Sick of all those happy, shiny bright blooms out there? Reaching for your shades rather than endure another moment of glowing greenness? Same here. Come mid-July, I’m over the smiley-face-yellow flowers, the cherub-bum-pink rosebuds and the so-cheery-my-face-hurts flowerpots.

It’s time for some black.

Actually, I think a little black is great for the garden any time of year. A black fence makes any run-of-the-mill plants set against it look amazing. Plastic patio furniture looks more cool than kitschy in black. And black plants add notes of style and irony that can turn a flowerbed or container planting from cute to gorgeous.

Here are some quick ideas for adding a touch of darkness to your garden. Click on any image to start the slideshow and get the full story.

Plant this Black Lace(TM) elderberry (Sambucas nigra) in part sun to bring out the delicious gloom of its purple-black leaves. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Brownish coco-fiber hanging pot liners are great for that English Country garden look but for graphic punch, I like to line each basket with a piece of black permeable landscape fabric which is a) way cheaper and b) easier to line an odd shaped container like these half-rounds.

Adding some plants with black foliage, such as Black Heart Sweet Potato Vine and Elephant’s Ear, to a container planting gives a frothy spring combo some suitable mid-summer gravitas. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners

Whatever your fancy, garden sculptures look amazing when rendered in black metal–throwing strong lines into high relief.

Plastic patio furniture comes in a rainbow of colours these days but when you see this smart grouping, you’ll want to go black.

If that fence were painted a cheery white or left the colour of the natural wood, would it be as chic or the Japanese maple tree nearly so gorgeous?