Most people think that flowers are colorful, which makes the atmosphere bright. Almost no one thinks black flowers exist, especially when the color is likely seen as mysterious or dark. But it turns out there are really black flowers!
Like clothes, accessories, or cars in black color, black flowers exude elegance. It brings exceptional beauty to gardens, homes, or even floral arrangements at events. We have compiled a list of black flowers to give your garden or floral arrangement aesthetics.
1. Bat Orchid (Tacca chantrieri)
Bat orchid is an exotic plant that mimics a flying bat. It is interesting how this orchid can live outdoors and indoors. However, if grown indoors, it has to be in good condition to thrive. It is amazing how to bat orchids can grow as tall as 1 to 3 feet.
Growing bat orchids requires little attention; it requires good circulation, abundant water, and high humidity to survive. Bat orchids grow indoor blooms, while those outdoors bloom from spring until early autumn.
2. Bearded Iris Black is Black (Iris germanica)
Bearded iris do not grow from seeds but from their thick bulbous stems called rhizomes. It grows into a large fan of leaves and flower stalks when it buds. Each flower stalks have 6 petals, 3 petals are upright while the other three hang. You must keep their rhizomes firm and healthy to grow them into beautiful bearded irises.
3. Black Baccara Rose (Hybrid tea rose)
Roses are always stunning and are even known as the queen of flowers. But have you seen a black baccara rose at the market? It is undoubtedly the most loved rose.
Apart from its bold beauty, its sturdy stem and pleasant fragrance make it popular for floral arrangements. If you cut the black baccara rose, it can last for more than a week.
4. Black Barlow (Aquilegia vulgaris)
This beautiful black-purple flower is bred for cut flower production. Black barlow self-seeds make it easy to proliferate in clumps. Simply trim off the faded flower stems to promote additional bloom to make your garden beautiful during the flowering time.
Its cut flowers can last in vases for up to 2 weeks; it is classically combined with peonies and roses to make a beautiful floral arrangement.
5. Black Magic (Viola cornuta)
The dainty Black Magic has matte jet black petals with a tiny yellow eye in the center. It is one of the darkest flowers you can find on this earth. Surprisingly, its dark petals have shown good heat tolerance. It can prosper under full sun or partial shade as long as it stands in quite damp soil.
Another fun fact about this flower: it is edible! I wonder what it tastes like.
6. Petunia Pinstripe (Petunia x hybrida)
You will find another petunia along this list, but let’s talk about this one first. The petunia pinstripe is more sophisticated and stylish because of its distinctive cream-white star pattern.
Petunias can be annual or perennials; they are beautiful to display in hanging baskets or treat as bedding plants in patio or flower borders. The petunia pinstripe grows well under full sun and well-drained soil.
7. Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos astrosanguineus)
Like the regular cosmos, the flowers are smaller, giving a dramatic vibe to the floral arrangements. This cosmos flower is not named chocolate because of its deep maroon-black flower but because of its distinctive chocolate scent.
Chocolate cosmos has vanillin, an organic compound in cocoa; this compound gives off the chocolatey fragrance. Place this flower on your patio or resting area to have a relaxing moment with its fragrance.
8. Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria camschatcensis)
Unlike the chocolate cosmos, the chocolate in its name refers to its flowers’ dark brown to black color. What is more baffling is the alternate name of chocolate lily, skunk lily. If chocolate cosmos has a chocolate fragrance, the chocolate lily has an unpleasant odor. It is definitely not ideal for placing on patios or resting areas.
Despite its unpleasant odor, the bulbs of chocolate lily are edible. It is soaked in water to remove its bitter taste and is often eaten in soups and stews.
9. Dark Dimension Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Hyacinths are usually in pale pinks and purples. Dark dimension hyacinths are the darkest purple Hyacinthus that you can ever see; an even darker one is the black variety.
This variety is sophisticatedly dramatic to set in fresh bouquets or floral arrangements. Moreover, the dark dimension hyacinth has the best features of a hyacinth. It has sturdier stems, long-lasting color, and a sweet fragrance.
It may be easy to grow and propagate this flower, but you must carefully handle the hyacinth bulbs; they may irritate your skin.
10. Persian Lily (Fritillaria persica)
Persian lily flowers are striking to look at in courtyards or large gardens. This flower stands 2 to 3 feet tall and bears 20 to 30 black pendant bells. It blooms in spring, giving more drama to your garden.
If you have a Persian lily in your backyard, you are lucky. It is a rare flower in the horticultural trade because it only blooms from large-sied bulbs, and that takes several years to produce before it can be sold in the market.
11. Queen of the Night Tulip (Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’)
Queen of the Night Tulip is quite distinct; it is the darkest tulip. Its purple and green foliage results in deep maroon or almost black making a striking cut flower. Place this velvety tulip in borders of floral arrangements; it then becomes the main attraction.
However, the queen of the night tulip is potentially harmful. It may cause an allergic skin reaction. Do not forget to wear gloves or any protective gardening equipment when handling this flower.
12. Green Wizard Coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
By the looks of a green wizard coneflower, it is a coneflower without colorful ray flowers. This ray-less coneflower has tubular dark purple to black disk flowers around its sizeable cylindrical head.
A green wizard is a tough summer flower; it loves to bathe in full sun. Placing them in spots with too much shade decreases their flowering and weakens their stems. Moreover, unlike other Rudbeckias, the green wizard blooms better in streambanks and mountain meadows.
13. Lionheart Tango Lily (Lilium asiatic lionheart)
Several are attracted to its candle flame-shaped buds, but when the lily unfolds, they see the striking feature of the lionheart tango lily. It has a black flower accented by dark speckles and bright yellow tips.
If you plan to have a lionheart tango lily, it is best to plant them in spring. But would it thrive? Lionheart tango lily has special needs for its soil, and it can only thrive if its soil is alkaline.
14. Nigra Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Nigra hollyhock has a deep chocolate-maroon to black flowers. Traditionally, hollyhocks are planted near the front door to welcome prosperity and abundance to the home. Doing this today gives you an elegant-looking front yard because of the nigra hollyhock.
Aside from being an ornament, the nigra hollyhock flower can be used to make medicinal tea. The nigra hollyhock flower tea prevents and treats breathing disorders and digestive tract problems.
15. Black Gamecock (Iris x violipurpurea)
The black gamecock is a Louisiana iris variation with a cold feature because of its dark purple to black blossoms. Black gamecock has a slight fragrance, making its flowers attract hummingbirds. This flower can grow up to 12 to 60 inches tall and mature in clumps or spreads around the area.
Black gamecock is easily grown in its ideal environment. Plant it in rich, slightly acidic, moist soils in full to part shade. Deep watering is best for black gamecock; the wetter the soil, the more it extensively grows. But do not forget to ensure the containers are well-drained to help the flower thrive.
16. Odessa Calla Lily (Zantedeschia sprengeri)
The Odessa calla lily looks elegantly stunning with its deep purple to black blooms. Its leaves have white speckles making it an excellent choice for cut flowers. If you have pets around, Odessa calla lily is not recommended to be cultivated at home. It is toxic to dogs and cats.
17. Dahlia Fidalgo Blacky
Dahlia fidalgo is not naturally black, but its deep, dusty burgundy creates an eye trick. People now recognize this flower as a black dahlia variety.
This dahlia is easy to take care of but challenging to propagate. You have to secure its corms or bulbs to grow. An excellent growing condition of this dahlia fidalgo produces a strong stem and several blooms.
18. Pansy ‘Sunlight Eclipse
Pansies have exciting colors and patterns. The sunlight eclipse mimics the blocking of darkness (moon) from the sun, as the petals have vivid yellow picotee that edges around the dark petals.
The best growing environment for pansies is in spots with full or partial sun, but it best thrives with cooler temperatures. Thus, the ideal planting site for the pansy sunlight eclipse is at places with morning sun and afternoon shade.
19. Moulin Rouge
Sunflowers are happy flowers, and it is one of the most heart-fluttering flowers to receive. But, what if I tell you that this excellent cut flower has a black variety?
The moulin rouge. Moulin rouge has orange, red, and green foliage, which results in unique dark burgundy. When it blossoms, its burgundy petals become black close to the center.
Moulin rouge and other Helianthus flowers attract bees, insects, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Keep some of the moulin rouge uncut to keep the flowers producing pollen and complete the lifecycle of wildlife.
20. Black Lotus (Lotus jacobaeus)
The black lotus has green and blue foliage accentuating the burgundy black flower. Black lotus flowers are best placed in a container with well-drained soil; this setup makes it look like a bonsai maple. If given the best growing condition, black lotus forms a small woody-stemmed shrub.
Unfortunately, the black lotus requires more attention in propagation. If there is an opportunity for one, grab it!
21. Black Knight Pincushion (Scabiosa atropurpurea)
The black knight pincushion resembles a black pincushion with white-tipped pins. Its flowers are stunning, and both gardeners and the wildlife (bees and butterflies) are enchanted. This flower blooms exceptionally long, but if you harvest them for cut flowers, the black knight pincushion can last up to 7 to 10 days in the vase.
Providing the ideal growing condition for black knight pincushion is giving light sun or partial shade in average, moist soil.
22. Onyx Odyssey Helleborus (Helleborus orientalis)
The onyx odyssey Helleborus is quite attractive throughout the seasons because of its purplish-black flowers. It maintains most of its intense color and does not easily fade over time. Since this flower is showy and long-lasting, it is the perfect floral combination with the other winter jewel Hellebores.
This flower is easy to grow and self-seeds in good growing conditions. Plant them in partial to full shade spots with rich, well-drained soils.
23. Penny Black (Nemophila menziesii)
Personally, its black flowers with white edges make it look elegant. Penny black spreads and trails as they grow; this makes them the perfect flower to plant along garden edges and flower borders.
The ideal growing condition of penny black is in partial shade and well-drained moist soil. Keep it moist to promote continual flowers and avoid drying out.
24. Petunia Black Velvet (Petunia ‘balpevac’)
We talked about a petunia flower earlier on this list. Gardeners often disregard petunias because they are commoners in the garden. But, the black petal petunias are rare and cannot be easily grown from seeds. You can propagate them through cuttings and care for them correctly.
There are four varieties of black petunia flowers, but the wave or spreading type is the most common in the market. If you plan to have this one, it can quickly spread throughout your garden.
25. Silver Lace Primrose (Primula silver lace black)
Black is already elegant, but this silver lace primrose has a scalloped silver-white edge that emphasizes its golden eye. The best time to plant the silver lace primrose is around September to November; you will see it bloom by February to April.
The silver lace primrose loves moist and cannot tolerate the heat of the afternoon sun. Its best planting spot is under a partial shade near a downspout. If you are a green thumb, try growing black flowers with bright-colored ones, you will see how exceptional they look.