Black flowers are extremely unique in their appearance.
First thing first, black plants are not really black, but dark purple, deep burgundy, maroon or red. These type of flowers and plants of black color can transform any garden or container garden in an exquisite way by adding mystery and elegance.
So if you’re looking to add something a little different to your floral display, here are a few of the most beautiful black flowers out there.
Tulip ‘Queen of Night’
Start spring off on the dark side with the early-blooming Queen of the Night!
The blooms are a maroon so dark that they look black.
'Queen of Night' tulips are truly a plant-it-and-forget-it flower. It is a low maintenance plant that makes it a good plant for beginners. This fairly cold hardy plant blooms in mid or late spring
Black Baccara Rose
According to legend, pure black roses—the only truly black flowers in existence—bloom each year in Halfeti, Turkey. Everywhere else in the world, the darkest rose is the Black Baccara.
It’s an almost scentless tea rose in deep reddish black. Plant in spring for a summer of dark blooms.
Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’
For the goth gardener, Black Dahlias have the dual benefit of being linked to death and drama in one of the most gruesome crimes of American history. Though, dahlias don’t need the added glamor: these flowers are lush bundles of intensity.
Unlike so many shade-loving black flowers, dahlias soak up sunlight. Plant them in full sun and watch their color deepen under the light.
Petunia, Sophistica Blackberry Hybrid
It was only in 2010 that these black flowers were created.
Newly engendered varieties like ‘Black Velvet Petunia’ or ‘Black Cat Petunia’ look almost black but it may be hard and expensive to find their seeds. However, beautiful petunia, ‘Sophistica blackberry’ is an easier option. The dark flowers of this annual are actually deep reddish or burgundy in color and can be grown in window boxes, pots, beds and borders.
It is a low maintenance plant and usually easy to grow, that makes it a good plant for beginners.
Helleborus ‘Onyx Odyssey’
Beautiful and elegant! The dark burgundy or nearly black hellebores are highly appreciated for their color.
This lovely perennial can easily be grown in containers in part to full sun. Provide good air circulation around the plant and keep the soil well moist.
Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’
Ruffled, velvety, deep-purple (almost charcoal in their darkness), this edible burst of night can be candied to top spooky cupcakes or tossed on beetroot and arugula salad for a stunning side dish.
These particular species of black flower can be grown in both the garden and in a container – making them suitable for the outdoors and indoors. Molly Sandersons can be potted up or left to spread about as border flowers. They look darkly fascinating along a garden path, or tuck them between chamomile and lavender for a dreamtime-inspired herb garden.
Flowers appear from spring to fall.
Iris ‘Before the Storm’
The darkest of bearded irises, moderately-sized, and extremely hardly. This dark beauty is the winner of a number of iris awards, including the Award of Merit and the Dykes Medal. Its bloom time is long, its blooms are abundant.
This slightly fragrant iris requires a sunny position and well-drained soil in order to grow.
Calla Lily ‘Black Star’
One of the most decorative flowers. Deep, purple-black, mysterious blooms that grace any space!
The ‘Black Star’ bloom is deep purple with a spathe that is almost black, it looks attractive in combination with light green foliage spotted with red tips. It can be planted in containers, in the garden border.
Coleus ‘Black Prince’
The coleus is one of the most widespread species and most popular when it comes to choosing striking foliage plants for the garden. The coleus ‘Black Prince’ can be grown for its unusual solid black foliage and small flowers, either as a perennial in warm subtropical or tropical regions or as an annual in temperates. It is a perfect plant for borders and can be used in combinations with other plants in containers.
Colocasia ‘Black Magic’
Colocasia ‘black magic’ is an astonishing plant that can be identified from its dramatic large and dark purple-black dusty leaves.
This ‘Elephant Ear’ requires warmth and heat to thrive as it is a tropical plant and grows best in warm temperates and subtropical to tropical climates. But even living in colder areas, you can enjoy this as an annual.
Black Mondo Grass
This evergreen perennial offers a low-maintenance way to make a dramatic statement in your yard. They grow to be around six inches tall and are an excellent option for warm climates in rock gardens, borders or in a pot.
In spring, the new dark green foliage emerges and then in summer it changes into a very deep purple-black. Also by mid-summer tiny bell-shaped white flowers appear, followed by small black seeds.
Heuchera ‘Obsidian’
Also called ‘Obsidian Coral Bells’ it is one of the most beautiful black color plants in our list that you can grow in borders, in flower beds or in containers to add an all season foliage interest to your garden. Its tiny flowers are also attractive, this plant requires cool weather and partial shade to thrive.
Black Rose Succulent
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkopf', commonly known as Black Rose or Black Rose Aeonium, is a perennial succulent with large dark burgundy leaves that resemble flowers.
Black Roses require full sun to develop the dark color, but they will tolerate partial sun. They bloom yellow flowers in the winter and provide a colorful display in the garden, in a container or in a sunny window.
Black Charm Asiatic Lily
An absolute stunner! The Asiatic lily, one of the darkest lilies available, is graceful, simple, haunting perfection in a spooky summertime garden.
The majestic Asiatic lily is unsurpassable for its bold colour and elegantly formed flowers set atop tall stems with narrow, glossy green foliage.
All Asiatic lilies benefit from deep planting to help them return each year, so dig those holes at least six inches deep.
Black Magic Sunflower
Nothing proclaims “Gothic Garden” like the total eclipse of the black sunflower.
With a perfect sunflower shape and the darkest of dark petals, this darkest of sunflowers swallows up the light. Your apocalyptically-inspired flower bed will flourish with this beautiful flower.
Black Magic towers above the rest of the garden at a height of up to six feet! It looms as a dark, maroon-black sun reminding plants and people alike to “memento mori“.
Dark Dimension Hyacinth
Deeply scented hyacinths are the perfumers of spring gardens. Their heavy perfume makes Dark Dimension hyacinths a decadent addition to any black flower garden. Elegant, dark purplish flowers look almost pure black.
Black Persian Lily
This tall, stately, bell-flowered lily is so striking!
Dozens of dark, purplish black flowers hang like bells from a tall stem that can grow over three feet in height.
Persian lilies have a rich, lily scent, and hang like funeral bells over smaller plants. Perfect for gloomy-yet-romantic gothy gardens. They bloom in late spring.
Bat Flower
Don't forget your houseplants when shopping for black blooms.
Tacca bat flower (Tacca chantieri) is really an unique, rare and exotic flower that mimics a bat in flight. This specie is a member of the orchid family. It’s also often referred to as the ‘Devil Flower’ or the ‘Cat’s Whiskers’.
Give your bat plant a humid, warm spot with partial sun in your home. Asides from its distinctive appearance, some scientists also believe this flower to have cancer-fighting properties.
Hopefully these choices have inspired you to add some velvety darkness to your own garden. If you’re so inclined, try interspersing them with white, night-blooming flowers for dramatic effect. There’s nothing quite like basking in a mix of dark and luminous blooms under a full moon.
Click to read Plant your own magical moon garden
