THE NEW BLACK

1 ALCEA ROSEA ‘NIGRA’ Tall, stately hollyhocks are a staple of the traditional English cottage garden. Subvert their easy charm by choosing the mysteriously dark variety, ‘Nigra’, with its glossy velvety petals. Available from crocus.co.uk. 2 ZANTEDESCHIA ‘BLACK STAR’ Sending their silky maroon spathes out from speckled green leaves, these arum lilies add an exotic flavour to patio containers. They also make elegant and long-lasting cut flowers.From vanmeuwen.com. 3 OXALIS TRIANGULARIS ‘BURGUNDY WINE’ The purple-leaf false shamrock is ideal in a conservatory or on a sunny windowsill. It’s lovely to look at, its deep-plum leaves folding themselves up at night.From thompson-morgan.com. 4 SAMBUCUS NIGRA F. PORPHYROPHYLLA ‘EVA’ A stunning variety of our native elder. Umbels of pale-pink flowers stand out against its dark lace leaves in summer, and you’ll be rewarded with deep, glossy berries come autumn.…