Our client in South West London wanted something most garden designers do not get asked for very often: a garden that felt dark, dramatic and lush all at the same time. The brief was to combine goth gardening with an urban jungle feel, an outdoor retreat that told a story every time you stepped into it. Moody planting, rich textures and a sense of mystery, but still practical, comfortable and a real pleasure to spend time in.
Here is how the project came together.
The Floating Bench: A Morning Retreat
On the right side of the garden, we introduced a floating bench that sits among the planting as though it landed there naturally. It is positioned to catch the morning light, making it the perfect spot for a quiet coffee before the day starts. The bench is cantilevered from the wall, which keeps the ground beneath it clear and lets planting flow right underneath. The effect is a seat that feels embedded in the garden rather than placed on top of it.
Reflecting Style: The Crittall Mirror
image credit: House Designer
A Crittall-style mirror on the side wall picks up reflections of the planting and doubles the visual depth of the space. In a narrow urban garden, mirrors are one of the most effective tricks for making a space feel larger without changing the footprint. The black metal frame ties in with the Crittall doors on the house, creating a visual thread that connects inside and outside.
The Back Garden: An Urban Jungle Haven
The rear section is where the brief really comes to life. Dense, layered planting creates a jungle-like canopy that screens the neighbours and blocks the city out. The built-in bench along the back wall is oversized deliberately, wide enough to lie on for sunbathing and long enough for three or four people to sit comfortably. Storage is built into the bench structure so garden cushions, tools and toys can be tucked away without cluttering the space. The dense screening owes a lot to the approach in our guide to privacy planting.
image credit: House Designer
The Black-Stained Shed
The new shed is finished in black-stained timber, turning what is normally the least attractive element in a garden into a real design feature. The dark wood provides a backdrop that makes the surrounding planting glow by contrast. Akebia quinata (chocolate vine) is trained across the structure, its deep-coloured semi-evergreen foliage adding to the gothic atmosphere while softening the architectural lines.
What Is Goth Gardening?
Goth gardening is a style that leans into dark foliage, deep-coloured flowers and a moody atmosphere. It draws on the drama of the Victorian era and the richness of a well-planted shade garden, but it is not about being bleak or barren. The best goth gardens are some of the most lush, layered and plant-filled spaces you will find.
The style works by setting dark-toned plants against a backdrop of rich green foliage. The contrast is what creates the drama. Deep purples, burgundies and near-blacks against fresh greens and silver-greys make both the dark and the light elements look more vivid than they would alone.
image credit: House Designer
Hard landscaping plays an important role too. Dark-painted walls, black metal structures, weathered timber and dark stone or slate all add to the atmosphere. Garden furniture in black, charcoal or dark bronze finishes keeps the palette consistent. The key is balancing the dark tones with enough green and texture so the space feels inviting rather than oppressive.
Plants for a Goth Garden
The planting palette for a goth garden focuses on species with dark blooms, deep foliage or dramatic form.
- Black tulips – Queen of Night and Black Parrot produce near-black flowers in spring and look striking planted in drifts through dark mulch or gravel.
- Burgundy dahlias – Arabian Night and Karma Choc add depth from midsummer into autumn. They need lifting in winter in colder areas, or can be grown in pots.
- Dark roses – Black Baccara and Deep Secret give deep red blooms that read as almost black in certain light. They work well against a dark painted wall where the colour intensifies.
- Heuchera – varieties like Obsidian and Palace Purple provide year-round dark foliage at ground level. Evergreen, tough, and happy in sun or partial shade.
- Ajuga reptans – Black Scallop and Catlin’s Giant are spreading ground cover with deep purple-black leaves and blue flower spikes in spring. Excellent for filling gaps and suppressing weeds.
- Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens – black mondo grass is one of the few truly black-leaved plants. Slow-growing, but a stunning edging plant or container feature.
- Sambucus nigra Black Lace – a shrub with finely cut, deep purple foliage that gives structure and height. Pink flowers in summer, followed by dark berries.
- Dark-leaved cannas and colocasia – bring a tropical, jungle quality to the scheme. They need winter protection in the UK, but the bold, architectural foliage is worth the effort.
Mix these dark-toned plants with ferns, hostas, fatsia and other lush green foliage to create the layered, jungle-like quality that makes a goth garden feel immersive rather than flat. It is the same layered thinking behind our naturalistic and urban gardens. Our planting plan service can specify the full scheme for your conditions if you want to take this approach in your own garden.
A Garden That Tells a Story
image credit: House Designer
This project is a good example of what happens when a client arrives with a strong idea and a designer has the freedom to run with it. The goth aesthetic could easily have become a novelty, but by grounding it in solid spatial planning, practical features like the storage bench and shed, and really good planting, the garden works as a living space first and a style statement second.
Every element earns its place. The floating bench is not just a design feature, it is where the client starts their day. The mirror is not just decorative, it makes the garden feel twice as wide. The shed is not hidden away, it is part of the composition. That is what good garden design does, whatever the style.
If you have a strong idea for your garden, however unconventional, our online garden design service can help you develop it into something that works beautifully in practice. Take our free style quiz to explore your direction, or book a free consultation to talk through your project.
About the author
Senior Garden Designer
Mirela Bajic is House Designer’s Senior Garden Designer, holding a degree in Garden Design and RHS Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Horticulture, Garden Planning and Construction. With seven years of experience, she designs imaginative landscapes that blend natural elements beautifully, with a commitment to excellence that shows in every project she takes on.