Black flowers are mysterious

Black flowers are mysterious, elegant and seem to come straight from some fairytale world. In reality there are no truly black flowers – most are very dark shades of purple or red.

They symbolise power, mystery, elegance, farewell and goodbye. Often the romantic message of black flowers is a negative one, so these should probably be saved for break-ups.

However, a single black flower along with a gift of some sort could be a powerful romantic gesture with a hint of mystery.

A pure black flower is the Holy Grail to all flower breeders. To achieve one would be something truly special.

In Victorian and Edwardian times people used to collect black flowers and would go to many lengths to find the most exotic species.

Take a look at our list of the top 10 black flowers (photo at the top by Design Sponge).

Black Dahlia

These are actually a very deep burgundy or sometimes a chocolate colour, but some can be darker than others. They all look stunning in bouquets or as part of a centrepiece.

Chocolate Cosmos

These are another deep red flower. They can be grown in your own garden – all they need is well-draining soil and full sun. They are particularly loved for their scent of vanilla and hot chocolate.

Hellebore

These flowers are often called Christmas roses because they flower during winter. They come in all sorts of colours, including a dark brownish red. Their leaves can also be very dark too.

Pansy

The black pansy is such a dark purple that it looks almost completely black. Other varieties have colourful petals with a black spot close to the middle of the flower. These little flowers are hardy and brilliant at brightening up any garden (depending on which colour you get). The black pansy is also said to attract love to one who carries it.

Black Lily

These stunning, showy flowers are a dark purple-red and look fantastic in bouquets. Black lilies could be grown outdoors, too, and could make a great focal point in your garden.

Calla Lily

These are very, very dark flowers that look black but are either maroon or purple. They are much rarer than white calla lilies and can often be hard to get hold of. They look fantastic in bouquets and make a very elegant statement.

Queen of the Night Tulip

These beautiful tulips are a dark purple. They are grown because they bloom late and provide some colour once all other plants have stopped flowering.

Bat Orchid

This fantastic black flower has whiskers dangling down from its centre. These have earned it the name of the bat orchids. It should be grown in a hot conservatory, as it loves heat and humidity.

Black Magic Hollyhock

These blue-black, tall, stately plants look good in any garden. They should be planted at the back of borders to give a beautiful classic garden look. They flower mid to late summer.

Black Velvet Petunia

This was the world’s first all-black petunia. These look good in pots in the garden alongside brighter coloured varieties of the petunia. There is another called Pinstripe that is black with a yellow stripe down the centre of each petal.