The elegance and mystique brought by a black houseplant is perhaps unrivalled. Pair it up with a few green plants, and you could multiply the appeal of any decor by a significant margin!
Black houseplants are not intrinsically black. Instead, they are a dark shade of burgundy, purple, brown, or green. The dark tinge stems from a peculiar pigment called anthocyanin.
While chlorophyll absorbs all colors except for green, this pigment in plants’ cells absorbs only yellow and green. In this way, it creates a dark shade, masking the effects of chlorophyll.
It can be slightly more challenging to find black plants, but you will be good to go once you know what to look for. Read on ahead for a comprehensive list of the most popular black houseplants!
15 Stunning Black Houseplants
In this list, you will find some stunning black beauties to amplify the appeal of your decor. You do not have to be a skilled gardener to tend to these plants. Any skill and experience level is enough to take care of them – even if you are a novice!
1. Alocasia Reginula / Black Velvet
Alocasia Reginula, or Black Velvet, is a member of the Araceae family. It is a dwarfish plant and grows at an extremely slow rate. Black Velvet can reach a height of around 1 foot.
The contrast between its silver-white veins and dark leaves can leave any witness wonderstruck. However, this plant demands extensive attention and care. It is very sensitive to direct sunlight and wind while also being susceptible to easy root rot. Black Velvet can be toxic to humans and pets.
2. Zamioculcas Zamiifolia / ZZ Raven
ZZ Raven is a rare plant – owing to the fact that it was synthesized by Van Winden-Erica B.V. and has a plant patent. You will be unable to find anyone selling this dark plant without authorization.
It is quite simple to grow and take care of a Raven since it does not ask for extensive attention. It grows slowly, with new leaves being green in color and eventually developing a black shade. One of the best aspects of this plant is its ability to purify the air by eliminating toxins like toluene, benzene, and others.
ZZ Raven can thrive in all kinds of light, and you must let the soil dry out before watering again. It may, however, be potentially toxic to pets and humans.
3. Colocasia Esculenta / Black Magic
Black Magic also belongs to the interesting Araceae family. It is easy to grow, with a maximum outdoor height of 3 to 5 feet. It can attain a decent size indoors as well if you fulfill all its requirements properly.
You must house Black Magic in a large, spacious pot and fertilize it periodically. It is a fast-growing plant and feeds heavily. Black Magic relies upon direct sunlight and adequate light to maintain its striking, deep purple color.
4. Canna Lily / Tropicanna Black
Tropicanna Black is an irresistibly gorgeous houseplant, flaunting a mix of deep chocolatey foliage and large crimson flowers. It is a considerable large plant- it can reach a height of up to 5 feet.
You will need a spacious and massive container with at least a 3-5 gallon capacity to grow this plant. This black beauty flourishes in well-draining potting soil in humid conditions. It requires exposure to direct sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours each day.
Tropicanna Black is not toxic to either pets or humans. It demands moderate to high maintenance.
5. Aeonium Arboreum / Zwartkop
Everyone loves succulents! A black succulent is an even better addition to your houseplant family. Zwartkop requires sunlight in significant quantities to sustain its dark color. You must be very careful with the temperature and humidity you prepare for this plant. Too much heat and dryness may cause dormancy.
Zwartkop needs well-drained and sandy soil to grow appropriately. As compared to other succulents, it consumed slightly more water because of its weak root system. This black houseplant is a flowering succulent- it will treat you to yellow blooms in late winter or spring!
6. Oxalis Triangularis / Purple Oxalis
Purple Oxalis is a hardy, tough plant that anyone can grow and nurture. It has small bulbs, allowing it to regrow even if the leaves die. An exciting aspect of Purple Oxalis is its sensitivity to light- it ravels and unravels its leaves according to the light around it.
Purple Oxalis is not a classically black plant per se, but it has a deep violet-purple shade that appears close to black. It is also capable of flowering with pinkish-white flowers. The plant needs bright indirect light and moderate watering.
7. Strobilanthes Dyeriana / Persian Shield
Persian Shield is a breathtaking plant with silvery-violet leaves and gradient-green veins. It grows well in a warm atmosphere, giving rise to attractive light blue flowers. Keep in mind that this houseplant is sensitive to the cold.
While the other plants on this list can also flourish as outdoor plants, Persian Shield lives best in an indoor environment. It tends to grow in a lean manner, so it would help to pinch it back periodically to encourage bush.
8. Calathea Rosepicta “Dottie” / Rose Painted Calathea
Calanthea naturally belongs to rainforests- which means that they can quickly prosper in humid areas with indirect light. Rose Painted Calanthea, like ZZ Raven, can purify the air around it as well!
You must ensure that your Calanthea has plenty of moisture at all times. It is a non-toxic plant with relatively low demand for maintenance.
9. Sinocrassula Yunnanensis / Chinese Jade
Chinese Jade is native to the Yunan Province of China, as the name suggests. This monocarpic, dark succulent is a subtle addition to your houseplant family since it does not require too much attention.
Chinese Jade does well in dry conditions with bright sunlight. You can see the flowers in autumn or the early days of winter. It is toxic to pets.
10. Echeveria “Black Prince” / Black Hens And Chicks
Black Prince or Black Hens And Chicks has quite a curious name, but its beauty makes up for that! Typically, you will find this plant with dark purple or red foliage, sporting a light green middle.
Black Hens And Chicks is also a flowering succulent. Its attractive, bright red flowers bloom in late autumn or early winter. It is a very low-maintenance commitment to take care of this succulent. It thrives in partially shady yet bright spots and does not demand too much moisture.
11. Peperomia Metallica / Red Tree
Red Trees are straightforward to grow and tend to, especially as a hanging plant. They originally came from the rainforest, so you need to prepare a humid and averagely-shady atmosphere for them.
Red Tree leaves flaunt a gorgeous chocolatey color with silvery veins- and a burgundy coat on the opposite side. While most people admire this black beauty for its foliage, its flowers are also a sight to behold. They blossom in the last days of summer.
12. Viola Tricolor (Var. Hortensis) / Black Pansies
Black Pansies are on the wish list of countless plant collectors. They are delicate, elegant flowers with bright green foliage for contrast. It would be best if you were very careful when you tend to them since they are susceptible to anything outside of their comfort zone.
The best way to care for Black Pansies is to grow them near a window that receives several bright light hours. Try not to overexpose them to direct sunlight!
13. Peperomia Caperata / Burgundy Ripple
Burgundy Ripple is perhaps a cousin of Red Tree. It has deep green, heart-shaped leaves with burgundy or maroon veins and hues all over the foliage. All stalks that grow from the middle of this plant will bless you with pretty flowers as well.
Burgundy Ripple is a slow-growing plant, so you do not need to worry about repotting it. It flourishes in direct partial sunlight and moderate amounts of water.
14. Lithops / Living Stone
Living Stones are quite an amusing houseplant to have- they look like dark little stones! These fascinating succulents grow best in environments having bright light and partial shade. They are originally from South Africa so they can survive even in harshly sunny locations. If there is insufficient light, your Living Stones may develop long leaves and lose their pattern.
While they are undoubtedly attractive, there is an undercurrent of misfortune that comes with these plants’ dark color. The shade you desire appears only when they are under stress.
15. Haworthiopsis Nigra / Haworthia Nigra
Haworthia Nigra is a tiny little black houseplant. It is native to the Karoo desert of South Africa- so it does not ask for too much attention. It is extremely slow-growing, and even then, it reaches a maximum height of 10 inches only. The plant fairly compensates for the short height with its stunning triple-tiered, sculpture-like leaves.
Haworthia Nigra looks the best in groups, but it can be a challenging target to achieve since you will have to put in a lot of extra effort. The lighting and placement of the plants should be perfect. These plants need well-draining soil, with regularity in watering during the summer season and dryness in winter.
How Do Black Plants Get Their Color?
As you have read above, black plants get their dark shades due to a pigment in their cells. This pigment goes by the name of anthocyanin.
Chlorophyll is the pigment that produces green hues – it is capable of absorbing all colors from the light spectrum besides green. On the other hand, anthocyanin absorbs only yellow and green, giving a darker look to the foliage.
Plants with anthocyanin in their leaves do not lack chlorophyll. The only reason the former prevails over the latter is that it is far more intense.
Are There Any Black Flowers Besides Black Pansies?
As you already know, black plants and flowers are not purely black – they are deep, rich shades of green, red, purple, or brown. However, with genetic engineering and selective breeding, many new varieties of plants and flowers have emerged. An example of this is the ZZ Raven, which has a plant patent.
In addition to black pansies, you can also find black tulips, black roses, black hyacinths, and black violas. The first black flower to emerge was the tulip.
Are Black Houseplants Expensive?
The price of buying, growing, and taking care of a black houseplant relies entirely upon the species and type. For instance, many varieties of black houseplants that fall into the succulent family may not be costly. However, rarer plants like ZZ Raven are bound to cost a lot.
Plants and flowers that receive their black color due to human intervention are also more expensive than their natural counterparts. For instance, black pansies or black petunias will be far pricier than other plants in the same category.
The best way to judge whether a black houseplant will be expensive is to look at its rarity. The rarer the plant, the more expensive it will be.
Why Should You Seek Black Houseplants?
There is no question that black houseplants bring a unique and elegant flair to any decor. If you wish to add some tasteful contrast to your little garden or indoor houseplant family, black plants are ideal.
The best aspect of black houseplants is that many of them act as air purifiers too. They remove toxic gas particles and waste materials from the atmosphere, like formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, and more.
Verdict
You can vastly increase the appeal of your houseplant collection or your decor with black houseplants. There is no room for disagreement on the fact that their allure is unrivalled!
Fortunately, if you are looking for a black houseplant or two, you have several options. Step out and bring home your very own black beauty soon!
