…and better. Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ is excellent too but, as yet, unnamed. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’…

…Marie’ x ‘Black Tulip’ has been out for a while now and the leaves are emerging. Paler than ‘Black Tulip’ as you would expect but with a rounded Black Tulip…

…in open woodland Edgeworthia chrysantha Edgeworthia chrysantha Sarcocca wallichii with huge black berries Sarcocca wallichii Sarcocca wallichii Nothofagus dombeyi trunk Nothofagus dombeyi Camellia ‘Black Lace’ Camellia ‘Black Lace’ Camellia ‘Black…

…Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ in the Rockery is one of the later evergreen azaleas to flower. The best very dark red? Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ This is Rhododendron reticulatum…

…these brooklynensis hybrids providing you catch the flowers as they just emerge from the very black buds and ahead of the leaves. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis…

…black in bud. Camellia ‘Black Magic’ Camellia ‘Black Magic’ Magnolias tower over the woodland valley garden. The dark one may well be ‘Bishop Michael’. Magnolias Magnolias Magnolias Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’…

…nearby. Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ is very fine and black as it opens. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Another new…

…Rhododendron reticulatum Rhododendron reticulatum Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ just coming out. A good contrast soon between the other colours. Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Rhododendron kiusianum was cut back hard two years ago…

…Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ with its first flowers out above Crinodendron Hedge amid the Styrax species planting. Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ beside it. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black…

…as near black as you can get as it first comes out. Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’ Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’ Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’ A dwarf rhododendron species in the Auklandii Garden just…