you can try www.guildwoodcannas.com for the EE's. Or you could try some Amaranthus paniculatus - Intense Purple. It is a lovely red/purple color. How much sun does the area get??? And just how big are you trying to go. Most garden centers carry the Black Magic EE's in the summer .. they are excellent for ponds and wet areas. So you might try talking with your local garden center.

Laura

There is also a Eupatorium - Joe Pye Weed which has dark burgundy leaves and flowers late fall with white flowers. I have it and it grows to about 4 feet, maybe 5. My soil is not that great, so it might even do better in terms of height in your gardens. Can't remember it's name though... Nice plant. Although the common Joe Pye is known to reseed profusely, this one is not a problem. Sometimes I wish it was!!

If you are going tropical, I would suggest burgundy type canna. But I'm rather surprised that you couldn't locate any purple elephant's ears. You should be able to locate these at tropical plant suppliers, or aquatic plant suppliers, or simply phone local garden centres to place an order.

Ianna

There's also the houseplant section at any Home Depot type of store. They might have a nice red Cordyline (Ti plant), and they can grow to a nice size. Just plunk the plant in the soil, pot and all (make sure it has large holes at the bottom of the pot), and pull it up for a nice houseplant in the winter.

If you're looking for perennials for that spot, that's a lot harder to fit the bill. A few suggestions (some of them might be hard to find, but you never know):

-Cornus sericea - red twig dogwood (might be taller than what you want)
-Berberis thunbergii - Barberry (dwarf varities are available)
-Astilbe chinensis 'Vision Red' (there are many dark leaved Astilbes out there)
-There are tons of dark leaved Cimicifugas out there too - 'Hilside Black Beauty' is a very common one. (These might be listed as Actaea in some places - they've been renamed to that from Cimicifuga, but it hasn't quite caught on yet)

BP

Thanks Bonniepunch for the Cimicifuga suggestion. I'd never heard of this plant but it's exactly what I'm looking for--gorgeous!!!

I second the darker Cimicifuga, a wonderful, problem-free plant that usually blooms long after the others in the fall. There's also Penstemon Husker Red (although not what you might call 'large').

Why not put in a touch of the opposite color?
Hakonechloa really packs a punch around purple colors in part. to full shade.

Miscanthus also has several purple varieties with pink or creme plumes.

Hakonechloa IS beautiful--I will look for that as well--thanks!

Jannabeen

I grow a big leaved Ligularia that is intersting.
It loves shade and moist soil and has huge leaves that look tropical and are a dark red color at first and then turn to a reddy green shade with deep red on the undersides of the large leavces. Mine is abvout 3' tall and wide. They bloom late in the summer with yellow flowers that are nice...but I love the leaves the most.

Here is a link that might be useful: Big leaved Ligularia

Ligularia dentata is interesting. Did you grow yours from seed? I did find seeds available. Thank you for the suggestion.

Jannabeen

I bought mine in a garden center a few years back. It has done well and I even moved it a few times :)
This year I have developed an interest in seeds due to the winter sowing forum...so when it blooms this season...I can save you some seeds from my plant if you would like me to.
Jean

Give 'Tropic to Tropic" a look they're in B.C.
www.tropic.ca Rai

Thanks for the link...nice site :)