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Gardens are full of all sorts of beautiful colors, from sunny yellows to deep reds, corally oranges, to dazzling blues and bright yellows. There is one color that rarely appears in most of our gardens, and that color is black. Black flowers are becoming increasingly popular, adding drama to borders and producing strikingly stunning blooms year after year.

While there are many different black flowers, you may decide that perennial black flowers are a better choice for your garden. Black perennials are an excellent choice if you want a black flower that comes back year after year.

So, whether you’re here because you are currently redesigning your garden, or you simply want to add a splash of black, you’ve come to the right place. Here in this guide, we will take you through some of our favorite black perennial flowers for your garden. Let’s take a look at what nature has to offer us.

Flowers with black petals have become more and more popular over the years for many reasons.

There are many reasons to choose black perennials for your garden, far too many to list. Black doesn’t always have to mean dark and dreary! Here are just some of the reasons why black flowers are becoming increasingly popular.

They are mysterious and elegant
Make brighter colored flowers pop
They are rare and make a brilliant focal point
They change color throughout the day depending on the light

Perennial flowers are the friends that come back year after year. Some are tender perennials that need extra protection in the winter if you want to enjoy them for years to come. Others will last decades if you treat them with the love they deserve. Although perennials tend to offer shorter-lived blooms than annuals, they are easy to care for once established. Plus, the results are often outstanding.

Now you know why you should welcome a few black perennials into your life. They make the perfect addition to balance out a collection of white perennials or other brightly colored flowers. Below we have listed some of our favorite black perennials that bloom year after year.

If you are looking for year-round black color, this plant is right for you.

Scientific name: Ajuga reptans

Also known as Bugleweed, this is an attractive perennial flower chosen for its beautiful black foliage that looks great all year round. The glossy scalloped leaves are darker when the plant is placed in full sun and mild temperatures. Black Scallop blooms from mid to late spring. Deep blue flowers sit on 4 to 6 inches of short spikes sitting above the foliage.

Unlike other types of Ajuga, Black Scallop stays naturally condensed rather than spreads. Making it suitable for borders, rock gardens, and containers. It is highly resistant to powdery mildew too. This plant grows well in the shade of large trees where grass does not, making it a savior of sad, dull patches in our gardens. It does well in full sun to full shade and prefers zones 4 to 10.

This dramatic iris is a deep, dark purple that is close to black.

Scientific name: Iris germanica

Hello Darkness is an Iris that is a rhizomatous or bulbous perennial. It produces up to three erect stems, bearing 6 to 7 flowers, that grow to approximately 37 inches tall with narrow leaves. The flower is deep purple to black in color, with both erect and fall petals creating a dark display. The petals are bearded on the falls for extra textural show and are crimped and velvety too.

This Iris blooms in late spring to early summer. It requires full to sheltered sun and is a relatively hardy plant that does well in zones 3 to 9. The Iris requires sandy, well-drained soils. Thanks to its stylishly dramatic appearance, this flower looks great in herbaceous borders, sunny courtyards, and urban gardens.

The Hollyhock is known to attract pollinators to your garden.

Scientific name: Alcea rosea

This elegant flower is an old garden favorite which is commonly known as Hollyhock. It produces tall spikes of funnel-shaped, dark purple to black, single blooms. And each stem holds several flowers that grow up to 4 inches wide. The flower’s throat is bright yellow in color, and it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and many more creatures.

Blacknight belongs to the Hollyhock Spotlight series, making it a perennial rather than a biennial. It provides architectural height and looks best when planted against a wall, fence, or at the back of a border as a dramatic backdrop. This Hollyhock is self-seeding and can spread through your garden with ease. It blooms in mid to late summer, requires medium-moisture soil, and does best in zones 3 to 9.

The true-black petals of the Molly Sanderson are striking in appearance.

Scientific name: Violaceae

This is a herbaceous perennial that is a spreading evergreen. It grows up to 5 inches tall, and it holds delicate flowers that are 1 inch wide. The flowers are truly black, with a yellow eye bordered with a purple ring. They are long-blooming flowers that bloom spring through to fall, making them a worthwhile bloom for any garden. They also have a wonderful scent too.

These Violas prefer a mixture of full sun to partial shade, and they need moist but well-drained soil. They are great additions to any rock garden, border, or container. It does best in zones 5 to 10, and unfortunately, it is susceptible to frost and many diseases. Meaning it requires extra protection. The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded the Molly Sanderson Viola their prestigious garden merit.

The Black Snakeroot provides a show all throughout the year.

Scientific name: Cimicifuga

Also known as Black Snakeroot, they are late-season blooming perennials. It has intensely dark bronzey foliage, hence its name ‘Chocoholic,’ that remains stunning all year round. It produces arching stems with delicate mauve-pink bottlebrush flowers. They bloom from late summer through to early fall and gradually lighten as they mature. This perennial is fragrant and makes a beautiful addition to any garden.

A Chocoholic plant will grow as tall as 59 inches. It looks great in borders or in containers and is generally planted in moist woodland environments. They prefer shaded gardens but can do well in sunny gardens where the climate is cooler. They prefer sandy to clay soil and do best in zones 4 to 9. This plant will mature into a thick clump after three years.

The deep eggplant purple of these tulips creates a melodramatic display.

Scientific name: Tulipa

The Queen of Night Tulip is an elegant addition to any garden, especially as a reminder for those of us who have been fortunate enough to visit the tulip fields in Amsterdam. These perennials are also symbols of spring. The single stems are tall and reach heights of up to 25 inches, carrying one cup-shaped flower. The flower is deep purple, maroon, to black in color, making it the darkest tulip, and the foliage is rich green in color.

Tulips bloom in early spring, and they need protection from excessive winds and wet seasons. They can be damaged by various pests, and squirrels have been known to eat the bulbs. They like full sun and well-drained soil and do best in zones 3 to 8. Tulips are easy to grow and look fabulous in flower beds when planted in groups of at least 10.

The dark blooms of the New York Night bloom in early spring and last throughout the summer.

Scientific name: Helleborus

Also known as the Lenten Rose, hellebore is an ideal partner for shady woodland gardens. It blooms in early spring and lasts until summer. It produces a showy cup-shaped flower that is black to intense purple in color. With five large petals, the bloom reaches up to 4 inches wide. The inner flower is creamy yellow in color, and the foliage is deep green.

This flower prefers partial to full shade, making it an ideal filler for spaces where many flowers will not survive. It will grow up to 23 inches tall, and it does best in zones 4 to 9 and in average to sandy soil. This flower does not like to be disturbed, so be sure to plant it somewhere where it will stay for many years to come.

The rich color of the Black Baccara Rose makes it the darkest rose to grow.

Scientific name: Rosa

The Black Baccara Rose is considered the darkest rose available, even darker than the Black Magic Rose. It is a deep maroon to black in color. This perennial is part of the rosa family, which also has a yellow perennial flower. It is a hybrid tea rose that was developed in France just before 2000. The bloom measures 3 inches wide and consists of around 45 petals, making it very full and striking. They make excellent cutting flowers that last up to 2 weeks in a vase.

Roses do best in full sun and prefer well-drained rich soil. It blooms in flushes from spring to fall, and the foliage is semi-glossy and dark green in color. It makes an attractive shrub for any garden, reaching between heights of 3 to 6 feet. The ideal zones for this shrub are 5 to 9. It requires pruning throughout the summer, and be sure to remove canes and dead or diseased wood.

This plant has dark foliage and delicate white flowers.

Scientific name: Penstemon

This plant is named after two gemstones thanks to its polar opposite colors. Onyx refers to its black foliage, and pearls refer to the delicate white lavender-like flowers. It makes a stunning focal point in all gardens. The flowers are lightly scented, which attracts hummingbirds. It is a very hardy plant that tolerates drought, humidity, and disease well.

The common name for this plant is Beardtongue. Although it is commonly mistaken for Blackbeard, it is a taller and fuller plant. It reaches up to 42 inches tall and requires fertile, well-drained soil. This plant needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight to thrive and does best in zones 3 to 8. It blooms early to midsummer and makes a great addition to borders and containers.

There are few flowers that are as unique looking as the Silver Lace Black Primrose.

Scientific name: Primula

Primroses have been grown in gardens for centuries and were much loved by the Victorians. This silver-laced strain produces black or deep-brown blooms, with a scalloped silver edge and a striking golden eye. The flowers are fragrant and attract all kinds of garden wildlife. They sit on velvety deep green foliage and are very pretty perennials to admire. Make sure they are planted where they can be seen as they only reach 8 inches tall.

This plant does best in zones 5 to 9 and prefers a moist site. They make perfect additions to the edge of streams and ponds if you are lucky enough to have these in your garden. They need partial shade (but not dry shade) and protection from the hot afternoon sun. Primroses should be divided every 3 to 4 years when they turn into clumps. They bloom from March to May.

This dark plant provides color most of the year.

Scientific name: Sedum

This late-season bloomer is admired for its upright dark purple to black stems and succulent-like leaves all year round. The blooms develop in the summer and burst into full bloom in the fall. They consist of light mauve-pink clusters of flowers that are striking against the dark foliage. The base of the plant is narrow and grows in a vase-like habit, making it a great companion for shorter plants.

Its common name is Autumn Stonecrop, and when left in winter, the dried seed heads provide food and interest for birds. It reaches up to 26 inches tall and wide. Zones 3 to 9 are best for growth and they need at least 6 hours of sun every day to thrive. It is hardy because it can survive in poor soil quality and has low to average water needs.

These Calla Lilies grow to be a deep, dark burgundy.

Scientific name: Zantedeschia

This Calla Lilly, known as the Black Star, is a tender perennial with uniquely trumpet-shaped flowers. The blooms are such deep burgundy that they are called black in color, and they bloom March through to August. The stems are also the same color as the bloom, which adds to its uniqueness. The bright green foliage with light speckling is beautiful on its own.

The Black Star grows in zones 9 to 11, making it less versatile than most other plants on this list. It needs full to partial sun to thrive and well-drained, moist soil. It reaches heights of up to 24 inches and makes an excellent option for containers or as a focal point in a flower bed. It’s worth noting that all parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.

These dramatically dark blooms are a great way to make pastel colors pop in your garden.

Scientific name: Hyacinthus

Here we have the Dark Dimension Hyacinth. Sound mysterious? It certainly looks out of this world gorgeous, and it is the darkest hyacinth available. They make pastel colors pop, making them an ideal addition to all spring gardens. The tubular, bell-shaped purple to black flowers stem from thick spikes, with an average of 10 to 20 buds per stalk.

Butterflies and bees love this plant, and you too will enjoy the wonderful fragrance. Dark Dimension Hyacinths grow up to 12 inches tall and make perfect plants for pots and borders. They also make ideal cutting flowers adding elegance to any bouquet. These flowers do best in zones 4 to 8 and prefer full sun to partial shade. They have average water needs, and dead leaves provide nourishment for next year’s blooms.

The true-black petals of the Black Velvet Petunia are rare and quite new to gardeners.

Scientific name: Petunia

Petunias are either annual or perennial bedding plants (often referred to as tender perennials). Black Velvet Petunias are a relatively new hybrid that was developed in 2010. This bloom produces black velvet single flowers (hence the name) that sit on the bushy light green foliage. This plant is one of the deepest, true black flowers that you can find. Making it perfect for those wishing to add some beautiful darkness and drama to their garden.

Petunias bloom in late spring through to autumn, and they need protection from frosts if you want them to return the following year. They need light, well-drained soil with plenty of sun. And shelter from winds and heavy rain as they are pretty delicate. They need deadheading regularly and are prime targets for slugs and other pests. This plant does best in zones 9 to 11.

This flower is technically an orchid that grows best in warm, humid climates.

Scientific name: Tacca chantieri

This is a showstopping flower, so if you’re looking for something unique in your garden, this could be the flower you’ve been searching for. It is called the Black Bat Flower because it looks like a bat in flight, but it is also known as the Devil’s Flower or Cat’s Whiskers. This is a rare orchid that is deep purple to black in color, with long, hanging light-colored filaments. The Black Bat Flower has large attractive leaves that surround the bloom.

This flower is described by many as hauntingly beautiful, and it blooms spring through to summer. The one downside to this flower is that it only grows outdoors in one zone, zone 11. It requires warm subtropical to tropical climates. In the right environment, it can also do well as part of an indoor garden. It is naturally found in the damp shadows in the tropical jungles of Asia, so it enjoys partial shade and light, well-drained soil.

Black flowers are one of the rarest colors found in nature, mainly because they do not attract pollinators as much as bright colors do. But that doesn’t mean that your garden has to go without. These black perennial flowers for your garden range from delightfully delicate to spectacularly spooky. So be sure to choose wisely depending on what look you are going for in your garden.

Our selection of flowers ranges from early to late bloomers, requiring different zones and care. Meaning that there is something here for every garden and gardener. But as long as your garden meets the needs of the black flower you choose, you are sure to update any space with surprisingly dark and remarkable results.