Are There Any Naturally Black Flowers?

Last Updated on February 2, 2023 by Derek

Normally, black flowers do not exist in the floral world; most black-looking flowers are dark shades of red and purple. These dark blooms represent mystery, elegance, goodbye, and farewell. Black flowers possess negative vibes in a romantic relationship, so they are excellent for breakups. 

Is There a Black Flower, or Is It Fantasy?

A black flower is more of a fantasy than reality. The only black flower is the Halfeti Rose in Halfeti, Southern Turkey. The soil in the region has unique conditions that allow the blooms to turn black. Its density is high, and it is rich in anthocyanins, a water-soluble pigment that can react with soil pH. 

Halfeti Roses Care Sheet
Soil Type	Well-draining, fertile soil
Sunshine Needed	Full sun to partial shade
Growing Zones (U.S.A.)	5-9
Soil pH	6.0-7.0
Water Requirements	Regular watering

The pigment is responsible for the color of raspberries and blackberries. The naturally black rose is rare because reproduction does not occur because there is no pollination even after its formation. The flower is too dull to attract pollinators. 

10 beautiful black flowers

Creating Black Flowers Artificially 

To satisfy the craving for black flowers, you can create them at home. You need a container, red flowers (red rose bush), food coloring, and water. Once you have all the requirements, follow the following steps. 

• Place the rose bush in a partial shade to protect it from direct sunlight for a whole day
• Fill a container with five cups of water and dissolve a considerable spoonful of black food color
• Use the solution to water your flowering plant for two weeks and repeat as many times as you need to
• After one month, the flowers will start turning black, and the shade will appear natural. Let the plant for the blooms turn completely black for another month before transferring them to your typical garden. 

The Most Common Naturally Black Flowers

• Black is Black Iris (Iris chrysographes)
• Odessa Calla Lily (Zantedeschia Odessa)
• Lionheart Tango Lily (Ophiopogon Nigrescens)
• Green wizard coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
• Petunia “Black Cat”

When you think of flowers, only bright colors like pink, yellow, orange, etc., are likely to pop into your mind. Still, though they are rare, there are several types of flowers with black shades. The following are some of them.

Black is Black Iris (Iris chrysographes)

It is an herbaceous perennial and a type of bearded iris. It bears about 9 to 12 blooms per stem, and each blossom has three standing and three drooping petals. The plant can start flowering within its first growing year if you plant it in spring. Growing it as a bare-root plant may not display robust blooms until the second year.

• A mature plant can reach 12 to 40 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide 
• It performs best in average, well-draining soil; sand or gravel is ideal. You can improve heavy soil by adding some compost or gypsum to lighten it and boost drainage
• It is native to southern China and Burma
• It thrives best in zones 4 to 9
• It requires full sun exposure to bloom in spring
• It is poisonous to cats and dogs

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Black is Black Iris	Iris chrysographes	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun	3-9

Odessa Calla Lily (Zantedeschia Odessa)

Odessa calla lily is a dramatic-looking plant with stunning dark, almost black trumpet-like blooms. Long dark green, white-spotted leaves surround each flower. The flower rises on the stem and grows about 20 to 24 inches long, and lasts for weeks from summer to fall. 

• A mature plant can be about 30 to 60 cm tall and wide
• It requires low maintenance with average to high water needs
• It does best in moist, well-drained clay or loam soil with a neutral, alkaline, or acidic pH
• It is tolerant to clay and wet soil, deer, and rabbits
• It is toxic to horses, cats, and dogs and to causes discomfort to humans if ingested, and the sap causes irritation on the skin
• It is native to South Africa

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Odessa Calla Lily	Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Odessa’	5.5 – 7.0	Moist, well-draining	Partial to full shade	8-11

Infographic – Do black flowers exist naturally?

Lionheart Tango Lily (Ophiopogon Nigrescens)

The flowers of lionheart tango lily have black petals and bright yellow tips to enhance their beauty. After their establishment, they multiply fast and can bloom for years once they start. The plant flaunts long, lance-shaped leaves, spreading up to about 25 to 30 cm. 

• They prefer well-drained clay, loamy, or sandy soils with acidic pH. They can also survive in heavier soils
• They need moderate water; water regularly but avoid overwatering
• They are best in zones 3 to 9
• They bloom best in full sun or partial shade
• Consider mulching to protect the plant in winter but remove the mulch once spring starts
• Leave the leaves until they dry and remove them in the fall. They act as nourishment to the plant for better blooms in the next season

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Lionheart Tango Lily	Hemerocallis ‘Lionheart Tango’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	3-9

Green wizard coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)

It is an upright perennial with green sepals and tall flower stems. It is native to the streambanks, mountain meadows and seeps at about 4000 to 9000 feet elevation. These conditions are common in the U.S, ranging from Washington to Montana south, California, Utah, to Wyoming. 

• It performs best in USDA zones 3 to 9
• A mature plant is 4 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
• It bears a black round cone with green sepals surrounding it at the base. The flower can be 3 to 5 inches
• It has ovate green leaves 
• It flourishes in moist, well-drained soil that is rich in humus
• It needs full sun or partial shade to bloom in late summer

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Green Wizard Coneflower	Echinacea ‘Green Wizard’	6.0 – 7.5	Well-draining	Full sun	3-9

Petunia “Black Cat”

It is a striking annual flower gaining popularity from its ease of growth and unique shade of blossoms. Black petunia seeds are tiny, almost dust size, and it is not easy to grow these plants from the seeds. They are best grown from cuttings. There are several varieties of black petunias, but most gardeners prefer black magic petunias. 

• They tolerate a wide range of soil types as long it is slightly acidic (5.2 to 5.8 pH)
• They are resistant to drought
• They appreciate full sun to partial shade. At least 6 hours of sun exposure a day will produce the best blooms

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Petunia “Black Cat”	Petunia x hybrida ‘Black Cat’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun	All zones

Black Flowers Names with Pictures

The world is still adorned with lovely black flowers despite their scarcity. The following are some black flowers with names and pictures.

Bat Orchid

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Bat Orchid	Tacca chantrieri	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining, humus-rich	Partial shade to full shade	N/A (Tropical plant, typically grown in greenhouses or indoors)

‘Blacknight’ Hollyhock

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
‘Blacknight’ Hollyhock	Alcea rosea ‘Blacknight’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining, rich in organic matter	Full sun	3-8

Common Name	Scientific Name	Facts
Bat orchid	Tacca chantrieri	It is a tropical flowering plant native to Southeast Asia. It produces 30 cm-across black blooms from summer through fall.
Black Charm’ Asiatic Lily	Lilium hybrid	It is native to Asia. It bears black blooms, including the stamens and the filaments. The trumpet-shaped blossoms appear in spring and summer.
‘Blacknight’ Hollyhock	Alcea rosea	It is a bushy perennial that flaunts masses of funnel-shaped blooms with bright centers. The blossoms appear from early to late summer.
Penny Black’ Nemophila	Nemophila menziesii	It is commonly known as the black and white flower due to its black center and contrasting white edgings. The solitary saucer-shaped flowers appear on long stems in summer.
Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’	Viola hybrida plants	It is an evergreen perennial with oval or heart-shaped dark green leaves native to Northern Ireland. It displays black blooms with a tiny yellow center/eye from spring to autumn.

Black Flowers Meaning

Due to their scarcity and almost non-existence, black flowers symbolize mystery and uniqueness. Black blooms generally represent elegance, power, farewell, and goodbye. They portray a negative vibe in a romantic relationship, making them perfect for a breakup. 

A black rose mainly symbolizes death, tragedy, or mourning. A bouquet of black and white roses is an ideal display in memorial services and funerals. They help express grief or a final farewell to a loved one. 

Black Flowers to Plant in Your Garden

A mixture of black blooms among the other flowers would give your garden a gorgeous look. Consider their form and texture before settling for the black flower variety to grow in your garden. Consider also the plant’s growing requirements and the conditions in your garden. So, if you want to produce black blooms, here are some types to help you start. 

• Blacknight (Alcea rosea)
• Silver lace black (Primula ‘Silver Lace Black’)
• Sophistica Blackberry Petunia (Petunia x hybrida)
• Nigra Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
• Calla lily (Zantedeschia Black Star)
• Sweetunia Black Satin (‘Dueswebsa’PBR)

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is the Rarest Black Flower?

The black bat flower is the rarest and most unique black flower globally. It gets its name from its close resemblance to a bat, which is 30 cm in diameter. It is native to Southeast Asia and most common in Thailand, southern China, and Malaysia. 

Are There Black Petunias?

The Black Velvet Petunia is the most common petunia with black blooms. There are more black petunia varieties, but they are rare due to their inability to grow from seeds. The black magic petunia is the most desired by gardeners. The trailing or wave black petunia types are the most common commercially. 

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Black Velvet Petunia	Petunia x hybrida ‘Black Velvet’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun	All zones

What Are Black Tulips?

A black tulip is a hybrid of tulip that is rare. It is hard to find a truly black tulip since many have more eggplant shade than black. They are native to Bovenkarspel, the Netherlands, where a Dutch flower grower grew the first true black tulip. 

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Black Tulip	Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	3-8

Are Black Tulips Rare?

Black tulips are rare but not nonexistent. There are cultivars of these flowers that can grow ideally in a typical garden with favorable conditions. 

What Are Black Magic Roses?

The black magic rose is a popular rose variety that grows 5 to 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It is a continuous bloomer, meaning you need to trim the old blooms to allow new ones to grow. It produces deep red velvet petals that distinguish it from other rose varieties. 

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Black Magic Roses	Rosa ‘Black Baccara’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining, rich in organic matter	Full sun	5-9

Other resources relating to black flowers

41 Black Flowers and Plants | HGTV

(PDF) Black Flower Coloration in Wild Lisianthius nigrescens

Black-eyed Susan Vine, Thunbergia alata