18 Most Popular Types of Black Flowers

Black is the darkest shade on the spectrum, symbolizing power, mystery, and even the macabre. True ‘black’ flowers are exceptionally rare, as most are deep purples or reds that our eyes perceive as black. Yet their dramatic impact has made them a hallmark of the ‘Goth Gardens’ trend that ranked among the 11 Top Gardening Trends of 2024. These inky-hued blooms typically flower from spring into summer, offering a striking contrast in beds, borders, and container plantings.

The rarity of black flowers only increases their appeal. Queen of Night tulips and Black Baccara roses are favorites among gardeners, thanks to the dramatic flair they bring to mixed borders. At the same time, gift-givers love those deep black blooms for creating attractive arrangements. Event planners and couples seeking unconventional, moody palettes routinely request black calla lilies. Florists favor the Black Baccara Rose not just for its velvety near-black petals but for its long vase life, which is around 12–14 days.

List

USDA ZoneAll34567891011

SunlightAllFull sunPartial shadeFull sun to partial shade

Watering NeedAllLowModerateHigh

Used InAllWeddingFunerals & MemorialsReligious & Cultural EventsHome & Garden Decor

Fragrance TypeAllFloralSweetNeutral

Fragrance StrengthAllMildStrongNone

Plant TypeAllAnnualBiennialPerennial

SizeAllSmall (< 2 in)Medium (2 to 4 in)Large (> 4 in)

Blooming SeasonAllWinterSpringSummerFall

Toxicity to PetsAllNon-toxicModerateHigh

Name	Scientific Name	Appearance	USDA Zone	Sunlight	Watering Need	Used In	Fragrance Type	Fragrance Strength	Plant Type	Size	Blooming Season	Maintenance Cost	Toxicity to Pets
Queen of Night Tulip* Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’ Spring Perennial Medium Moderate	Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’	Deep maroon tulip often perceived as black Neutral None	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Full sun	Low	Weddings, Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Perennial	Medium	Spring	Moderate	Moderate
Black Baccara Rose* Rosa ‘Black Baccara’ Summer Perennial Large High	Rosa ‘Black Baccara’	Velvety dark red rose with near-black appearance Neutral Mild	6, 7, 8, 9, 10	Full sun	Moderate	Weddings, Funerals & Memorials	Neutral	Mild	Perennial	Large	Summer	High	High
Arabian Night Dahlia* Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’ Summer Perennial Large Moderate	Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’	Large, double blooms with deep burgundy-black petals Neutral None	8, 9, 10, 11	Full sun	Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Perennial	Large	Summer	Moderate	Moderate
Black Velvet Petunia* Petunia hybrida ‘Black Velvet’ Summer Annual Medium Low	Petunia hybrida ‘Black Velvet’	Velvety black, trumpet-shaped flowers Neutral None	9, 10, 11	Full sun	Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Annual	Medium	Summer	Low	Moderate
Black Delight Pansy* Viola × wittrockiana ‘Black Delight’ Spring Annual Small Low	Viola × wittrockiana ‘Black Delight’	Velvety near-black blooms Neutral None	6, 7, 8, 9, 10	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Annual	Small	Spring	Low	Non-toxic
Chocolate Cosmos* Cosmos atrosanguineus Summer Perennial Small Low	Cosmos atrosanguineus	Dark maroon flowers that appear black in sun Sweet Mild	7, 8, 9, 10	Full sun	Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Sweet	Mild	Perennial	Small	Summer	Low	Non-toxic
Black Knight Scabiosa* Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’ Summer to Fall Annual Small Low	Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’	Dark, burgundy button-like flowers with a pincushion texture Floral Mild	3, 4, 5, 6, 7	Full sun to partial shade	Low	Weddings, Home & Garden Decor	Floral	Mild	Annual	Small	Summer to Fall	Low	Non-toxic
Black Panther Tree Peony* Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Black Panther’ Spring Perennial Large Moderate	Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Black Panther’	Velvety double flowers in rich black-purple Floral Mild	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Weddings, Funerals & Memorials	Floral	Mild	Perennial	Large	Spring	Moderate	High
Crazytunia Black Mamba Petunia* Petunia ‘Crazytunia Black Mamba’ Spring to Fall Annual Medium Moderate	Petunia ‘Crazytunia Black Mamba’	Suede-like, jet-black compact blooms Neutral None	10, 11	Full sun	Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Annual	Medium	Spring to Fall	Moderate	Non-toxic
Black Barlow Columbine* Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Black Barlow’ Spring Perennial Medium Low	Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Black Barlow’	Deep black-purple, star-shaped double blooms Neutral None	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Perennial	Medium	Spring	Low	Moderate
Black Star Calla Lily* Zantedeschia ‘Black Star’ Late spring to summer Perennial Medium Moderate	Zantedeschia ‘Black Star’	Sleek, trumpet-shaped dark purple to black blooms Neutral Mild	8, 9, 10	Full sun to partial shad	Moderate	Weddings, Funerals & Memorials	Neutral	Mild	Perennial	Medium	Late spring to summer	Moderate	High
Landini Lily* Lilium ‘Landini’ Summer Perennial Large Moderate	Lilium ‘Landini’	Deep burgundy-black trumpet-shaped blooms Neutral None	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	Full sun	Moderate	Weddings, Funerals & Memorials	Neutral	None	Perennial	Large	Summer	Moderate	High
Black Iris Iris chrysographes Spring Perennial Medium Low	Iris chrysographes	Almost-black ruffled flowers with regal appearance Neutral Mild	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	Full sun to partial shade	Low	Religious & Cultural Events, Funerals & Memorials	Neutral	Mild	Perennial	Medium	Spring	Low	Moderate
Nigra Hollyhock* Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’ Summer Biennial (rarely short-lived perennials) Large Moderate	Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’	Deep maroon-black blooms with a satiny sheen Neutral None	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	Full sun	Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Biennial (rarely short-lived perennials)	Large	Summer	Moderate	Moderate
Black Widow Geranium* Geranium phaeum ‘Black Widow’ Spring to Early Summer Perennial Small Low	Geranium phaeum ‘Black Widow’	Nodding, dark maroon-black compact flowers Floral Mild	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Partial shade	Low to Moderate	Home & Garden Decor	Floral	Mild	Perennial	Small	Spring to Early Summer	Low	High
Vampire Orchid* Dracula vampira Spring to Fall Perennial Medium High	Dracula vampira	Bat-shaped dark flowers with trailing whiskers Sweet Mild	10, 11	Full shade	High	Home & Garden Decor	Sweet	Mild	Perennial	Medium	Spring to Fall	High	Non-toxic
Black Bat Flower Tacca chantrieri Summer to Fall Perennial Large High	Tacca chantrieri	Large, bat-shaped, dark maroon to black flowers with long, trailing filaments Neutral None	9, 10, 11	Partial shade	High	Home & Garden Decor	Neutral	None	Perennial	Large	Summer to Fall	High	Non-toxic

Whether we are planning a spring wedding, designing a dramatic garden border, or hunting for a truly standout gift, black flowers add both drama and elegance to any setting.