Black often represents sophistication, power, and mystery. In terms of indoor decor, black beautifully offsets brighter colors, making any space look more dramatic. Adding a hint of black can create a stunning visual contrast that sets the ambiance and tone of a room. Let’s look at some of the most popular black house plants.
Interesting Black House Plants to Consider Adding to Your Home
While some people do this with furniture pieces or wall art, house plants can also do as much. While there are not a lot of black house plants to choose from, we’ve gathered some of the most unique and interesting ones. These varieties will make your indoor space look chic and elegant, and they’re sure to turn heads.
Black Velvet Alocasia
A member of the Araceae family, the Black Velvet Alocasia features large, heart-shaped leaves that are velvety to the touch. Its silvery-white veins really stand out against the deep purple-black leaves, making it a real stunner.
With a compact growing habit, this plant can reach 12 inches in height and width, making it ideal for small spaces. It does best in medium to bright indirect light but can also tolerate low light conditions.
Take note that most alocasia plants are toxic to pets, so keep this in mind if you have furry friends at home.
Black Calathea
The Black Calathea is a rhizomatous tropical plant known for its gorgeous, velvety black leaves. It has purple undersides with a slight metallic sheen that’s hard to ignore. Even without blooms, this beautiful plant makes a great statement piece.
Its dark leaves have silver-white brushstrokes and scalloped edges that resemble a piece of art.
ZZ Raven
This plant is a synthesized version of the ZZ plant with a plant patent. This means that these plants can’t be propagated without the permission of the plant patent holder. You may find these from authorized retailers only.
The ZZ Raven has black-plum leaves with a glossy sheen that can thrive in almost all light settings. It’s a slow grower but can reach up to 24 inches in height and width. One of the best things about the ZZ Raven is its ability to purify the air and eliminate toxins like benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene.
Colocasia Esculenta
Also known as Black Magic, Colocasia Esculenta is a tuberous perennial plant part of the Araceae family. It has large, heart-shaped black leaves with beautiful white veins running through them. This plant falls on the bigger side, with a height and width of up to 48 inches when planted outdoors.
When grown as indoor plants, they can still reach a good size of 24 inches given the right conditions. Use a spacious pot as they tend to grow rapidly and need room to spread their roots. It needs direct sunlight to retain its deep, bold color.
Tropicanna Black
Nobody can resist the true black leaves of the Tropicanna Black. Also called canna lily, this plant is a rhizomatous tropical plant known for its striking foliage. The deep green leaves have black veining and margins, with a purple underside. But what makes this plant even more special are its hot orange-reddish flowers. Its blooms are borne on tall stalks, adding even more drama to the plant.
Similar to the Black Magic plant, you need to grow it in a large pot or container. Don’t forget to keep the soil moist with drainage to prevent the plant from rotting. It needs at least six hours of direct sunlight to maintain its color and bloom.
Fur parents can rejoice as this plant is non-toxic to pets.
Black Prince Echeveria
If you’re not fond of large houseplants, we’ve got a black succulent on the list. This beautiful plant is perfect for those who want to add a touch of black without going overboard. The Black Prince Echeveria has gorgeous rosettes, purple-black leaves, and red tips that perfectly accentuate its color. A light green hue can be seen on the center of its leaves, adding more dimension to the plant.
This plant is as easy to care for as any other succulent. It needs well-drained soil and bright (filtered) light but can tolerate partial sun. Water it only when the soil is completely dry to avoid overwatering. You may add pebbles or gravel at the bottom of the pot to improve drainage.
Peperomia Metallica
If you like what you see with the Black Prince Echeveria, you’ll love the Peperomia Metallica. It’s a beautiful plant that has dark purple-black leaves with a metallic sheen. The leaves are slightly cupped, adding more dimension to its already gorgeous foliage.
Its underleaves are burgundy in color, which makes for a stunning contrast. This plant is perfect for those who want to add a touch of black without going overboard.
With silvery veins running through its purple-black leaves, the Peperomia Metallica is a plant that’s hard to miss. This makes an excellent plant for smaller desks or tables. It doesn’t require much care, and its forgiving nature makes it perfect for beginner plant parents.
Chinese Jade Plant
The usual jade plants strike with their green leaves, but the Chinese jade plant will make you do a double-take with its black leaves. Despite looking intimidating to care for, this is one of the most difficult plants to kill.
This succulent is considered to be one of the most forgiving and easy-to-care-for plants. It can tolerate low light and infrequent watering while prefers dry and warm conditions. It can store water in its leaves, which is why it can survive long periods of drought.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling more bold and adventurous in terms of your plant choices, go for one of these unique black house plants. They’ll make a dramatic statement in any indoor space and are sure to turn heads!
Related article: Black and White Flowers