13 gothic flowers for your garden
Flowers to bring out the darkness in you
What are gothic flowers? Well, since a lot of you have had your say on social media about whether flowers can be truly black, the term ‘gothic’ seems an apt replacement.
Gothic flowers are flowers that appear black in a certain light. Or if you squint a bit. They have an allure that you probably won’t get from a Begonia or a Marigold. A certain dark magic!
I’ve picked 13 of my favourite gothic flowers – I’m sure I don’t have to explain why I picked the number 13 – and listed them below. Have a browse and let me know in the comments section what your favourite is!
1. Iris chrysographes
Oooh, what a stunning Iris! This exquisite plant is a showstopper with its deep purple-black blooms that shimmer in the sunlight. Perfect for creating a striking focal point, it thrives in sunny, moist borders, containers, or even beside a pond. Its slender, elegant flowers are uber dramatic and look breathtaking in floral arrangements. Growing to around 50-80cm, it’s a must-have for anyone who loves bold, unique plants.
2. Fritillaria persica
If Dracula had a favourite spring flower, it might just be Fritillaria Persica. Towering up to 60cm, this dramatic perennial defies the usual dainty spring blooms with its tall spires of deep purple, bell-shaped flowers. With up to 30 flowers per stem, it’s a statement piece - like a gothic chandelier for your garden. Best planted in autumn for a moody spring display.
3. Aquilegia Black Barlow
With its almost-black, double-petaled blooms and delicate bluish sheen, Aquilegia ‘Black Barlow’ brings gothic romance to summer gardens. Its spindly stems hold the flowers aloft like little dark stars, hovering above grey-green foliage from June to July. Perfect for borders, containers, or dramatic floral arrangements, this sun-loving beauty is both elegant and eerie.
4. Pulsatilla rubra subsp. hispanica
A rare botanical gem from the Spanish mountains, this pasqueflower is as elusive as it is striking. Its dusky red, almost black, bell-shaped blooms with mustard-yellow centres have a wild, untamed feel!
5. Viola Molly Sanderson
Meet the little black dress of the flower world - Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’, the only truly black perennial viola. Its velvety, jet-black petals, punctuated by a tiny yellow eye, bloom from May to October. Perfect for rock gardens, borders, or containers, it pairs beautifully with white flowers for a striking monochrome effect. Small but full of gothic charm!
6. Petunia Black Velvet
Sounds luxurious, doesn’t it? Petunia ‘Black Velvet’ has deep purple-black, velvety blooms that you’ll be tempted to stroke. Flowering from June to October, this generous plant thrives in hanging baskets, containers, or flower beds, bringing dark drama to your summer garden. Even pollinators can’t resist its mysterious allure!
7. Kennedia nigricans
This vigorous Australian climber doesn’t do subtle. With striking black-and-yellow flowers and glossy green foliage, it’s perfect for covering fences, trellises, or even sprawling as a ground cover. Moderately frost-tolerant and easy to grow, it’s a bold choice for those who like their plants with personality. Give it a trim after flowering to keep it tidy!
8. Black Hellebore
A winter garden showstopper, black Hellebores brings moody elegance when little else is in bloom. The near-black flowers contrast beautifully with dark green foliage, making it a striking choice for shaded borders. While the flowers are short-lived, the foliage sticks around year-round, keeping the goth vibes going.
9. Alcea nigra
For those who love their flowers tall, dark, and dramatic, Alcea ‘Nigra’ is a must. Its towering spikes of near-black, single blooms add instant goth glam to the back of sunny borders. Easy to grow and loved by pollinators, it’s a classic cottage garden favourite with a rebel streak.
10. Tacca chantrieri – Bat Plant
If plants had a Halloween costume contest, Tacca chantrieri would win. Its eerie, bat-shaped blooms and long, whisker-like filaments make it one of the most bizarre flowers out there. Native to Southeast Asia, it thrives in humid, tropical conditions. Not just a pretty face - it’s also been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
11. Hyacinth Midnight Mystic
Once a rare collector’s item, Hyacinth ‘Midnight Mystic’ made waves at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2005 and has been in high demand ever since. Its deep black, sweetly scented blooms bring a touch of the unexpected to spring displays, whether in pots or borders. A gothic garden essential!
12. Lily Landini
Dark, dramatic and enchanting, Lily ‘Landini’ is one of the deepest black lilies available. Its velvety petals create a stunning contrast against brighter flowers, making it a perfect centrepiece for borders and cut flower displays. Reaching 90cm tall, it’s as regal as it is mysterious - definitely a flower with presence.
13. Tulip Continental
For those who can’t wait for ‘Queen of Night’ to make her grand entrance, Tulip ‘Continental’ offers an equally dramatic but slightly earlier alternative. With rich, velvety chocolate-maroon blooms that shimmer in the light, this Triumph tulip adds a moody elegance to spring borders. Shorter and stockier than its famous cousin, it pairs beautifully with pastel and yellow tulips for a striking contrast. At 45cm tall, it stands proud without being overbearing.
Has anyone fine a black and white garden??
That black hyacinth! I want it, but I don't want it, if you know what I mean.