I am interested in adopting a black and cream colour scheme for part of my garden. I'm fine on cream-coloured plants but could you recommend some plants with black (or nearly black) flowers or foliage?

From: Philippa Richard, London

Answer:
There are plenty of examples of colour schemed designs, although black is rarely used as a predominant colour. This does not mean that there are not plants that will provide this colour either in flower, fruit or foliage. But it should be stated that a true black is rarely achieved - the colour is more likely to be a dark blue-black, purple-black or brown-black. For a particularly successful design, aim for year round interest. Here are a few suggestions.

For foliage colour:

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' - a clump forming evergreen perennial for year round, brown-black, grass-like foliage. A good groundcover plant for areas in full sun or partial shade on moist but free-draining soil.

Phormium tenax 'Purpureum' - another evergreen perennial with striking architectural habit. This form has long strap-like dark purple-black foliage. Grows well in either the shrub border or in a pot on a sun-drenched patio or terrace.

Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' - a favourite of mine! This succulent produces dark purple-black fleshy foliage in tight rosettes. It is, however, not hardy and will tolerate minimum temperatures of 10°C (50°F). I grow mine in pots on a terrace in full sun during summer and bring them into the conservatory for the winter months.

Viburnum sargentii 'Onondaga' - this deciduous shrub has foliage that is dark bronze-purple when young, which ages to dark green and turns red-purple in autumn. It also produces white-pink flowers in spring.
For flower colour:
Helleborus x hybridus 'Parker Bowles' - a perennial for shaded areas of your garden that produces dark blue-black flowers in late winter and early spring.

Geranium phaeum (purple form) - a really hardworking perennial for damp shady areas of the garden. Dark purple-black flowers in late spring to early summer.

Primula 'Gold Lace' - an evergreen polyanthus with very dark mahogany black flowers edged with yellow in spring.

Viola tricolor 'Bowles Black' - almost black flowers for a show from late spring to early autumn. This plant is a good ground cover plant, seeds freely and comes almost true from seed.
For fruit colour:
Sarcococca hookeriana - an evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves, that produces fragrant white flowers in winter that are followed by glossy black fruit.

Rubus - grow a blackberry up a wall or fence with full sun or in partial shade for a late summer/early autumn crop of black fruit. You might like to use a thornless variety - try 'Merton Thornless' or 'Oregon Thornless'