Category: plant list for goth garden

Embracing the Dark: Ideas for Styling a “Goth Garden”

On By durhammastergardenersIn adding vegetables to annual flowers, cemetery gardens, fall gardening, garden design, goth garden, how to design a goth garden, plant list for goth garden, Romatic-era gardening, Uncategorized, Victorian-era gardening, Victorian-inspired garden

By Ariyah Chambers April, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County

(Image credit: Pixabay)

Gardening can be a powerful form of self-expression. Some gardeners fill their landscapes with bright flowers and sunny platitudes. Some gardeners choose darker, more serious, and even eerie or disquieting elements–choices that don’t exactly conjure up Martha Stewart’s idea of “comfortable,” but nonetheless evoke a comfort with cultivating life in the shadows.

They’re known as “goth gardens,” and you probably notice more around town when Halloween approaches. Public interest in this gothic aesthetic has spiked. Online searches and articles on how to create a goth garden are on the rise.1 A 2024 New York Times article, “I’m Dying Over Your Goth Garden,” profiles gardeners who share what they’ve learned. (At the end of this post you’ll find more articles that are also worth a read.)

(Left to right) The moody foliage and berries of the annual ornamental pepper ‘Black Pearl’ are eerily delightful. A red-and-black themed garden is a dramatic goth look. (Image credit: MSU Extension/Gary Bachman; Chicago Botanic Garden)

While “goth” means different things to different people, goth gardens share several qualities. They blend thriving nature with, well, death and decay. Goth gardens remind us that there’s beauty in pairing the yin with the yang. For every brightness, there’s a darkness; for every breath of life, a whisper of death. These are themes that resonate far beyond Halloween.

(Left to right) Art and architecture graced both the Victorian-era necropolis and garden. Indeed some of the most beautiful and contemplative gardens were designed for cemeteries. In the 1980s, lead singer Siouxsie Sioux of the band Siouxsie and the Banshees exemplified “goth rock,” and she definitely dressed the part. (Image credit: PaulSauer/Pixabay; Fanpop)

A (Very) Brief History of the Goth Garden

The “goth garden” concept seems to date back to the Romantic and Victorian eras, when a fascination with the macabre prevailed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Cemetery gardens were sanctuaries where people could grieve, reflect, and ponder life’s biggest questions. Victorians filled their own “death gardens” with dark plants and memorials to honor deceased loved ones. In his 2021 essay, “Victorian Gardens of Death,” Clive Bloom refers to this period as having a “distinct mourning culture and sentimentalism.”2

A resurgence of interest in Gothic literature, architecture, and fashion inspired the goth subculture in the late 20th-century United States.3 The modern goth aesthetic, like its historical roots, recognizes that beauty can be found in death and decay–two components of life that modern humans often wish to ignore, or at least avoid in polite conversation. A goth garden embraces what otherwise would hide in the dark.

What Defines a Goth Garden? Dark Design Decisions, Of Course

You know a goth garden when you see one. “It’s a whole mood,” as young folks say. Leading up to Halloween you might note witches, ghosts, tombstones, skeletons, and cobwebs, all for amping up an otherworldly vibe. But what about the rest of the year?

Consider following these design choices to ensure a macabre mood endures. While they’re not exhaustive–and thinking outside of the box is the very spirit of “going goth”–these guidelines offer a solid starting point:

Dramatic Color Palette

A gothic-inspired palette features rich hues like dark purples, blacks, and crimsons. Build a striking contrast by pairing deep colors with silvery foliage and white flowers. Imagine a white face against black hair and makeup; the higher the contrast, the bolder your statement. 

If you want to embrace a seasonal spirit, draw inspiration from autumn’s color palette: pumpkins and gourds, changing leaves, chrysanthemums. After all, autumn marks a transition between life stages, a special time when verdant bounty yields to decomposition–perfect for playing up.

Haunting Decorative Touches

No matter the size of your garden, consider your hardscaping, or the human-made features (as opposed to vegetation) such as containers, walls, and paths. Choose dark-hued or black pots, antiques, and containers with spikes or jagged edges. Think statues, skulls, or gargoyles for imbuing an air of meditation or mystery. Cemeteries can serve as excellent sources of design inspiration (please remember to treat places of refuge with respect).

Designing with a goth aesthetic allows for the free flow of creativity, whether drawing from one’s imagination, fantasy, or even cultural heritage. (Left to right) An ornate black bench under a canopy of black roses invites you to sit in quiet contemplation; bright colors and symbols of Dia de los Muertos draw on the traditional remembrance of loved ones. (Image credit: https://www.penick.net/digging/?p=68447)

A “Victorian ruins” aesthetic could also elevate your goth garden. Embrace nostalgia by encouraging morning cobwebs. Let ivy tendrils flutter from your balcony planters. Use pale rocks and water features to reflect moonlight, creating a mystical balance between dark and light. For more ideas, do a “goth garden” search online and find some that click with your taste.

Don’t hesitate to include touches that hold personal meaning. Memorialization, commemoration, spiritual reflection—what unique visuals marking the passage of time resonate with your soul? Add your own memento mori to inject a gravitas. Some gardeners infuse our landscapes with cultural significance that draws on our heritage; garden decor celebrating the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday for remembering and honoring deceased loved ones, is just one example.

Intentional Illumination

To enhance the enchantment of your goth garden, use soft, atmospheric lighting like lanterns or string lights. For a more dramatic effect with sharper shadows, install landscape lighting.

Uplighting trees can cast edgy shadows. Spotlighting garden statues brings them to life. A favorite quote or poem inscribed on a stone encourages introspection, and definitely stands out when illuminated. Use pathway lighting to create drama along the winding paths of your garden, inviting visitors to explore your landscape after dark.

Moody Plant Selections

Last but not least—and certainly at the top of every gardener’s checklist—PLANTS! Given proper care, these are suited for the Piedmont region of North Carolina. (Click the links for information on each plant. Search the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox for more ideas.)

Flowers can evoke a sense of the extraordinary. In the goth garden, flowers are whimsical, spiky, twisted; often unconventional; even sinister and bloody, when crimson-colored. Here are ten flowering plants that are native, popular with pollinators, and gentle on watering. North Carolina isn’t home to many near-black flower varieties, so ten non-natives are also included.

NATIVE TO NC/UNITED STATES

(Left to right) Dragon root (Arisaema triphyllum), ghost plant (Monotropa), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). (Image credit: Fritz Flohr; Reynolds CC BY-NC-SA 2.0; pfly CC-BY-SA 2.0; Mishalla A/Flickr)

Non-Native, but Goth-Garden Worthy

(Left to right) Black hellebore (Helleborus niger ‘Dark and Handsome’) calla lily (Zantedeschia sp.), and corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum). (Image credit: Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0; Tony Hisgett CC BY 2.0; Magnus Hagdorn CC BY 2.0)

These are just a few flowery suggestions. Let your imagination run wild. And always research a plant’s water, light, and soil needs before installation.

Foliage: For your goth garden, select trees and shrubs with dramatic leaves that are either dark or white/silver to kick up a contrast. Serrated leaf edges suggest knives; pointed leaves can also feel ominous. Gnarled trunks are striking. This curated list includes North Carolina natives:

(Left to right) The bold ‘Black Beauty’ tomato would be right at home in a goth-inspired garden. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Kokuryu’ ) makes a striking border or ground cover. The ‘Brownie’ coral bell (Heuchera ‘Brownie’) adds a dose of deep purple to enhance the mood. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel; JC Raulson Arboretum/NCSU; F. D. Richards CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Veggies & Herbs: Just like with the above, check that your vegetable and herb selections are well adapted for your gardening zone. The following generally make easy (and often juicy) additions to your North Carolina goth garden:

  • Beets – Symbolic of blood, red varieties up the drama.
  • Bell Peppers – Black and purple peppers contribute to a rich color palette.
  • Black Basil – Deep purple leaves and aromatic scent.
  • Carrots – Black or purple carrots are a fun twist to the traditional orange ones.
  • Eggplant – Varieties like ‘Black Beauty’ or ‘Fairy Tale’ bring deep purples and glossy textures.
  • Herbs from ancient Witches’ Gardens – Sage, thyme, rosemary, wormwood, yarrow, and fennel are just a few.
  • Leafy Greens – Kale and Swiss chard provide texture as well as tasty nutrition.
  • Pumpkins – Orange ones add Halloween vibes. Also opt for white ghost and black varieties.
  • Squash – Drained of color, ‘White Patty Pan’ or albino zucchini infuse an eeriness.
  • Tomatoes – Go for varieties like ‘Black Krim,’ ‘Black Beauty,’ or ‘Cherokee Purple.’

Veggies and herbs are a clever way to provide a range of colors, textures, and flavors across your space. Ancient gardens were fortified with medicinal herbs; just be careful they’re not toxic to local wildlife when you incorporate them.

How to Craft Your Own Goth Garden

  • Select your space: Identify a spot in your yard, on your balcony, patio, or front porch, or indoors that can embody your desired gothic atmosphere.
  • Find style references: Draw inspo from gothic media–whether it’s a TV show, goth outfit, character (Wednesday Addams, anyone?), or imagery of Victorian ruins. Gothic architecture can also set the mood; think vertical proportions, pointed arches, external buttressing, stone or rock races, and asymmetry.  
  • Consider seasonal accents: As Halloween approaches, add cobwebs, witches, ghosts, skeletons, and other spooky decorations to enhance the theme.
  • Inject year-round interest: Opt for plants that imbue a mood across seasons. Think about what your landscape looks like in the long golden hours of summer and dark stretches of winter nights. And be sure you’re selecting “the right plant for the right place,” to ensure your garden thrives.
  • Integrate personal significance: What resonates with you? A grave marker for a beloved pet can blend life and death in a meaningful way. And don’t be afraid to integrate humor; serious topics don’t always have to be handled gravely.

Notable Public Gardens for Experiencing a Gothic Aesthetic

Calvary Episcopal Church and Cemetery (Tarboro, North Carolina) : Tucked away in a gothic-style churchyard, North Carolina’s “secret garden” offers century-old trees with twisted branches and ivy-clad graves. Nature and history embrace.

Bonaventure Cemetery (Savannah, Georgia): This Southern gothic cemetery (spotlighted in both the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil novel and movie) includes striking statues, wrought iron gates, and moss-draped trees.

Highgate Cemetery (North London, UK): Famous for its Victorian gothic architecture (along with notable people buried there), this cemetery is listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Austere mausoleums, overgrown foliage, and atmospheric pathways all create a haunting beauty.

Biltmore Estate and Gardens (Asheville, North Carolina): Originally built in 1889, the Biltmore was designed in a French Renaissance style that incorporates Gothic Revival elements. For Halloween, the estate features autumn decorations and eerie lighting to enhance its historic charm. Wander moonlit paths and stop into the “Halloween Room” for inspiration.

(Left to right) Views from Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery and North London’s Highgate Cemetery. (Image credit: Wikipedia)

Conclusion

The goth garden offers a timeless way for gardeners to speak to the soul. Beyond using dark colors, unconventional plants, and a distinctive aesthetic–and long after Halloween comes and goes–we can curate a space that reflects what we find meaningful. We can foster an appreciation for both nature and the nature of life itself.

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Notes

1–https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2010-01-01%202024-10-20&geo=US&q=goth%20garden&hl=en

2–Sowerby, S. (2021). Victorian Gardens of Death. In: Bloom, C. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Steam Age Gothic. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40866-4_26 9 springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-40866-4_26)

3–https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth_subculture

Resources and Additional Information

Profiles of Goths and their Gardens: “I’m Dying Over Your Goth Garden” by NYT

List of Flowers, Plant, and Hardscaping for a Goth Garden: “Goth Garden: Spooky and Beautiful” by the National Garden Bureau

Styling a Goth Garden: “Darkly romantic goth gardens are having a moment in the sun—here’s how to grow one”

Creating a goth garden on a balcony/with limited space, a video on Ontario Road Tripping’s YouTube channel: “GOTH GARDEN FROM START TO FINISH!” (Editor’s note: This video is an example of goth garden container design for those without a traditional yard. It’s a visual for inspiration and possibility. We always encourage our readers to seek out research-based information on gardening from sources that are .edu and .org sites.

See The Poison Garden at England’s Alnwick Garden by Smithsonian Magazine: “Step Inside the World’s Most Dangerous Garden (If You Dare)”

Learn more about Victorian-era cemetery gardens: “Victorian Gardens of Death,” Clive Bloom

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