dark fridays - aeonium arboreum 'zwartkop'

It's friday, friends... and you know what that means.  I am sharing another dark and delightful beauty with you today.

This one is a real showstopper... Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' or commonly known as Large Purple Aeonium.  There are a few great dark aeonium species which I'll touch upon in later posts, but the Zwartkop is the deepest darkest.  Actually, the Dutch name "Zwartkop",  literally means "black head" - pretty fitting right?

Because of their tall gray-brown stalks, I like to underplant and interplant the Zwartkop with grasses and bushes in contrasting color and texture so that the large and luscious dark rosettes are the most visible.  The Zwartkop will meander its way beautifully through a wild garden such as the one we designed below (filled with sages and agaves).

Or it can be used in a linear planter to create height and contrast against a simple stucco wall...



The best aspects of all of the aeonium family are their low-maintenance and drought tolerance.  Water these babies infrequently but deeply and be sure to plant in a well drained area (if in a pot use a cactus mix and make sure there is a hole in the pot for drainage). 

Specs:

  

Latin Name: Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' 

Common Name: "Large Purple Aeonium"

Category:  Succulent

Zones:  15-17, 20-24 for info on climate zones go here 
Exposure: Cool sun/Light shade

Water: low water needs (drought-tolerant)

Size: 3-4' tall, 1-2' wide

Flower: Yellow summer bloom

Growth: forms clumps of gray-brown stems that often branch near the base but not above ending in terminal rosettes

Specs from Sunset Western Garden Book

new series - dark fridays

I am so very excited to start a new series here on our new blog!  Every friday i'm going to talk about the use of dark elements (like plants with deep rich burgundy and black foliage or flowers) in the role of design.  I am placing a quick link on the right side of the blog.  If you want to go directly to this series of posts, just click there!

Anyone who has worked with me knows my penchant for a dark bloom.  There is an air of mystery and sexy in a deep, rich foliage.  No garden is complete for me without these darker elements to create depth, contrast and overall interest.  I'll talk more throughout the series, but for today let me tell you about one of my favorites, Black mondo grass.

photo of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' with variegated agapanthus by Foundation Design

Black mondo grass gives me the shivers in a really good way.  No foliage is as deep, lush and dark black as this making it a fantastic contrast plant as displayed above.  Black mondo grass also has versatility going for it.  Use it in an asian inspired garden, a modern garden, to line a pathway or even in pots.  Black mondo grass will always, always make a statement!

For use in Southern California and hotter climates, Black mondo grass should be used in the shade or a sheltered area.  It is a great plant for use under a tree or where other grasses (or lawn) won't grow.

Specs:

  

Latin Name: Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' 

Common Name: "Black Mondo Grass"

Zones:  5-9, 14-24 (some shade in the hottest climates) for info on climate zones go here 

Water: moderate to regular

Size: tufts to 8" high and 1' wide

Flower: bell-shaped white or purple flushed flowers are 1/4" long

Growth: slow spreading with leaves emerging green and soon darkening to black

Specs from Sunset Western Garden Book