18 Unusual Garden Plants With Black Flowers, Stems, Or Leaves!
Welcome! This article contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.
Let’s explore 18 stunning black flowers perfect for backyard gardens, flower beds, borders, or backdrops! These dark-hued blossoms attract friendly bees, and some can also handle the chilly autumn weather. Although they lack the bright shades of sunflowers and wildflower chaos gardens, their lovely dark shades and bold contrast make them unique.
Take a look at these gorgeous black flowers for yourself!
Let’s check them out!
18 Unusual Black Flowers, Plants, Shrubs, And Crops
Of all the plants with black flowers, leaves, stems, and buds, these 18 are our favorites.
1. Black Calla Lily (Zantedeschia Aethiopica)
These elegant black lilies thrive in sunny spots and are perfect for creating a bold contrast against lighter blooms. They’re great for planting in containers or along borders to add a mysterious or almost gothic vibe.
- USDA Zones: 8 to 11.
- Plant Size: 12 to 36 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring to early summer.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 7 years.
The black calla lily resembles velvet dipped in moonlight. Its dark silhouette contrasts with its bedazzling silver foliage.
2. Black Hollyhock (Alcea Rosea Nigra)
Black hollyhocks bring a timeless charm to the homestead. They grow tall and stately, perfect for cottage-style gardens or planting along a fence. I can’t help but marvel at the nearly black petals. They’re like something from a fantasy novel!
- USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
- Plant Size: 6 to 8 feet tall.
- Flower Schedule: Mid-summer to fall.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 3 to 5 years.
By late summer, when the sun dips low, black hollyhock stands tall like a sentinel, its dark blooms deepening as the evening shadows grow longer.
3. Black Dahlia
There’s something undeniably romantic about black dahlias. When they bloom, they offer a rich, burgundy black that looks striking against greenery. I’ve found that they make stunning cut flowers for bouquets and are perfect for a moody, dramatic centerpiece.
- USDA Zones: 8 to 11.
- Plant Size: 3 to 6 feet tall.
- Flower Schedule: Mid-summer to early fall.
- Growth Cycle: Tender perennial, 3 to 5 years (often grown as an annual).
Black dahlia flowers are as dark as the night sky, with each petal absorbing the last bit of daylight.
Read More – Want More Flowers? These 21 Plants Have Vibrant Orange Flowers, Petals, Or Blooms!
4. Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon Planiscapus Nigrescens)
Black mondo grass is the perfect way to introduce texture and depth to your garden. Its jet-black leaves add a striking contrast to any plant arrangement. While it’s more grass than buds, it blooms with tiny pale pink flowers that surprise you among the dark leaves.
- USDA Zones: 6 to 10.
- Plant Size: 12 to 18 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late summer.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 10 years.
Black mondo grass shimmers with hidden pink flowers as if revealing a secret only the early birds know.
5. Penny Black (Nemophila Menziesii)
Penny black has dainty blooms with black centers and white edges that look like they’ve been hand-painted. These delicate flowers rock if you’re looking for a ground cover with a bit of whimsy. Penny Black is easy to grow from seed and great for any garden spot needing a playful, dark flair.
- USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
- Plant Size: 6 to 12 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Early spring to early summer.
- Growth Cycle: Annual.
Penny black’s delicate petals dance like tiny ethereal butterflies in the breeze.
6. Iris – Before The Storm
These iris flowers have rich and inky black blooms. They’re perfect for adding gothic intrigue to a spring garden. They’re also a low-maintenance perennial. So once you’ve planted them, they come back year after year with little fuss.
- USDA Zones: 3 to 9.
- Plant Size: 24 to 36 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 7 years.
The darkly colored buds of before the storm Iris look like ink droplets suspended in time.
Read More – Do You Have Hungry Backyard Birds? Feed Them One Of These 17 Foods That Birds Love!
7. Persian Lily (Fritillaria Persica)
Fritillaria persica adds a real sense of high strangeness to your garden. These elegant, tall, deep purple to black bell-shaped flowers look stunning when planted in clusters.
- USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
- Plant Size: 12 to 36 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 7 years.
Fritillaria persica blooms look like ancient lanterns. They hang as if to light the path of a midnight wanderer.
8. Black Mamba Petunia
Black mamba petunias are the perfect striking summer annual. Their velvety, almost entirely black petals are ideal for containers or hanging baskets where you want a bold statement. Mix them with bright colors like yellows or oranges for an eye-popping contrast. Just make sure they get plenty of sun!
- USDA Zones: 3 to 9 (as an annual).
- Plant Size: 12 to 24 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Spring to fall.
- Growth Cycle: Annual.
At dusk, black mamba petunias become nearly invisible against the earth until a bright moon highlights their soft, velvety texture.
9. Black Moon Pansy
Black moon pansies are small but mighty. Plant them in early fall or spring for a dark, almost velvety flower that blooms during fall and defies cold weather. They’re perfect for borders or containers. Their deep black petals also look fantastic when paired with lighter blooms.
- USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
- Plant Size: 6 to 12 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Fall to spring.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 3 to 5 years (often grown as an annual).
Black moon pansies glow like miniature constellations scattered across the ground under the clear fall sky.
Read More – 21 Fun Backyard Activities For Thrifty Homesteaders – Rain Barrels, Sundials, And More!
10. Christmas Rose (Helleborus Niger)
The deep black cultivars of the Christmas rose bring winter gardens to life like no other plant. I love these because they bloom when almost nothing else dares, adding a unique, magical touch to the frosty landscape. Plus, they’re low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and can thrive in shady spots.
- USDA Zones: 5 to 8.
- Plant Size: 12 to 24 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late winter to early spring.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 10 years.
The deep black cultivars of the Christmas rose emerge in winter like midnight sentinels guarding the garden from frost’s grip.
11. Bat Plant (Tacca Chantrieri)
Here’s one of the most otherworldly flowers you can grow: the bat plant! It looks like something out of a comic book, with an unusual bat-like shape and petals resembling black wings. It’s a tad fussy and needs warmth and humidity, but its exotic flair is worth the extra effort.
- USDA Zones: 9 to 11.
- Plant Size: 12 to 36 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring to early summer.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 7 years.
The bat plant’s flowers unfurl like a myth taking shape! Gaze into its exotic tendrils that seem to beckon you into an enchanted food forest of mystery.
12. Asiatic Lilly (Lilium Black Out)
Black Out Lilies (Asianic lilies) are breathtaking, with deep red-to-black petals. Plant one in your garden and admire it up close when it blooms in early summer. Their striking color looks fantastic when paired with white or yellow blooms. Just make sure they get plenty of sun to show off!
- USDA Zones: 3 to 8.
- Plant Size: 3 to 6 feet tall.
- Flower Schedule: Summer.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 7 years.
When Black Out Lilies bloom, they look trapped in the final moments of a summer storm. Each petal is as intense as a nearby thundercloud.
Read More – Here Are The Ten Best Ways To Eat Garden Zucchini, Including Pizza, Pancakes, Casserole, And Soup!
13. Molly Sanderson Viola
Molly Sanderson is one of our favorite black flowers. It’s the blackest of the black violas with silvery foliage. These dark-hued blooms always look stunning in hanging baskets or containers. The best part? They’re easy to care for and keep coming back.
- USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
- Plant Size: 2 to 4 feet tall.
- Flower Schedule: Early spring to early summer.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 3 to 5 years.
Molly Sanderson violas appear dusted by night. Each tiny flower is a masterpiece of shadow and light!
14. Queen Of Night Tulipa
The queen of the night is one of our favorite tulips. Its dark purple to almost black petals look incredible when planted en masse. You might argue that their petals are dark violet, not black! But, their blooms can appear a dark blackish hue, even on a bright sunny day.
- USDA Zones: 3 to 8.
- Plant Size: 12 to 24 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 3 to 5 years.
Queen of night tulips rise like royalty in the late spring. Their glossy black petals glisten with the morning dew as if crowned by nature.
15. Black Ray Petunia
Black ray petunias are perfect if you’re looking for a truly black flower as a moody garden backdrop. These annuals are easy to grow and look fantastic in pots, flower beds, or garden borders. Their dark, velvety petals are undeniably mesmerizing.
- USDA Zones: 3 to 9 (as an annual).
- Plant Size: 12 to 24 inches.
- Flower Schedule: Spring to fall.
- Growth Cycle: Annual.
Black ray petunias look like they’re pulling the night down to earth, weaving shadows into their velvet blooms.
16. Heuchera – Obsidian
Heuchera obsidian doesn’t have fancy black flowers. However, its near-black foliage adds depth and contrasts like nothing else. It works perfectly as a dark-hued ground cover or in containers where you want to add unique texture. Its glossy and dark leaves make everything around it pop.
- USDA Zones: 4 to 9.
- Plant Size: 12 to 24 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring to early summer.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 7 years.
Obsidian heuchera feels like the dark heart of the garden. It’s a perfect companion for the silvery shimmer of lamb’s ear.
Read More – Feeling Hungry? These Are The 17 Best Plants For Growing An Epic Backyard Pizza Garden!
17. Black Barlow (Aquilegia Vulgaris)
Black Barlow’s double blooms are so deep and dark that they almost shimmer in the sunlight. Try planting it in a wildflower garden for some spectacular contrast. The best part? Growing and reseeding is easy, so you get more blooms each year.
- USDA Zones: 3 to 9.
- Plant Size: 24 to 36 inches tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 7 years.
Black Barlow’s spidery blooms sway in the breeze and remind me of tiny dark stars swirling in the cosmos.
18. Black Clematis
The black clematis is a showstopper if you want a dark-hued climbing plant. Its deep purple-black flowers are perfect for covering trellises or fences and create a mysterious, romantic vibe. You’ll also love how quickly they grow and how little maintenance they need to keep thriving year after year.
- USDA Zones: 4 to 9.
- Plant Size: 6 to 10 feet tall.
- Flower Schedule: Late spring to early summer.
- Growth Cycle: Perennial, 5 to 10 years.
Black clematis happily climbs as high as it can and loves support from a sturdy garden stake, nearby sunflower, or trellis.
Read More – Let’s Go Owl Watching! We’ll Look For These 17+ Majestic Owl Breeds That Might Visit Your Backyard!
Conclusion
We had fun brainstorming these 17 plants with black flowers, foliage, or stems. And we hope you enjoyed reading about them!
What about you?
- Have you ever seen a black flower up close?
- What companion plants would you pair with black flowers to make them pop?
- Would you plant black flowers for a bold, gothic centerpiece? Or do you add them as backdrops?
- Which black flower on this list surprised you the most?
- Which is your favorite black flower overall?
Thanks for reading.
Have a great day!