Chloe Hurst, a graphic designer from Ontario, Canada, has spent six years and roughly $6,000 transforming her backyard into a gothic-style outdoor space, drawing inspiration from "The Addams Family" and "Dark Shadows."
The goth gardening trend, featuring dark flowers, broken statuary, and a moody aesthetic, has gained popularity, with interest spiking after 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, reflecting societal changes, aesthetic preferences, and cultural influences, with emerging trends like goth gardens and horti-futurism catering to younger generations' creativity and desire for unique, immersive experiences.
Dark varieties of plants like Chocolate Cherry sunflowers, Black Magic cosmos, dark red basil, lettuce, kale, hollyhock, false indigo, coral bells, black roses, pansies, tulips, dark purple dahlias, black heucheras, black elephant ears, and ornamental grasses are becoming popular in goth gardens.
To create a cohesive gothic garden, incorporate wrought iron furniture, grand entrances, dark-colored or uniquely shaped planters, dark-colored paving stones, bricks, and trellises with intricate designs, as well as gargoyles, mythical creature statues, gothic-style fountains, candle holders, and lanterns, experimenting with different subcultures in the goth community.
Gardening serves as a therapeutic distraction for Chloe, helping her disconnect from the digital world and connect with nature, despite physical challenges. She incorporates branding into her gardening, aiming to create a dark and moody Gothic aesthetic in both her garden and home, with bone accents, various shades of black, and moody wallpaper.
Want to create your own goth garden? Experts recommend using a mix of darker plants among the "thrillers, spillers, and fillers," avoiding too much black foliage, balancing with contrasting plants, and encouraging the presence of butterflies for a touch of joy. Event designer James Clawson in New Orleans recommends bromeliads for tropical climates for their spiky leaves and dramatic blooms.
Chloe advises patience and research for those starting their own goth garden, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process and selecting plants suitable for their area. She plans to improve the structure of her current garden while dreaming of owning a Victorian home with a larger garden in the future, despite her husband's reluctance to paint every room black.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Fox News, NPR, Metro, jsonline, The Advocate, and Better Homes & Gardens.