Each leaf was a glossy metallic green black. Like C. Illustris', C. fontanesii spread on top of the ground thru thick rhizomes. For us, this has proved to be one the absolute hardiest and first emerging of the elephant ears. This giant grower to 6' tall sports black stalks topped with 3' long powdery purple black leaves. This also has proved to be reliably hardy to 0F in our trials, although it can be slow to return from dormancy.
Hardy palms are another area that is exploding in popularity.
Without a doubt, the hardiest of the palms available is the southeastern native needle palm, Rhapidophyllum hystrix. This clumping palm to 8' tall is best know for its sharp needles around the base of the trunk that protect the seed from predators. Reliable in hardiness to -10F, this palm is even happy enough to reseed around the garden. While sabal minor is thought of as a non-trunked palm, this is not quite true. In actuality, the trunk grows downward instead of up.