There’s no rule that goths can’t have a tender side, especially when it comes to plants. I’d even argue that a lot of us reformed (or not-so-reformed) gothy/emo/punk millennials care more for our plants than any other generation…except for maybe Gen Z, they’re usually at the plant party, too.

If you’re a softy for cultivation but heavy on the metal, here’s a list of 21 black plants for your goth garden.

Black Perennials

Diamond Head Elephant Ear

• Variety: Diamond Head Elephant Ear
• USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 12
• Size: 3 to 4 feet tall
• Light: part shade
• Water: not drought-tolerant, needs to be consistently moist but not soggy

Not-so-fun fact! Elephant ear, or Colocasia, is on our list of 20 plants in Florida poisonous for dogs and cats.

Black Magic Elephant Ear

 

• Variety: Black Magic Elephant Ear
• USDA hardiness zones: 8 through 12
• Size: 3 to 6 feet tall
• Light: part shade
• Water: not drought-tolerant, needs to be consistently moist but not soggy

Illustris Elephant Ear

• Variety: Illustris Elephant Ear
• USDA hardiness zones: 8 through 11
• Size: 3 to 5 feet tall
• Light: part sun to shade
• Water: not drought-tolerant, needs to be consistently moist but not soggy

Coal Miner Elephant Ear

• Variety: Coal Miner
• USDA hardiness zones: 7 through 12
• Size: 4.5 feet tall
• Light: sun to part sun
• Water: not drought-tolerant, needs to be consistently moist but not soggy

Black Coral Elephant Ear

• Variety: Black Coral Elephant Ear
• USDA hardiness zones: 8 through 11
• Size: 4 feet tall
• Light: part sun to full shade
• Water: not drought-tolerant, needs to be consistently moist but not soggy

Black Cardinal Philodendron

• Variety: Black Cardinal Philodendron
• USDA hardiness zones: 10 through 12
• Size: 3 feet tall
• Light: part sun to part shade
• Water: moderate; do not overwater

Black Houseplants

Dottie Calathea roseopicta 

• Variety: Dottie Calathea
• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall
• Soil: equal parts potting mix, perlite, and succulent soil
• Light: dappled light
• Water: not drought-tolerant; keep soil moist but not soggy

Red Button Hoya pubicalyx

• Variety: Red Button Hoya
• Size: vine can grow 10 to 12 feet long
• Soil: equal parts perlite and orchid mix
• Light: dappled light to shade
• Water: average to drought-tolerant; does best with filtered water

Raven ZZ Plant

• Variety: Raven ZZ Plant
• Size: 1.5 to 3 feet tall
• Soil:  3 parts potting soil and 1 part pumice
• Light: indirect light
• Water: moderate, but take care not to overwater

Bethlehem Star Rex Begonia

• Variety: Bethlehem Star Begonia
• Size: up to 1 foot tall
• Soil:  equal parts potting soil, perlite, and peat moss
• Light: indirect light
• Water: keep soil moist but not soggy

Jurassic Silver Swirl Rex Begonia

• Variety: Jurassic Silver Swirl Rex Begonia
• Size: 1.5 feet tall
• Soil:  fertile but well-draining; potting soil with perlite
• Light: part shade
• Water: moderate, but take care not to overwater

Black Geogenanthus ciliatus 

• Also called: Geo Plant
• Size: 6 inches tall
• Soil:  3 parts potting soil to 1 part orchid mix
• Light: filtered light
• Water: not drought-tolerant; keep soil moist but not soggy

Black Succulents

Black Prince Evecheria

• Variety: Black Prince Echeveria
• Size: 4 to 10 inches tall
• Soil:  succulent mix
• Light: part sun to full sun
• Water: drought-tolerant; needs very little water

Black Rose Aeonium

• Variety: Black Rose Aeonium
• Size: up to 3 feet tall
• Soil:  equal parts cactus mix and perlite
• Light: full sun to part shade
• Water: drought-tolerant but will need more water if grown in hot, dry climates; do not overwater

Black Flowers

Clear Crystals Black Pansy

• Variety: Clear Crystals Black Pansy
• USDA hardiness zones: 6+, but each zone has a different pansy planting schedule
• Bloom time: spring and early summer for cool climates, fall and winter for hot climates
• Light: full sun to dappled shade in the hottest climates
• Water: moderate to light

Odessa Calla Lily

• Variety: Odessa Calla Lily
• USDA hardiness zones: annual in zones 3 through 7, perennial in zones 8 through 10
• Bloom time: summer through frost (if applicable)
• Light: full to part sun
• Water: moderate

Not-so-fun-fact! Just like Colocasia, the calla lily is poisonous to pets.

Black Cat Petunia

• Variety: Black Cat Petunia
• USDA hardiness zones: annual in all zones, perennial in zones 9 through 11
• Bloom time: spring until frost, all year in 9-11
• Light: full to part sun
• Water: drought-tolerant

Moulin Rouge Sunflower

• Variety: Moulin Rouge Sunflower
• USDA hardiness zones: 2 through 11
• Bloom time: summer
• Light: full sun
• Water: drought-tolerant

For more sunflower ideas, check out our article on Florida native sunflowers.

Black Peony

• Variety: Black Peony
• USDA hardiness zones: 3 through 8
• Bloom time: can take up to 3 years after planting
• Light: full sun with some shade in the hottest climates
• Water: moderate

Black Edible Plants

Dark Opal Basil

• Variety: Opal Basil
• USDA hardiness zones: 2 through 10
• Harvest time: 50 to 60 days after sowing
• Light: full sun
• Water: moderate

Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper

• Variety: Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper
• USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11
• Harvest time: 140 to 190 days after sowing
• Light: full sun
• Water: moderate

Fun fact! Although they’re called ornamental, you can eat ornamental black pepper…if you dare. Ornamental black peppers are 30,000 Scoville units. For context, jalapenos are only 2,000 to 8,000. Muy caliente!

Featured image photo credit: Lisa Towery