The black rose and the black tulip have always been a gardener’s dream. We haven’t reached that dream yet, but we are getting closer. The flowers we call black are actually very, very dark red or purple flowers, so dark that they appear black to us.
If you’re like me and want some black flowers in your garden, here are some suggestions:
1) Black violas and pansies (Viola)
Black violas are among the few truly black flowers. They flower profusely and are easy to grow and maintain. they are edible
2) Black Columbine (Aquilegia)
They are not really black, however they are very ornamental and will enhance the basic beauty of any garden. They are hardy and prolific. However, they prefer shady and humid places.
3) Black lilies (Hemerocallis)
The darkest is ‘Black Emanuelle’, although daylilies are never really black, just dark, dark brown. Daylilies are also very easy flowers, all they need is plenty of sun, but do shade black daylilies from midday sun, to prevent sunlight from fading the color.
4) Black hollyhock (Alcea Rosea var. nigra)
This is a magnificent and useful plant. It can be eaten and used to dye food and yarn.
5) Black scabiosa, mourning bride (Scabiosa atropurpurea)
The flowers have a lovely scent and attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to the garden. Cut, these flowers will last long in a vase.
6) Black Tulips (Tulipa)
‘Queen of the night’ is my favorite. It is a spectacular tulip, dark garnet in color, almost black. Tulips are a bit tricky to grow, but not difficult.
7) Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus)
Chocolate Cosmos is aptly named as it sports the color of dark chocolate and gives off a sweet chocolate aroma. This flower, like the Black Scabiosa, will attract bees and butterflies to your garden.
8) Blackball Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
This flower is not really black either, but I really like cornflowers. They like poor soil (they make fewer flowers in rich soil) and the flowers are edible, last long in a vase, and can be dried to preserve their beauty for winter interior decoration.
9) Black Iris (Iris)
Black Iris is another really beautiful flower. It needs its soil to be constantly moist, so it is good to plant lilies in a water garden or next to a pond.
10) Black peony poppy (Papaver somniferum var. paeoniflorum)
Planting this luxurious flower is a very easy way to provide a bold, eye-catching splash of very dark purple to your garden.
11) Black Roses (Pink)
No black roses, just very deep purples and reds. If you like roses, like I do, you might consider ‘Deep Secret’, ‘Black Baccara’ or ‘Midnight Blue’, depending on whether you want a purple or red rose.
Most people recommend using yellow-green foliage to bring out the magnificent darkness of these beauties, but I personally prefer yellow, orange and pink flowers, small areas of bright light as a backdrop. In my mind, dark flowers alone with different shades of green are a bit boring.
