Dryopteris nipponensis Cynara Ruellia 'Black Beauty' first appeared

Ruellia 'Black Beauty' first appeared in the 1990s in the Maryland garden of the late Alexej (Sasha) Borkovec as a probable hybrid of Ruellia ciliosa

The upright petioles support the outfacing green leaves

the result from years of line-breeding by carnivorous plant guru Ron Gagliardo

so that's a good thing

The color patterning is strongest on the new foliage that emerges in June and July

Dryopteris nipponensis Cynara Ruellia 'Black Beauty' first appeared(aka: Dryopteris cystolepidota) Dryopteris nipponensis is a cousin of the better known autumn fern, that makes a 2' tall x 3' wide evergreen, deer resistant clump with foliage that is shorter and broader than Dryopteris erythrosora. The elegant, foliage texture makes this a favorite of garden visitors, who have bugged us to propagate it for years enough, already! The new growth in spring is tinted red for a wonderful contrast. Dryopteris nipponensis