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If you hyper-obsess about things (especially gardening) as I do, you may soon start looking for that near-black cosmos or rose you saw and plotting how to create a bit of the dark side in your own garden. Grab your cloak and a favorite autumn treat, and let’s take a walk down to the dark side—of flowers.

Demystifying Black Flowers

While Mother Nature hasn’t created any truly black flowers—at least that we’ve found so far—some blooms come close, in shades of deep purple and darkest reds. Breeders have been trying to bring these blooms closer and closer to true black; some are virtually indistinguishable from black.

Dark flowers are rare and often capture our attention because they’re different. A white rose is beautiful but not uncommon. Yellow flowers are a mainstay of our gardens. Our brain is satisfied that all is well when it registers green leaves and red, white, yellow, and pink flowers. The abnormal, the strange, and the dark catch the eye and make us pause. Perhaps it’s a throwback to days when our survival depended on noticing something out of the ordinary. Or, maybe there’s a touch of the supernatural and mysterious.

The Language of Darkness: Black Flowers in the Garden

Deep, rich, dark colors symbolize mystery, intrigue, and the macabre. From fiction to real life, we associate black, dark red, dark purple, and charcoal gray with night and all of its terrors. Vampires are not depicted wearing chartreuse cloaks; and funeral and mourning attire is traditionally black or dark and somber-hued.

Deep, rich colors also signify elegance and sophistication—little black cocktail dresses or black-tie events. Many of us wouldn’t paint our bedrooms black or blood red; it’s the wrong vibe. However, a little dark aesthetic and mystery in the garden can be something that provides contrast or a fun design element. A sinister snapdragon? Perfect.

12 of Our Favorite Black Flowers

Here are a few black flowering plants to get your imagination going. When planning the garden, choose a few dark flowers with different bloom times. Black tulips won’t be around to create a dark and stormy night effect in September.

Black Hollyhocks

‘Blacknight’ hollyhocks are very cold-hardy, making these blackish-wine-colored flower spikes accessible even for cold-weather gardeners. A taller plant, hollyhocks can be used near a fence or as a pocket of height to create vertical and visual separation. Plant them near a turn in the path to hide what lies beyond. Learn all about growing hollyhocks.

• 5-6 feet tall
• Full sun
• Hardy biennial in USDA Zones 3-9
• Blooms early to late summer

Black Pansies

‘H�������Ƿɱ��� II’ pansies are great low-growing bedding plants and garden flowers—and what list of superbly foreboding blooms would be complete without one? Learn more about growing pansies.

• 6-8 inches tall
• Full or partial sun
• Grow as an annual
• Blooms in summer into fall

Queen of Night Tulips

Start your garden off in spring with these near-black tulips. Their velvety dark maroon blooms bring a stunning focus to otherwise often pastel spring colors. Check out our complete Tulip Flower Guide.

• 20-24 inches
• Full sun to partial shade
• Grow as an annual (plant in fall)
• Blooms in spring

Black Calla Lillies

Calla lilies are gorgeous, and ‘Black Star’ is even better. Its funnel-shaped blooms, with deep burgundy and plum colors, make a perfect accent in a pot or planter in early summer.

• 18-24 inches tall
• Full sun to partial shade
• USDA Zones 8-10 (lift bulbs for winter in colder climates)
• Blooms in early summer

Bat Flowers

Of course, nothing says “spooky Halloween” like bats, and the black bat flower (Tacca chantrieri) is unique. With two wing-like bracts above the purple blooms and a bat-like face (some imagination required), it’s not something your neighbors will have in their flower garden. Plant them in pots or in the shade.

• Up to 36 inches tall
• Dappled shade
• USDA Zones 10-11 (grow in pots and bring indoors in colder climates)
• Blooms late summer into fall

Black Cosmos

We love cosmos for their seemingly endless bright blooms. They can also make great and economical space fillers, spreading out and providing summer-long color. The chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is a cousin of the regular cosmos we grow, with dark maroon blooms. It’s named for the chocolatey scent of the flowers. Several varieties are available, including ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Pinot Noir’.

• 1-3 feet tall
• Full sun
• USDA Zones 9-11 (grow as an annual in colder climates)
• Blooms summer into autumn

Black Petunias

Petunias have been the star of the black flower show lately, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a blacker bloom. The variety fittingly named ‘Black Cat’ is just right for adding a touch of “Halloween spooky” to your flower beds.

• 12 inches tall
• Full sun to partial shade
• Grow as an annual
• Blooms in summer

Dark Dahlias

I grow a lot of dahlias, and the darker colors of eggplant, mulberry, and red wine always stand out. ‘Black Satin’ is a gorgeous deep red dahlia with 4- to 5-inch-wide blooms. ‘Arabian Night’ is a miniature perfect for growing in pots. Learn more about growing dahlias.

• 2-3 feet tall
• Full sun
• USDA Zones 9-10 (lift tubers for winter in colder climates)
• Blooms summer until frost

Black Roses

‘Black Baccara’ is a darkest red hybrid tea rose known for its color and long vase life. ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Black Pearl’ are other good choices, and they will continue pushing dark blooms for weeks. See our Complete Guide to Growing Roses!

• 3-4 feet tall
• Full sun
• USDA Zones 6-10
• Continually reblooming

Black Snapdragons

With deep, purply-red blooms, ‘Black Prince’ is a truly dark snapdragon. It’s a cut-and-come-again dark flower that will keep blooming into fall. It works well as a mid-height flower in beds or large urns. They are also one of our favorite flowers to grow from seed.

• 18 inches high
• Full sun or part shade
• Grow as an annual
• Blooms summer into mid-fall

Hydrangeas

The ‘Eclipse’ hydrangea is the first dark-leaved mophead variety, and the foliage color is spectacular. Blooms of dark pink add contrast and mystery to this gorgeous plant, which can anchor your dark gardening efforts for years.

• 3-5 feet tall
• Morning sun, afternoon shade
• USDA Zones 5-9
• Blooms in summer

Dark Ornamental Grasses

Adding foreboding, dark ornamental grass is where we look like garden design pros. ‘Blackhawks’ is a big bluestem cultivar. A native prairie grass, this new variety emerges dark green and then turns purple, which deepens as fall approaches. Use this tall grass to add a landscaped look and long-lasting dark color to your garden. It’s even deer-resistant.

Don’t forget the 2022 Perennial Plant Association’s Plant of the Year, a little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) called ‘Blue Paradise’. Its deep purple coloring and 4-foot height make it great as a backdrop, bed anchor, or even the tall element in a large urn.

• 4-5 feet tall
• Full or partial sun
• USDA Zones 3-9
• Peak color summer into autumn

Quick Tips on Creating a Gothic Garden

When creating a goth garden, whether in a couple of planters on the deck or an entire outdoor garden room, embrace the idea of moody and mysterious. Use “old” materials like iron, stone, and aged wood when possible. Even the mulch can be darker. Choose plants with varying heights and add wispy foliage that moves in the breeze. Plants with dark leaves are an eye-catcher all season.

Equally important: Select for contrast. A garden with only one shade of foliage and flowers won’t pop; you’ll miss the details that make this aesthetic fun. Embrace the darkness not only with black flowers but also with startling complements—bright glowing whites make a splash of brilliance that only emphasizes the darkness around it. Go for hauntingly beautiful, not boringly drab.

What is your favorite black flower? Did we forget any? Tell us in the comments below!