The color burgundy has become almost common in leaf color in our gardens. A few years ago, it was hard to find this elusive color, which can add so much to foliage variegation and texture. Now, however, there are many perennials, shrubs and trees that can make your garden sparkle.

It would be hard to think of dark-colored leaves without thinking of Heucheras. With names like “Palace Purple,” “Amethyst Mist,” “Chocolate Veil,” “Stormy Seas” and “Painted Lady,” they can be massed to provide a dark groundcover that will also bloom with white coral bells (or sometimes pink or purple). Another great dark to almost black groundcover is “Black Mondo” grass, which has slim grass-like leaves to about 14 inches long. It is just about the darkest color in the garden. The flowers bloom in white or are purple-flushed and are bell-shaped.

Edibles are not forgotten when it comes to burgundy-colored leaves. Both chard and beets have glowing red leaves. Another, not-so-well-known plant grows to 2 or 3 feet tall and tastes of mint with cinnamon. The bronzy or purple leaves look much like Coleus on Perilla frutescens — known as Shiso in Japan — and is used in stir fry dishes or in tempura. The dark heads of purple cabbage are truly purple and the heads of many flowering kales bring purple into winter.

Penstemon, in “Husker Red,” has greenish-maroon foliage and white flowers touched with pink. It needs full sun to flower well, but the leaves hold their color even in part shade. One of the most dramatic annuals for our area is Alterananthera “Persian Shield,” which has purple leaves overlaid with silver and backed with green. It can get to about 2 feet tall and multiple branches, giving quite a show. And Coleus, of course, comes in many colors of red, purple burgundy and almost black.

Shrubs are not left behind. For many years the barberries have been well represented with dark leaves. “Crimson Pygmy,” “Cherry Bomb,” “Helmond Pillar” and “Royal Cloak” are all good choices for this color range. Physocarpus or ninebark has peeling bark and luscious dark leaves, and is available in the cultivar “Diablo.” For a spiky tuft of leaves, both Cordyline “Red Star,” with dark bronzy red leaves, and the similar but somewhat hardier Phormium, with several cultivars fill the bill. Phormium “Dark Delight” can grow 3 to 4 feet tall and up to 8 feet wide, and “Dazzler” fulfills its name, with scarlet and maroon striped leaves. A lesser known shrub is Hebe “Amy,” with dark green leaves tinged purple on top, dark red undersides and purple-red tufts of flowers in summer.

Trees are well represented with dark leaves. “Thundercloud” plum blooms early in the spring with pink flowers just as the dark maroon leaves emerge. Several maples boast red to maroon leaves. Japanese maples have several cultivars: “Burgundy Lace,” “Red Dragon,” “Bloodgood,” “Wolff” (sometimes called “Emperor I”) all hold their color through the summer as do many other cultivars. Acer rubrum, the red maple, has red leaves, red twigs and red buds. It will go toward dull green in the summer but will blaze scarlet in the fall. Elderberry, Sambucus nigra “Black Beauty” and “Black Lace” hold their dark color all season and are highlighted by Queen Anne-type flower heads tinged with pink. As a bonus, they have edible berries. Cotinus, or “Smoke Tree,” is clothed in frothy “smoke,” an illusion created by the soft lavender-fuzzy stalks that hold tiny flowers in summer. The leaves of “Royal Purple” are just that.

So when you are thinking of adding some color to your garden, think foliage as well as flower. With so many plants to choose from, you’ll be able to find one to brighten up any dull corner.

Linda Urbaniak can be reached at lindagardenlady@speakeasy.net. She is happy to answer your questions.