Chloe Hurst, a graphic designer from Ontario, Canada, took inspiration from “The Addams Family” and “Dark Shadows” to transform her backyard into a gothic-style outdoor space over the course of six years and about $6,000.
The goth gardening trend, characterized by dark flowers, broken statues, and a moody aesthetic, is gaining popularity, with interest spiking following the release of the Netflix show “Wednesday” in 2022 and Google searches for “goth garden” more than doubling in the past five years.
Garden trends evolve over time to reflect societal changes, aesthetic tastes and cultural influences, with emerging trends such as goth gardens and futuristic gardening catering to the younger generations' creativity and desire for unique, immersive experiences.
Dark colored plants such as chocolate cherry sunflowers, black magic cosmos, deep red basil, lettuce, kale, hollyhocks, false indigo, coral bells, black roses, pansies, tulips, deep purple dahlias, black heucheras, black elephant ears and ornamental grasses are popular in Goth gardens.
To create a cohesive Gothic garden, incorporate wrought iron furniture, grand entrances, dark colored or uniquely shaped planters, dark paving stones, bricks, intricately designed trellises, gargoyles, statues of mythical creatures, Gothic style fountains, candle holders, lanterns, and more to experiment with the various subcultures of the Goth community.
For Chloe, gardening has become a therapeutic distraction, helping her disconnect from the digital world and connect with nature, despite the physical challenges it poses. She incorporates her branding into her gardening, aiming to create a dark, moody, gothic aesthetic in both her garden and home, using bone accents, different shades of black and moody wallpaper.
Want to create your own goth garden? Experts recommend using a mix of dark plants among “thrillers, spillers and fillers,” avoiding too many dark leaves, and adding contrasting plants for balance and to attract and delight butterflies. New Orleans event designer James Clawson recommends bromeliads, with their spiky leaves and dramatic blooms, for tropical climates.
Chloe encourages patience and research for those starting a goth garden, emphasising the importance of enjoying the process and choosing plants that suit the location. She plans to improve the structure of her current garden while dreaming of one day owning a Victorian house with a bigger garden, despite her husband's reservations about painting every room black.
Sources: Fox News, NPR, Metro, jsonline, The Advocate, Better Homes & Gardens.
