heuchera micrantha (Alumroot) Native to Colorado! 
  18. Heuchera parviflora (Small-Leaf Alumroot) Native to Colorado! 
  19. Viola canadensis (Canada Violet) Native to Colorado! 
  20. Mahonia repens (Creeping Oregon Grape) Native to Colorado!
  21. Angelica arguta (Sharp-Leaf Angelica) Native to Colorado!

 

List of plants for the Sunny Denver Garden: 

  1. Poppy ‘Amazing Grey’ (Amazing Grey Poppy) 
  2. Helianthus annuus (Black Beauty Sunflower) Cultivar of Native Plant! 
  3. Sambucus nigra (Black Lace Elderberry)
  4. Heuchera ‘Blackout’ (Blackout Coral Bells)
  5. Artemisia spp (Wormwood)
  6. Aquilegia caerulea ‘AQ1120’ (Wild Blue Columbine) Cultivar of Native Plant! 
  7. Buddleia davidii ‘Black Knight’ (Dark Knight Butterfly Bush)
  8. Alcea rosea ‘Blacknight’ (Blacknight Hollyhock)
  9. Tulipa hybrid ‘Black Parrot’ (Black Parrot Tulip)
  10. Amorpha canescens (Leadplant) Native to Colorado!
  11. Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop) Native to Colorado!
  12. Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’
  13. Physocarpus monogynus (Colorado Native Ninebark)Native to Colorado!
  14. Artemisia tridentata (Big Sagebrush) Native to Colorado!
  15. Eriogonum umbellatum ‘Shasta Sulfur’Native to Colorado!
  16. Penstemon digitalis ‘Dark Towers’ Native to Colorado!