Consider black succulents if you want to add a different color to your landscape but don’t like the brilliant colors of other succulents. These solemn succulents are an excellent way to bring contrast and zing to any garden. Whether you’re adding to your collection or decorating with a certain color scheme, try incorporating a few black succulents into your next project for a dash of color and style.
Echeveria ‘Black Prince’
This small black succulent has the symmetrical rosette design that Echeveria are famous for. At maturity, this succulent remains extremely little, barely reaching around three inches in diameter. The leaves are triangular in form and broad. New growth is bright lime green at first and darkens to a rich brown-black with maturity.
Black Prince is a clumping succulent with dense clusters of leaves. Offsets, or chicks, can be removed and planted elsewhere, or they can be left to grow as ground cover. Black Prince’s small stature makes it an ideal complement to living walls or fairy gardens.
Black Prince grows a slender green stem from the center of its rosette in late fall to early winter. On the stem, dark red blooms appear, presenting a fascinating contrast to the green and black colors of the leaves.
Black Prince was generated by pollinating an Echeveria shaviana with Echeveria affnis pollen. Bess Bates, a variegated cultivar of Black Prince, also exists.
Black Prince, like other Echeveria, is low-maintenance and suitable for every gardener and project. It requires partial light, infrequent watering, and soil that drains well. It is a slow-growing succulent that does not require frequent repotting.
Related: Plant Tips: The Top 10 Erosion-Controlling Plants
Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’
The beautiful succulent Aeonium arboreum has huge rosettes of rich purplish-black leaves. The rosettes can grow up to eight inches in diameter, while the plant as a whole can grow up to three feet tall. Zwartkop’s size and beautiful color make it a perfect plant for outdoor succulent gardens, providing the environment is suitable.
Aeonium arboreum is a North African native that grows in the winter and goes dormant in the summer. To thrive, they require porous soil and adequate watering procedures. They thrive in full or partial sun, but as the plant receives more light, the color of the leaves will deepen.
Zwartkop are frost sensitive and must be taken indoors or covered during cold weather. They thrive in container gardens, particularly when they can be kept outside in warm weather and brought inside when temperatures drop.
Zwartkop grows best from stem cuttings. The lower leaves of the rosette will fall off as the plant grows, exposing a naked stalk. To maintain the plant neat, remove the rosette and replant it elsewhere; the bare stem will develop another rosette.
Sinocrassula yunnanensis ‘Chinese Jade’
The beautiful succulent Aeonium arboreum has huge rosettes of rich purplish-black leaves. The rosettes can grow up to eight inches in diameter, while the plant as a whole can grow up to three feet tall. Zwartkop’s size and beautiful color make it a perfect plant for outdoor succulent gardens, providing the environment is suitable.
Aeonium arboreum is a North African native that grows in the winter and goes dormant in the summer. To thrive, they require porous soil and adequate watering procedures. They thrive in full or partial sun, but as the plant receives more light, the color of the leaves will deepen.
Zwartkop are frost sensitive and must be taken indoors or covered during cold weather. They thrive in container gardens, particularly when they can be kept outside in warm weather and brought inside when temperatures drop.
Zwartkop grows best from stem cuttings. The lower leaves of the rosette will fall off as the plant grows, exposing a naked stalk. To maintain the plant neat, remove the rosette and replant it elsewhere; the bare stem will develop another rosette.
Related: The Most Common Types of Succulents
Echinopsis ancistrophora ‘Arachnacantha’
This dark-colored cactus is native to Bolivia and is also known as Lobivia arachnacantha. The name arachnacantha is derived from a Greek word that means “spider web shaped thorns.” You may easily imagine why this eerie-looking cactus got its moniker.
The cactus has big yellow or orange flowers in the spring that open exclusively during the day. Arachnacantha is a little cactus that rarely grows taller than six inches. It grows in tightly packed bunches. The more sun this plant receives, like many other brightly colored succulents and cacti, the deeper the color will be.
This is a low-maintenance plant that is suitable for gardeners of all abilities. Arachnacantha thrives in full sun and requires little water. The cactus goes dormant in the winter and can survive with little to no water until April.
It is not a frost-tolerant plant and must be sheltered or brought indoors during freezing weather. It will, however, blossom better in the spring if kept in colder temperatures during the winter.
Echeveria ‘Black Knight’
This gloomy-hued Echeveria is a unique and low-maintenance addition to any succulent collection or landscaping project. The thick, fleshy leaves form a rosette design. The brilliant green hue of the stem and new leaves may be seen in the center of the plant. The leaves turn a rich purplish-black as they mature.
Black Knight develops thin lime green stems from the center of the rosette from late summer to fall. Bright red flowers bloom atop the stem, creating a sharp contrast to the rich colors of the leaves.
Black Knight, like most Echeveria, requires very little care to grow. Water the plant only when the soil is dry and in partial sun or bright indoor light. This plant cannot be left in excessively moist soil since it will develop root rot. It is not frost hardy and must be protected from freezing temperatures.
Black Knight can be propagated readily through leaf or stem cuttings, but it can also be grown from seed. Following traditional propagation practices will allow you share your favorite Black Knight with friends and family.
Related: The 10 Best Succulents You Can Grow Inside Your Home
Black Succulent FAQ:
Q: Do black succulent plants require a lot of light?
A: Most succulents require four to six hours of sunlight per day. This also applies to black succulents.
Q: Do Black Succulents grow well in full or partial shade?
A: While black succulents can grow in partial shade, they will struggle to thrive in full shade over time.
Is Echeveria Black Prince truly black?
A: No, this succulent is a deep purple in hue. It has such a dark and thick pigment that it seems black.
Q: Are black succulents uncommon?
A: Black succulents are less common in the wild than green succulents.
Q: How easy are black succulents to care for?
A: Yes, black succulents require the same amount of care as any other succulent plant.
Whether you want a dark and dreamy Echeveria or a coal-colored cactus, these five black succulents will stand out in any setting. Add a few to your collection for a bit of mystery and drama.
