Today's Gardener (todaysgardener.com) participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
Black flowers are very special. They add a touch of mystery elegance to any garden, and lovers of dark aesthetics especially adore them. In fact, there are no pure black flowers. But the mixture of rich purple and dark red with a touch of black gives them an enchanting beauty. Some species appear to be almost black, such as Black Iris, Black Lilies, and Velvet Petunias!
So, what follows is a list of 35 flowering plants with beautiful dark flowers that make an amazing ground cover, potted or hanging basket displays. And in case you need it, here is the beginner’s guide on indoor plant care.
1# Aeonium Arboreum Zwartkop
Striking flower-like rosettes are the main feature of these species. They are made of beautiful dark purple waxy succulent leaves. That is why they are also called Black Rose or Black Tree Aeoniums. Aeonium Zwartkop has stalks about 3 feet long.
Care Tip: In order to keep their unique color, succulent black flowers need plenty of sunlight. If it is kept in a partial shade, gradually expose it to full sun and try to keep it outside during the warmer months. Choose well-drained soil and never flood it with water.
2# Chocolate Soldier
Aquilegia Viridiflora has a very unusual appearance. The flowers look like cups, with chocolate purple petals and lime-colored anthers. These Siberian fragrant plants emit a pleasant sweet scent.
Care Tip: This unusual-looking flower tolerates different soils very well. However, it prefers partially moist soil with good drainage. Therefore, keep the soil always moderately moist. It is least comfortable with soil that retains too much water.
3# Deep Purple Calla Lily
Arum Palaestinum has almost black, but mostly deep purple flowers with edges that curl inwards and green leaves that make a perfect contrast. Calla Lilies are truly unique and striking in appearance. They grow from mid-summer to winter and they are almost 24 inches tall.
Care Tip: During the flowering period, water regularly and keep the soil moist, and add liquid fertilizer for even more lush flowers. When the Calla Lily enters the dormant phase, significantly reduces the frequency of watering.
Always plant Black Calla Lily in soil with high drainage so that the roots can breathe. Provide indirect light and protect the leaves from sunburn.
4# Bat Orchid
Tacca chantrieri is perhaps the most unique flower you have ever seen, and an even bigger surprise is that it belongs to the orchids. On the dark velvet background that resembles the spread wings of a bat in flight, small buds form on the stems.
They are enhanced with long white threads hanging along with the flower. Such an amazing species, right?
Care Tip: Like bats, these orchids don’t enjoy too much sun, so if you plant them outside, choose shady locations, and if you keep them in your home, keep them away from sunny windows. Tacca chantrieri will bloom from the early spring until autumn.
5# Anthurium Nero
With Nero Anthurium, we encounter a wonderful deep burgundy spathe combined with a deep purple pistil. It got the name Nero for the same reason why we added it to the list of dark flowers.
The word Nero is translated as black, but it also has a connection with the Roman emperor named Nero, who, like this flower, wore that imperial extravagance.
Care Tip: These plants require a similar care routine as the other members of the Anthurium family. Anthuriums are tropical plants, even when you find them in these darker colors, it’s important to keep them in a warm and humid environment.
6# Black Baccara Rose
Black roses have always been a symbol of beauty, mystery, and elegance. Lovers of gothic aesthetics adore Black Baccara Rose because of their dark red fragrant petals. These hybrid flowers grow up to 6 feet in height. They have narrow stems that produce individual flowers of lush petals.
Care Tip: The queen of elegance is actually easy to cultivate. To grow it successfully in your garden, you need to give it plenty of sunlight. Tea Rose likes to be in bright and visible locations and does not grow well in the shade.
Water it abundantly once a week unless temperatures rise, the petals will show you if they need more water. Prune it when it’s necessary.
7# Black Barlow Columbine
Tiny double-blooming and numerous flowers are what make this species unique. They are composed of restless deep purple and almost black petals, under a certain light. In late spring these flowers stand out in every garden amongst the colorful and white perennial flowers.
Care Tip: Choose a shady or semi-shady location for these delicate small petals. It is recommended that you place them outdoors as they give the best results and are the easiest to maintain. They bloom vigorously in late spring and early summer.
8# Black Flowers Heuchera
This species is better known as Coral Bells or Black Pearl. Almost black with hints of dark red on the back of the leaves, this Heuchera is perhaps the most beautiful of all specimens of its kind. It forms extremely dense bell-shaped confusions of leaves that resemble corals with their wrinkled edges.
Older plants form a discrete silver sheen on the leaves, and white flowers appear once a year.
Care Tip: Don’t be afraid to grow coral bells in your gardens even if they are in direct sunlight. These plants will not fade into light brown shades but will retain their dark color. Of course, be careful that the leaves do not burn or start to fall off if you do not supply them with enough water.
9# Black Fritillaria
Chocolate Lily got its name for the chocolate color of small bell-shaped flowers. It is important not to confuse them with Chocolate Cosmos which is another rare species that smells like dark chocolate, imagine that! This rare flower mostly comes from California.
Care Tip: For the bellflowers to grow, the bulb needs to be planted 4 inches into the ground. To keep them thriving, provide good drainage and leave the soil to dry out between watering.
10# Black Geranium
Pelargonium Glaucifolium or a Geranium cactus is a plant composed of flowers with four to five dark purple or burgundy petals with light green edges. This species is known for its pronounced scent!
Care Tip: This Geranium loves plenty of light and prefers to be kept in direct sunlight. It tolerates somewhat dry soil well, so avoid watering it too much. They bloom mostly in the early spring, some even in late winter.
11# Black Gladiolus
Everyone loves to see gladioli in bright summer colors, but just imagine having a “Black Beauty” with deep red petals in your garden. These gladioli are extremely elegant and somewhat dramatic, due to the depth of almost black flowers. The flowers are formed vertically along the entire stem and they narrow at the top.
Care Tip: Black Gladiolus are easy to maintain, they prefer full sun exposure and low watering. You will see them bloom from mid-summer until frost.
12# Black Hellebore
The origin of the scientific name Helleborus niger implies the toxicity of this black flower. The word comes from the Greek word ‘helein’ meaning injures, and ‘bora’, meaning food. Black Hellebore is also called Christmas Rose because it blooms unusually around Christmas in warmer parts of the world.
The gorgeous purple-black flower has delicate velvety petals with yellow-green anthers.
Care Tip: As we have mentioned, this species blooms in winter and therefore does not enjoy direct sunlight and summer heat. Plant these black flowers only in partial shade or full shade.
13# Black Magic Hollyhock
Black Hollyhock is better known as Magic Hollyhock. Alcea Rosea Nigra is the scientific name earned because of the abundant black flowers, although they are predominantly deep red or purple. They appear to be black under a cloudy sky, but in the sun they come to a hint of red.
Care Tip: When provided with good soil, Black Hollyhock can bloom in the sun as well as in the shade. They become more drought resistant if they are well established, but thrive on soil that is regularly moist, has good drainage, and addition of compost.
14# Black Iris “Before the storm”
Black Iris is considered one of the darkest colored flowers. Iris Before the Storm simply captivates all lovers of dark aesthetics. In addition to its amazing appearance of petals with wrinkled edges, almost black with purple admixtures in the middle of the flower, this species also has a wonderful scent.
Care Type: Pay attention to the soil. It needs to be well-drained as this species has a high drought tolerance. Iris requires plenty of sunlight throughout the day and a balanced fertilizer for better growth.
15# Black Lily
Black lilies have two subspecies, you may have heard of Black Jewel and Black Charm better known as Asian lily. Black Charm is a rare species and is considered one of the darkest colored flowers. Trumpet-shaped petals are often a mixture of black and deep maroon colors and have a beautiful silky sheen.
Black Jewel has large flowers and differs slightly in color because it has more deep purple tones. Shiny green leaves and long stems accentuate these beautiful black flowers.
Care Tip: You can grow black lilies in your garden if you live in a warm to moderately warm climate. If the winters are cold, it is not advisable to leave the lilies outside. Move the containers inside to protect them from frost, and you can also take them out of the ground, clean them and store them until spring.
16# Bohemian Black violet
Black Lisianthus are unique bohemian violets native to North America. The night-purple-colored flowers add to the contrast of bright green leaves and buds. They are great for growing in gardens and are often sold for wedding decorations.
Care Tip: It is important for this species that the leaves remain dry because they are prone to rot. The room where you store it should be ventilated without too much moisture and avoid watering it over the leaves. Use a dry cloth to clean the dust from the leaves.
17# Black Magic Mangave
Of all the black flowers, this is the most striking species! Of all the black flowers, this is the most striking species! Long succulent lanceolate leaves with prickly edges will surely catch your eye. These leaves are uniformly black that you cannot see at night. The tops of the leaves bend down like an octopus when stored in containers
Care Tip: This rare hybrid of black flowers will have a rich black color if you provide it with enough daylight. Be careful not to burn the leaves, and unlike other succulents, this species accepts more frequent watering of the soil and has a lower risk of rot.
18# Black Magic Rose
There is no rose that is completely black. Unlike black Baccara Roses which are almost black, Black Magic roses have deep red colored blooms. The petals are not as dark, but they are equally richly saturated. This black beauty is on average 6 feet tall and the petals are 4.5 inches wide.
Care Tip: They are more stable for growing in home gardens than other black flowers. This species tolerates shade well but it blooms better if exposed to full sun. Provide it with a maximum of 8 hours of sunlight every day and water it regularly because these species love water.
19# Black Prince Coleus
Black Prince comes from the family Lamiaceae. They are evergreen plants, grown mostly for the purple-black leaves. The double-colored leaves stand out with their serrated edges and a hint of bright pink. The foliage surface is deep purple, while the back is bright green.
Blooms are not so popular with this species, but in the flowering season, lavender and white flowers appear.
Care Tip: Grow these dark bushes in strong but filtered light or moderate shade. It likes to be outdoors in warm and humid climates. To make the leaves lush, enrich the soil with hummus.
20# Black Pussy Willow
The black specimen of Pussy Willow is truly enchanting. The black specimen of Pussy Willow is truly enchanting! Very unusual in appearance, the black puffy buds extend along the colorful branches.
Care Tip: These species require plenty of moisture and sun. If you live in rainy areas, watering will not be necessary because rainwater will meet the requirements of this species. If the roads are dry, it will be necessary to water them often. Of course, it’s not good to flood them either.
21# Black Satin Dahlia
Although we have classified Black Dahlia with black flowers, these plants are not so monotonous! They will attract your attention with bright shades of deep burgundy. Decorative satin flowers give a romantic note to any garden. The flowers form in a spherical shape and some petals are slightly closed at the edges inwards.
Care Tip: These beautiful flowers love slightly acidic and fertile soil that is well permeable to water. Plant them in sunny locations!
22# Butterfly Bush
The Black Knight is an unusually shaped elongated cluster formed by small black flowers. These clusters grow on long branches up to 10 feet and attract pollinators with their fragrant notes. The petals are dark purple and blue.
Care Tip: This species does not require much attention and is easy to grow. It is resistant and is often used as a fence. The most important thing is to provide him with drained soil and prune regularly so that he has the energy to produce new clusters.
23# Black Dahlia Chat Noir
Chat Noir Dahlia differs from Black Dahlia in the shape of the flower. The petals of this semi-cactus are narrow and pointed. They also curl on the outside and the flower may look like a hedgehog. The center of the flower is almost black while the petals range from dark red to maroon.
Care Tip: Chat Noir will adorn any garden during the flowering period, which begins in July until the first winter temperatures. During this period, add liquid nitrogen fertilizer to the soil once a week. During the dormant period, replace it with fertilizer with high potassium.
24# Chocolate Cosmos
Cosmos atrosanguineus is one of the rarest species in the world, which smells like dark chocolate! These gorgeous blooms have deep maroon and brown tones. When the flower is open it resembles the shape of a cup, with an interesting center of velvety petals in the shape of a bunch. This species is native to Mexico.
Care Tip: This species has thick roots that are prone to rot if you flood them with water. Watering once a week is enough to keep your chocolate flower healthy. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, this species originates from dry areas.
25# Chocolate Vine
A perennial vine named after chocolate sounds appealing! Although it belongs to the group of dark flowers, its petals are more on the purple side. It got its name from the purple-brown hanging flowers with the sweet smell of chocolate. The flowers are intertwined with shiny green leaves that grow in clusters. In addition to the divine scent, this species also produces eggplant-like fruits at the end of summer.
Care Tip: If you decide to plant this vine, be sure to provide it with a solid base and climbing support. Also, in order to reach their full potential, the climate must suit them. This species grows best at temperatures of 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperatures are too low the leaves might fall off, although they are usually very tough and durable.
26# Coneflower Green Wizard
Rudbeckia occidentalis is a unique species consisting of green leaves at the base of the central black cone, and no petals! This recognizable flower can grow up to an incredible 6 feet and is often used for flower arrangements.
Care Tip: This Coneflower grows poorly in conditions without sunlight. It is necessary to avoid shady locations, and give it full sun. The soil should be constantly moist in order to keep it healthy.
27# Black Mamba Petunia
Petunia is an ideal ornamental potted plant. Crazytunia Mamba is a particularly rare species, but you will fall in love with its black flowers with a velvety texture.
Care Tip: You can store the pots in the garden, but keep them from heavy rain, because the delicate Petunia petals can easily wither from too much water. They tolerate heat well and enjoy an optimal 6 hours of sun.
28# Dark Dimension Hyacinth
Dark Dimension is a species closest to the black Hyacinth, and a very exclusive flower. Bulbs with midnight purple-blue flowers will surely be remembered! It actually changes color during its maturation and at the end of its development, it is completely black.
Care Tip: Hyacinths love water! feel free to water them moderately two to three times a week during the summer months. During winter, water less often, but never let the soil dry out.
29# Moulin Rouge Sunflower
Who doesn’t love sunflowers? Imagine beautiful sunflowers in dark burgundy shades that blend into black. The exotic and unusual Moulin Rouge flowers are quite large and reach a diameter of 8 inches.
Care Tip: An interesting fact is that they do not have pollen, so even people with allergies can keep them! Like all sunflowers, they love sunlight. So plant them in locations with full sun exposure and they won’t require much attention from you.
30# Black Pansy
Black Pansy is one of the rare edible flowers and they are often used as decoration for cakes and pies! This species was derived from Violas as we have already mentioned, so people often confuse them. They are extremely similar in appearance but equally adorn every garden (or cake).
Care Tip: Pansy prefers colder temperatures. So, bring the black flower inside during high temperatures and place it in a semi-shady place, where it is protected from direct sunlight.
31# Persian Lily
The Persian Lily is very different from the Black Lilies we mentioned. Fritillaria Persica produces pendant bells that are grouped vertically along the stem.
These blooms are black velvet and you can find as many as 30 pendant bells on one plant. They grow up to 3 feet and are very unusual for lilies.
Care Tip: This unusual black flower is very easy to grow, and often grows alone in the garden if its conditions are good. A moist environment, good soil water permeability, and enough sunlight. Just be careful not to wet the dark pendants as they can easily fall off.
32# Black Velvet Petunia
Black Petunia is very similar to black Violas. This species is characterized by striking velvety leaves that are the closest to the natural black color of all black flowers. If you are searching for a true gothic velvety night flower, Black Petunia is the flower for you!
Care Tip: Black Velvet Petunia significantly benefits from frequent fertilization. Most black petunias are drought resistant and don’t require a lot of fertilizing, but this black beauty requires a little more care, which really pays off! Feel free to use a balanced fertilizer once a week to stimulate growth.
33# Queen of the Night Tulip
Talking of black flowers, this tulip is the true black Queen! The Queen of the night has large, shiny, and perfectly shaped blooms of night-black shade. The black tulip grows on tall stems and stands out from the rest of the black flowers with its cup-like shape and distinct black beauty.
Care Tip: The night tulip needs plenty of sunlight, at least six hours during the day. This plant always leans towards the light source so take this feature into consideration when choosing a planting location. It is best to plant them on the side of the house so that they are washed by the morning sun.
34# Silver Laced Primrose
Silver Laced Primrose looks like a flower from a children’s coloring book! It belongs to the group of dark flowers due to the central part of the petals which is purple-black. The edges of the petals are silvery-white and highlight each individual petal. The middle is conspicuously yellow with a tuck in the center and is called the golden eye
Care Tip: Primrose blooms in the spring and introduces itself with a beautiful fragrance. They prefer a humid environment and indirect sunlight, but not complete shade. It is best to plant them near water, be it a lake or a river. In addition to being visible, they will have a perfect ground for growth.
35# Viola Molly Sanderson
Molly Sanderson Violas are completely black, except they have a touch of purple and bright yellow dots at the center, unlike the Black Petunia. These black flowers also have a wonderful fragrance.
The leaves are green and lanceolate-shaped, although, in addition to such a beautiful flower, they remain unnoticed. When the flowers close, they store small seeds like a capsule.
Black Pansy is a species that we will mention below, but it is an interesting fact that they were actually derived from Violas.
Plant Care: Remember, Molly Sanderson doesn’t like the heat! During the summer, it is recommended to prune them so that they could bloom in spring and autumn.
36# Mourning widow
Black Widow is a herbaceous plant, with tiny dark purple flowers and green buds. It usually consists of several petals that resemble a piece of cloth worn by widows over their faces. But not everything about Geranium phaeum is so gloomy!
Care Type: These black flowers are easy to maintain and can grow on most soils. It is recommended that you prune old leaves and flower stalks regularly and the Mourning widow will thrive.
37# Cocoa Enchantment
This specimen of Begonia stands out from all the types of black flowers we have mentioned because instead of flowers, it has black leaves! The leaves have pronounced light green veins and a reddish back. Blooms add an interesting twist to the leaves with their bright pink-peach colors.
Care Tip: Enchanted Sunrise Begonia thrives in the summer. They can do well when placed in a partial shade too. Grow them in hanging baskets on the porch where they can catch the sunlight!
38# Sweet Potato Vine
This vine got the nickname Blackie because of the profoundly dark cascading leaves. This vine got the nickname Blackie because of the profoundly dark cascading leaves. It can cover large areas because it grows to a width of up to 60 inches. Let it hang around a piece of furniture or along the edge of a wall, it will surely add some drama to the interior!
Care Tip: This is a low-maintenance vine. Like most, it is durable and can withstand heat as well as drought. For best results keep the soil slightly moist but make sure that the water leaks out of the pot.
Conclusion
If you are a fan of gothic aesthetics or just love simple dark colors then you will enjoy all the mesmerizing species we have listed. It is difficult to decide on the most beautiful because each is unique and original in its own way, and all together they bring deep elegance, romance, and mysticism to any floral arrangement or home decoration.