15 Types of Black Flowers

Dark, mysterious, and unique, black flowers can add a touch of drama to any garden or bouquet.

Although most “black” flowers are actually dark purple, maroon, burgundy, blue, or red (unless they’re dyed), these interesting blooms symbolize mourning, rebirth, lust, death, vanity, rejuvenation, tragedy, and farewell.

Maybe you want to grow black blooms to add depth to your garden or send flowers just because. With Halloween coming up you might want to find some dark and mysterious blooms to help decorate your front yard or rooms in your home for a Halloween bash. Read on for some of our favorite black flowers for Halloween or any time of year.

Black Roses

• Black roses symbolized strength and power in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome and were used as a symbol of life and fertility by Ancient Persians, but they have a variety of meanings across cultures today:
• Spanish people associate black roses with death and as a symbol of lost love
• South Africans connect them with the bloodstains of the war of the Boers
• In Korea, Japan, China, and other Asian countries, they represent mourning and death
• In India, black roses symbolize achievement, completion of a project, and good luck

Most commonly, black roses mean death, mourning, or bad luck, but they can also mean tragedy, regret, and hatred, so be careful about gifting these blooms.

Black Flowers for Your Garden

Have you ever wondered: “How do flowers get their colors?” Flower colors can be influenced by genetics, pH levels, evolution, and pigments. Additionally, black flowers (and other unique colors) are often created by dying white flowers.

Want to grow black flowers yourself? There are a wide variety of black plants and flowers to choose from. Remember to keep in mind your USDA growing zone and how much sun each area of your garden gets while choosing which flowers to plant.

Dahlia ‘Karma Choc’

Possibly the darkest dahlia you can find, the ‘Karma Choc’ Dahlia has a unique ombre effect with dark red velvet petals that fade into a nearly black center. Not only does this dahlia have an excellent vase life, but trimming it encourages additional growth.
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
Sunlight: Full sun
Growing Zone: 8-11

Western Coneflower ‘Green Wizard’

Growing to about 5 feet tall, the ‘Green Wizard’ Western Coneflower is perfect for the back row of a flower bed. It features a dark purple to black cone on green bracts. Unlike other Western Coneflowers, the ‘Green Wizard’ is not drought tolerant and needs plenty of water.
Soil: Medium moisture, well-drained
Sunlight: Full sun
Growing Zone: 3-9

Rose ‘Black Baccara’

The darkest (naturally colored) “black” rose on the market today is the ‘Black Baccara’ Rose, which features dark maroon petals. The velvety petals look even more spectacular on their semi-glossy dark green leaves. This hybrid tea rose grows up to 6 feet tall.
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
Sunlight: Full sun
Growing Zone: 5-9

Snapdragon ‘Black Prince’

The ‘Black Prince’ Snapdragon’s deep crimson blooms provide a stunning contrast against more colorful flowers. This snapdragon variety was first introduced more than a century ago, qualifying this bloom as an heirloom plant.
Soil: Mildly acidic
Sunlight: Full sun
Growing Zone: 7-10

Iris ‘Dark Vader’

The ‘Dark Vader’ Iris has deep violet flowers with yellow throats and a dark blue beard. Being a dwarf iris, ‘Dark Vader’ maxes out at 16” tall, making it perfect for containers. It blooms in mid to late summer.
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zone: 2-9

Cranesbill Geranium ‘Black Widow’

Ranging in hue from dark maroon to deep purple, the ‘Black Widow’ Cranesbill Geranium is also known as Dusky cranesbill, ‘Mourning Widow,’ and ‘Black Widow.’ Although not invasive, ‘Black Widow’ does spread easily and may take up more of your garden than you intended, so keep that in mind as you plant it.
Soil: Moist, lightly acidic soil
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zone: 4-9

Pansy ‘Black Beauty’

The dark purple blooms of the Pansy ‘Black Beauty’ pair well with bright flowers and are surprisingly cold tolerant. These pansies thrive equally well in beds and containers, making them very versatile.
Soil: Moist but well-drained
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zone: 5-9

Persian Lily

The deep purple Persian Lily has been a green thumb favorite since the late 1500s and features glossy blue-green foliage, which adds an additional layer of interest to your garden. The bell-shaped blooms hang in groups of more than 20 on tall spikes.
Soil: Moist, well-draining
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zone: 5-8

Penny Black

Also known as Nemophila Baby Black Eyes, penny blacks are extra eye-catching since their deep violet to black petals are edged with white. Only reaching 4” tall and slightly trailing, penny blacks work extremely well in window boxes, baskets, and containers or as ground cover or edging.
Soil: Well-drained
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zone: 3-9

Viola ‘Blackout’

The dark petals of the Viola ‘Blackout’ are offset by striking bright yellow centers for a unique look that will bloom from spring through autumn. Maxing out at 10” tall, these flowers are excellent for window boxes and other small containers.
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained
Sunlight: Partial shade
Growing Zone: 6-10

Petunia ‘Black Velvet’

Perfect if you like a modern, minimalist look, ‘Black Velvet’ petunias sport velvety petals in a trumpet shape that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The blooms are offset by light green foliage. Protect these delicate flowers from wind, heavy rain, and cold temperatures.
Soil: Well-draining soil with slightly acidic pH level
Sunlight: Bright but indirect light
Growing Zone: 9-11

Columbine ‘Black Barlow’

The dark-plum purple of the ‘Black Barlow’ Columbine really sets off its upward facing, spurless, double blooms which resemble starry pompoms. This columbine attracts butterflies and hummingbirds without appealing to rabbits or deer.
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zone: 3-9

Hyacinth ‘Dark Dimension’

One of the darkest purple hyacinths available, the Hyacinth ‘Dark Dimension’ features dark purple-blue star-shaped flowers. Each thick stalk of this flower sports 10-20 buds, adding lots of “black” to your garden.
Soil: Rich, well-drained soil
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zone: 4-8

Bearded Iris ‘Before the Storm’

With its slight fragrance and moderately sized blooms with extremely flaring falls, the stunning Before the Storm’ Bearded Iris is one of the darkest flowers you can find. This dramatic bloom is drought-tolerant as well as deer- and rabbit-resistant.
Soil: Humus-rich, medium moisture, well-drained
Sunlight: Full sun
Growing Zone: 3-9

Black Bat Flower

Although it’s somewhat difficult to grow, the black bat flower is well worth the effort thanks to its resemblance to its namesake. Also known as cat’s whiskers or tiger beard, the black bat flower is technically a dark maroon or purple.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained
Sunlight: Partial sun to dappled shade
Growing Zone: 9b to 11

Black Flowers in Bouquets

Thanks to the stunning contrast, black flowers generally pair best with light colors, such as cream, white, silver, lime green, soft pink, lavender, and pale yellow. We also love orange and black flower combinations for Halloween and the always-classic red and black combo.

If you love sending bouquets in every color for special occasions, you can save money with the flower subscriptions offered by The Bouqs Co. Sign up for deliveries as often as weekly or as infrequently as every other month, get free shipping on every order, save up to 30% on each purchase, and get access to our exclusive curated collection of subscribers-only Bouqs. For more color options, check out our post on green flowers.

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