30 Plants With Black Flowers & Foliage

a shrub with long thin black leaves growing outside

By JONATHAN SWEET / Updated April 25th, 2023
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY / Meets Our Editorial Guidelines

When most of us think of plants and flowers, we think of greenery serving as a backdrop for bright colours and pastel tones.

We rarely contemplate black blossoms or foliage, but the darker-toned members of the plant kingdom can be equally impactful in an outdoor or indoor display.

While black flora is often associated with mourning, grief and loss, it can also symbolise mystique, elegance and intrigue.

It also serves as a magnificent foil for some of the livelier tones in your garden, so the next time you’re planning an arrangement or border, keep these black flowers and foliage options in mind.

“Black foliage can lend a really unfamiliar and exciting look to planting,” shares Colin Skelly, a Horticultural Consultant who specialises in garden design.

“Combined with bright flowers and large leaves it can create a really exotic look.

“I have used dark-leaved Colocasia in a pond surrounded by tree ferns to create a very otherworldly feel.”

1) African Mask

african mask plant with a large heart-shaped leaf, black colouring and white veins, growing outside from a ceramic pot

BOTANICAL NAME: Alocasia × amazonica
HARDINESS RATING: H1A
PLANT TYPE: perennial / houseplant
SUNLIGHT: part shade

Elephant ear plants are striking enough in their own right, but this variety is something else.

The foliage is as similarly oversized as other species in the genus, but its dark colourings, accentuated excellently by the whitish-greenish veining on the leaves, guarantee it’ll be a talking point wherever it’s grown.

2) Black Bamboo

black bamboo with thick canes and thin green leaves acting as a garden hedge

BOTANICAL NAME: Phyllostachys nigra
HARDINESS RATING: H5
PLANT TYPE: bamboo
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

Bamboo already provides excellent screening material, but the black variety of this sturdy grass is an even more attractive option.

You can use it to create privacy in your garden or set it up as a backdrop for brighter colours to really pop in front of.

3) Columbine ‘Black Barlow’

deep purple flowers growing on tall thick stems from a Columbine 'Black Barlow' plant

BOTANICAL NAME: Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Black Barlow’
HARDINESS RATING: H7
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

Often mistaken for a dahlia, ‘Black Barlow’ is actually a columbine that has been specifically bred as a cut flower.

With their double blooms, its blossoms resemble spiky pompoms and the dark plum (bordering on black) of the petals is perfectly offset by the brilliant yellow and green of the stigma and anthers.

4) Black Bat Flower

tacca chantrieri with unique black petals, wiry stamen and large green leaves

BOTANICAL NAME: Tacca chantrieri
HARDINESS RATING: H1B
PLANT TYPE: perennial / houseplant
SUNLIGHT: part shade

This rare orchid earned its name because it apparently resembles a bat in flight, but it looks more like an extra-terrestrial creature if you ask me.

Its black petals play host to a cluster of buds, while an abundance of drooping filaments shoot forth from its stamen.

This plant is as creepy as it is compelling.

5) Black Bearded Iris

a single black bearded iris flower in focus with a dark purple colour

BOTANICAL NAME: Iris ‘Black Dragon’
HARDINESS RATING: H7
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

This bearded lovely does genuinely appear to be truly black.

However, pay special attention to its changing hues when the light catches it just so and you’ll notice it carries undertones of purple and green.

It’s a real showstopper, especially when paired with contrasting white or pastel blooms.

6) Elephant Ear ‘Black Coral’

heart-shaped black leaves from a colocasia esculenta 'black coral' plant with thick stems

BOTANICAL NAME: Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Coral’
HARDINESS RATING: H1B
PLANT TYPE: perennial / houseplant
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

Another variety of elephant ear, ‘Black Coral’ doesn’t have the attention-grabbing variegation of ‘African Mask’, but it does have the same floppy structure and velvety texture to its foliage.

The leaves here are a more uniform dark purple, with the veins picked out in slightly lighter shades, and it will turn even darker the more sunlight it receives.

It’s also slightly hardier making it a little less susceptible to colder conditions.

7) Elderberry ‘Black Beauty’

thin leaves from a black elderberry tree with clusters of tiny white and red flowers

BOTANICAL NAME: Sambucus nigra ‘Black Beauty’
HARDINESS RATING: H6
PLANT TYPE: shrub
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

‘Black Beauty’ is a dark-toned elderberry variety that is a feast for all the senses.

Its black foliage contrasts pleasingly with the delicate white and pink flowers that burst forth each spring, while its lemony aroma will tantalise the nostrils in summer.

By autumn, the tangy black berries it produces complete the effect.

8) Calla Lily ‘Black Forest’

a calla lily with black and green foliage growing outside

BOTANICAL NAME: Zantedeschia ‘Schwarzwalder’
HARDINESS RATING: H4
PLANT TYPE: houseplant / perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

Forget the gateau, the gorgeously chocolatey leaves of the canna lily ‘Black Forest’ is the only sweet treat needed on any horticultural menu.

This tropical stunner is prized just as much for its striking foliage as it is for its blood-red flowers, which fade to burnt orange as the summer wears on.

9) Black Haworthia

waxy leaves from a haworthia coarctata succulent growing in an orange pot mulched with white pebbles

BOTANICAL NAME: Haworthia coarctata
HARDINESS RATING: H2
PLANT TYPE: succulent / houseplant
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

Succulents are famously easy houseplants to care for and Haworthia is no exception – but the chunky, interconnected segments of its foliage certainly are exceptional.

In April or May you can expect tiny florets of white to appear, adding even further intrigue to this fascinating little customer.

10) Black Hollyhock

Alcea rosea 'Blacknight' flower with a purple centre growing on a tall green stem

BOTANICAL NAME: Alcea rosea ‘Blacknight’
HARDINESS RATING: H5
PLANT TYPE: perennial / biennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun

Hollyhock is often favoured for the stature it can bring to the rear of a border, but the variety ‘Blacknight’ is an even more dramatic backdrop.

The black flowers can reach up to 10cm in diameter and unfurl from the base of the plant’s towering spikes upwards, mesmerising gardeners and pollinators alike.

11) Pepper ‘Black Pearl’

capsicum annuum 'black pearl' shrub with dark leaves and big round black berries

BOTANICAL NAME: Capsicum annuum ‘Black Pearl’
HARDINESS RATING: H1C
PLANT TYPE: annual
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
FRUIT SEASON(S): summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun

While most capsicum (pepper) plants are cultivated specifically for their fruit, ‘Black Pearl’ is something of an outlier.

The small pearl-like fruits, which start out black and mature to a ripe red, are technically edible, but are incredibly spicy.¹

Instead, simply marvel at the glossy black foliage.

12) Coleus ‘Black Prince’

black leaves with green edges from Solenostemon 'black prince'

BOTANICAL NAME: Solenostemon ‘Black Prince’
HARDINESS RATING: H1C
PLANT TYPE: houseplant / perennial / sub-shrub
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

Not to be confused with the Echeveria of the same name, this dense, low-growing shrub is characterised by strikingly black leaves, the toothed edges of which are highlighted in lime green.

That contrast is surprising in the natural world and provides year-round interest for any corner of the garden.

13) Black Scallop

shiny black leaves from a black scallop plant growing outside with brown foliage on the floor beneath

BOTANICAL NAME: Ajuga reptans Black Scallop
HARDINESS RATING: H7
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
SUNLIGHT: full shade / full sun / part shade

Sometimes known as Carpet Bugle, black scallop is adept at thriving in conditions where other plants falter, such as in the shade of trees or larger plants.

For that reason, the creeping spread of its glossy black foliage is often favoured as ground cover in areas lacking lustre and life.

As a fully-hardy perennial that can survive in pretty much any level of sunlight, this unfussy plant is ideal for adding low-maintenance darkness to any area of your garden.

14) Black Velvet Petunia

black velvet petunia growing in a small container outside

BOTANICAL NAME: Petunia Black Velvet
HARDINESS RATING: H2
PLANT TYPE: annual
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
SUNLIGHT: full sun

This hybrid species has barely been around for a decade, which may make it more difficult to acquire.

Having said that, its status as the world’s first black Petunia has contributed to its growing popularity in recent years, so you might still be able to enjoy its gothic charms and velvety texture in your garden.²

15) Ninebark ‘Diabolo’

small black leafy shrub ninebark 'diablo' with clusters of tiny white flowers

BOTANICAL NAME: Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’
HARDINESS RATING: H7
PLANT TYPE: shrub
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

This dense shrub is a great option for hedging or screening around the garden, and though its leaves are actually a rich purple in colour, they appear to be black from a distance.

That dark canvas is the ideal counterpoint to the coral-coloured flowers that spring forth profusely during the growing season and the bright red berries which follow later in the year.

16) False Shamrock

tiny pink flowers growing on tall stems from a false shamrock plant

BOTANICAL NAME: Oxalis triangularis
HARDINESS RATING: H3
PLANT TYPE: houseplant / bulb
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
SUNLIGHT: part shade

The trio of triangular leaves which perch atop each stem of the false shamrock give it its moniker.

In the wild, however, that foliage is light green in colour, but breeders have selectively cultivated strains of the plant to produce black leaves with purple highlights.

17) Fringe Flower

small rounded black and dark green leaves from a loropetalum chinense shrub with frilly pink blooms

BOTANICAL NAME: Loropetalum chinense
HARDINESS RATING: H4
PLANT TYPE: shrub
FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter / summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

The spidery tassels or ‘fringes’ of the flower heads which dangle from the Chinese Loropetalum shrub are what give the plant its common name.

While the blossoms are certainly eye-catching enough in their own right, their appeal is only enhanced by the purplish-black foliage behind them.

18) Coneflower ‘Green Wizard’

single coneflower 'green wizard' flower with a black centre and green petals

BOTANICAL NAME: Rudbeckia occidentalis ‘Green Wizard’
HARDINESS RATING: H7
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
SUNLIGHT: full sun

Black-eyed Susan is perhaps the most famous rudbeckia cultivar, but despite its name, the ‘Green Wizard’ takes the black features of its counterpart to a whole other level.

The large, cylinder flowerhead is a deep black in colour, flecked with spots of yellow at its apex, while the green sepals at its base can easily be mistaken for leaves.

19) Hibiscus ‘Midnight Marvel’

large red hibiscus flower from a 'midnight marvel' cultivar with black foliage

BOTANICAL NAME: Hibiscus ‘Midnight Marvel’
HARDINESS RATING: H3
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

The scarlet flowers of this hibiscus cultivar survive for just one day, but the blooming season outlasts that of many others of its genus.

What’s more, each flower can reach up to 22cm in diameter, while the vibrancy of their colourings is accentuated by the black backdrop of the foliage behind them.

20) Black Willow

a black willow shrub with thin green stems and tiny black flower buds

BOTANICAL NAME: Salix gracilistyla ‘Melanostachys’
HARDINESS RATING: H5
PLANT TYPE: shrub
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
SUNLIGHT: full sun

Sometimes known as black pussy willow, this shrub features thick upright stems with eye-catching catkins of the darkest black, topped by a red tip.

Their unusual appearance has made them popular as an ornamental flower at the rear of borders, next to fencing or in cut bouquets.

21) Sunflower ‘Moulin Rouge’

sunflower 'moulin rouge' with a large dark centre and yellow and red petals

BOTANICAL NAME: Helianthus annuus ‘Moulin Rouge’
HARDINESS RATING: H4
PLANT TYPE: annual
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun

Imagine if Baz Lurhmann teamed up with Tim Burton and the pair reworked Vincent Van Gogh’s famous sunflower masterpiece and you might come close to a visual representation of the ‘Moulin Rouge’ cultivar of the genus.

The rusty black at the centre of the flower head softens to a reddish tint at their extremes for a truly unique effect.

22) Black Mondo

thin long black leaves from an ophiopogon planiscapus 'nigrescens' shrub

BOTANICAL NAME: Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
HARDINESS RATING: H5
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

‘Nigrescens’ goes by many names – including ‘Ebony Knight’ and ‘Black Dragon’ – and all of them pertain to the unusual colouring of its leaves.

The foliage is purplish-green in dark or shaded areas, but expose it to full sunlight and watch them turn a profound black.

This perennial is perfect for rock gardens and raised beds.

23) Nemophila ‘Penny Black’

low-growing 'penny black' with green leaves and dark purple and white cup-shaped flowers growing outside

BOTANICAL NAME: Nemophila menziesii ‘Penny Black’
HARDINESS RATING: H5
PLANT TYPE: annual
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade

The dark purple petals of this low-growing annual, which invariably come ringed in fives around their central stamen, look black even from close range, while the white edging at their tips adds to the effect further.

Their trailing habit means they’ll look especially fetching when dangled over the side of a hanging basket.

24) Persian Lily

Persian lily with deep purple flowers growing on tall erect stems

BOTANICAL NAME: Fritillaria persica
HARDINESS RATING: H4
PLANT TYPE: perennial / bulb
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
SUNLIGHT: full sun

The Persian lily is available in a wide array of colours, but the cultivar bearing dark plum (verging on black) blossoms is perhaps one of the most highly prized.

It’s not difficult to see why, either; the cascading bell-shaped flowers dangle serenely from the spikes of the plant, bringing plenty of style and shock to their surroundings.

25) Tulip ‘Queen Of Night’

dark purple flowers from a tulip 'queen of night' plant growing on tall green stems

BOTANICAL NAME: Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’
HARDINESS RATING: H6
PLANT TYPE: bulb / perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
SUNLIGHT: full sun

Although not a true black (think more maroon than obsidian), the ‘queen of night’ tulip is the darkest variety of this Dutch symbol there is.

The single flower heads sit proudly atop the towering stems, while the lush greenery of the foliage and the dainty pale yellow of the anthers are pleasing contrasts to the ruby richness of the flowers.

26) ZZ Plant ‘Raven’

A zz plant 'raven' plant with green and black foliage growing in front of a patterned wall

BOTANICAL NAME: Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven
HARDINESS RATING: H1B
PLANT TYPE: houseplant / perennial
SUNLIGHT: full shade / part shade

‘Raven’ is the only black variety of Zamioculcas zamiifolia in existence.

The leaves may begin life green, but they’ll mature to a dusty black over time, taking on a shiny wax to their surface that makes the plant quite the sight to behold.

27) Rex Begonia

rex begonia with red and greyish-black leaves

BOTANICAL NAME: Begonia rex
HARDINESS RATING: H1B
PLANT TYPE: houseplant / perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter
SUNLIGHT: part shade

The broad, heart-shaped leaves of rex begonia come in a wide variety of different colours, including black, pink and black or the quite incredible white and black variegated appearance above.

Low-maintenance but high on impact, they’re the ideal addition to your home – inside or out.

28) Primrose ‘Silver Lace Black’

black and white flowers with yellow centres from a primula 'silver lace black' plant

BOTANICAL NAME: Primula ‘Silver Lace Black’
HARDINESS RATING: H6
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
SUNLIGHT: part shade

Primroses are often regarded as the quintessential British cottage garden flower, but the ‘silver lace black’ cultivar shakes things up a little bit.

Their dainty, daisy-like petals are a brownish-black, fringed at the edges in white, while the bright yellow stamen sets off the effect with no little panache.

29) Dahlia ‘Yellow Hammer’

Dahlia 'Yellow Hammer' shrub with bright yellow flowers and black foliage

BOTANICAL NAME: Dahlia ‘Yellow Hammer’
HARDINESS RATING: H3
PLANT TYPE: perennial
FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
SUNLIGHT: full sun

Dwarf dahlias like ‘Yellow Hammer’ are compact creatures, meaning they’re a great choice for mixed borders and raised beds.

The bright yellow blossoms of this cultivar are attractive enough to begin with, but the stark contrast of the bronzed black foliage really takes things up another level.

30) Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’

close-up of the rosette-forming black fleshy leaves from an aeonium 'zwartkop' plant

BOTANICAL NAME: Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’
HARDINESS RATING: H1C
PLANT TYPE: succulent / houseplant
FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
SUNLIGHT: full sun

These succulents can thrive outdoors as well as inside the home, as long as you live in a part of the country that receives enough sunshine.

If they fail to get their quota of sun, the fleshy foliage will resemble a reddish-purple shade, but with enough UV, the leaves are fully black.

References

1
Capsicum annuum “Black Pearl.” (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=260123
2
Clarke, T. (2010, November 25). World’s first black flower created. Channel 4 News. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.channel4.com/news/worlds-first-black-flower-blooms