Dark foliage highlights pale shades, complements fiery colours and adds depth and richness to borders and containers. See below for our selection of AGM-winning plants to bring glorious purples and reds to your garden
H1 - H7 indicated the new hardiness ratings
Full details of hardiness ratings (510kB pdf)
This is an elegant small tree which has a long season of foliage colour from new when the reddish purple leaves unfurl in spring until the whole tree brightens to sparkling red in the autumn. The red winged seeds are also attractive. Best in at least a little shade and sheltered from strong winds. Can also be grown as a multi-stemmed shrub. 5m (16ft). H6.
Of all the tall, dark-leaved actaeas (formerly known as Cimicifuga), this is one to look out for. It was developed by the plantsman and garden designer Piet Oudolf. Through bold, purplish-red basal leaves emerge even darker upright stems topped with tall spikes of very fragrant white flowers opening from pink buds. Best in at least some shade and shelter from wind, and in rich soil that is not limey. 2m (6-7 ft). H7.
The narrow yellow margins of the neat purplish red leaves give ‘Admiration’ a real sparkle and with the new growth being a much brighter, sharper red set against the mature leaves this little shrub is quite a charmer. Its neat and rounded habit is appealing too and the fact that it does not flower ensures you’ll see no thorny seedlings turning up in unwanted places. 50cm (20in). H7.
Although the spring flowers are colourful and attractive, it’s the long season of rich purple leaves that makes this elegant multi-stemmed tree such an attractive specimen. Glossy when young, green-veined when mature, the colouring always has a little sparkle to give it life. Best in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. It matures slowly and resents transplanting. 3-4m (10ft). H5.
RHS advice: Trees for smaller gardens
The world is flooded with heucheras, but this improvement on the familiar ‘Palace Purple’ is still outstanding nearly 20 years after it was introduced and after many newer introductions have vanished. With a more compact habit and broader foliage which keeps its colour better all summer, ‘Molly Bush’ is also more adaptable to strong sun and constant shade than ‘Palace Purple’. 40cm (16in). H6.
Plants for wet soils in winter and dry soils in summer
This foliage really is black, and looks lovely with snowdrops growing through it. The mass of arching, overlapping 25cm (10in), black, evergreen leaves arise from a slow but persistently spreading rootstock which somehow always looks fresh. There are purplish summer flowers and black autumn berries but it’s the leaves that are special. Adaptable but best in a little shade. 15cm (6in). H5.
The Garden: Winter planting combinations
This evergreen shrub is often grown as half-hardy annual, raised from large and attractive but highly poisonous seeds, has huge maple-like leaves in glossy bronze with a red zone along the centre of each leaflet. Quick growing, it makes a fine specimen in tropical-style borders or in large containers with additional attraction of clusters of yellow flowers and red seed pods. 1.5m (5ft). H1c.
An outstanding foliage shrub, the result of a mission to create a shrub with the elegance and charm of a cut-leaved maple – but much tougher. This form of our native elder, one of our most resilient shrubs, fits the bill with its leaves split into slender leaflets that are all almost black. There is the bonus of broad heads of tiny pink flowers. 3m (10ft). H6.
Many dark-leaved sedums have appeared in recent years, some almost glossy and some much more matt in tone and better suited to harmonising with neighbours. ‘Xenox’ is in the latter group, its small leaves are almost beetroot red, and good strong light brings out the best colour. In August and September the plant is topped with a mass of reddish flowers. Best in sun, and rich well drained soil. 60cm (2ft). H7.
The best of the new generation of dark-leaved weigelas, the foliage of Weigela florida Wine and Roses (‘Alexandra’) is olive-green with a brown flush but as the season rolls on the colour becomes richer and darker, though usually with a hint of a few green veins. Dark reddish buds open in May producing bright pink flowers. Happy in sun and any reasonable soil, prune after flowering if necessary. 2.5m (8ft). H6.
