16 Types Of Black Lilies

Written by Sandy Porter
Updated: September 7, 2023
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Lilies come in practically every color and shade of the rainbow. Even some lilies have been developed to be truly black. You’ll find many of the black lilies are indeed deep purple or blue lilies or red lilies with dark black hearts. The bicolor flowers add a unique intrigue to a garden space while the full black blooms add an unexpected contrast to brighter shades and “traditional” flower colors in the garden space.

This list of stunning black lilies includes sparkling bicolor varieties that show off the contrasts within the flowers themselves, solid black flowers, and some that have accents of black in the petals.

Persian Lily — True Black

true black Persian lily blooms

Dark, rich red flowers of the Persian lily are so dark they appear black.

©Khun Ta/Shutterstock.com

The Persian lily, or Fritillaria persica, is a true black bell-shaped lily flower that has been around for centuries. Favored since the late 1500s, the Persian lily comes with feathery blue-green foliage and distinctive black blooms that hang off spikes. Usually, at least 20 blooms come on each spike, as long as the plant is well cared for. Plant the Persian lily in full sun to partial shade, in well-draining soil that’s moist. USDA Growing Zones 5 to 8 welcome the flowering plant to hardiness as perennials.

Lily ‘Black Jewel’ — True Black

With beguiling true black blooms, the Lily ‘Black Jewel’ is a favorite among dark flower growers. The vivid, trumpet-like flowers bloom in June and July. The Asiatic hybrid thrives as container or garden bed flowers and hits heights of 30 inches when properly cared for. Provide full sun to partial shade and see the gorgeous flowers bloom with shimmering petals.

Lilium ‘Midnight Mystery’ — True Black

One of the darkest of all-black lilies, the Midnight Mystery won’t leave you disappointed with its intense upright flowers. The slightly fragrant blooms add height and dark elegance with upward-facing petals on sturdy stems in loose clusters. The Midnight Mystery thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 and loves full to partial sun and neutral, well-draining soil rich with humus.

Lily Black Beauty — Bi-Color Black and Burgundy

Perhaps the most well-known of all options is the Lily Black Beauty. This stunning, slightly fragrant flower has a rich, crimson, or burgundy red body of petals with deep, dark hearts in many cases. White and green edges burst from the center creating vivid margins away from the pale green stamens. They thrive in well-draining, slightly alkaline, humus-rich soil and prefer either full or partial sun. Plant them in USDA Growing Zones 3 to 8 for best results which may reach up to 7 feet in height.

‘Landini’ Asiatic Black Lily — True Black

Landini Black lily

Rich, deep red begets burgundy into a black heart on the Landini Black lily.

©Janemf1/Shutterstock.com

Another well-known option goes by the name of ‘Landini.’ The true black lily blooms in early summer, throwing out deep purple-black star-shaped flowers. Plant these beauties in USDA Growing Zones 4 to 8 where they will receive full sun with afternoon shade. They may reach heights of 36 inches.

Forever Susan Asiatic Lily — Multi-Color Black, Orange, Burgundy

Forever Susan orange and black lilies

The unique variety of Asiatic lily, the Forever Susan is an orange and black lily hybrid.

©photoPOU/Shutterstock.com

A great twist on the already “twisted” concept of black lilies is the stunning multi-color blooming Forever Susan. The Asiatic hybrid produces orange petals with burgundy hearts that melt into black at the centers. The upward-facing blooms thrive in USDA Growing Zones 3 to 9 and hit heights of 36 inches as they bloom in early to mid-summer. Place them in full sun to partial shade for vibrant, healthy blooms.

Black Wizard Lily — True Black

Needing full sun to partial shade, the Black Wizard is one of the most stunning hybrids you’ll find. They hit heights of 36 inches and thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8, pushing out blooms in early to midsummer. Well-draining soils are a must, though the soil should be kept moist.

Tango Lily London Heart — Bi-Color Black and Crimson

Something magical happens when deep, rich crimson and black shades come together. In the lily world, that result is the stunning Tango Lily ‘London Heart.’ The crimson petals ebb into dark hearts with freckles all about the petals of the upward-facing trumpet-shaped blooms. Producing 5 to 7 bi-color blooms on each stem, the stunning black and crimson flower requires full sun to partial shade and generous watering in its USDA Growing Zone 3 to 8 home.

Lilium Black Dragon — Multi-Color Black, White, Purple and Yellow

Black dragon lily

The bold Black dragon lily has deep purple on the outside, developing into black toward the stem base.

©Tom Meaker/Shutterstock.com

Producing white blooms with sweeps of deep purple into black on the outside of the blooms, the Black Dragon lily is a unique choice for any garden space. The strain of trumpet lilies was first collected from Chinese gardens in the 1900s and has since made its way into popular lily-growing culture. They thrive in USDA Growing Zones 4 to 8, with full sun and well-draining soil.

Black Gold Lily — Bi-Color Black and Gold

Black gold lily

The bold Black gold lily is one of the most unique color forms of lily.

©LMPark Photos/Shutterstock.com

Rich golden hues mingling with a black heart find life in the Black Gold. The richness of the dark shades may be confined to the center on some plants, while on others the black extends far enough that the yellow simply tips the edges of the petals. Growing in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8, these late spring to early summer bloomers are some of the first to celebrate the full sun of the season with their intriguing colors.

‘Black Spider’ Lily — Bi-color Black or Burgundy and Cream

Technically, the Black Spider may not be considered a black lily by some. The flowers have creamy white or yellow petals with deep burgundy centers that may result in black coloring at the deepest part of the flower’s center. Planted in full sun in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8, they will produce these vivid blooms and reach heights of 2 to 3 feet. Aromatic Black Spiders may also have black spots or freckles, as well, showing off their full beauty as they bloom in early to mid-summer.

‘Night Rider’ Lily — True Black

Hybridized between the Trumpet and Asiatic lily, the Night Rider is a dark beauty. Folks enjoy these blooms in early summer. The true black lily is among the darkest blooms you’ll ever see, with a satiny sheen to the petals. Plant in USDA Growing Zones 3 to 8 for bold blooms in early to mid-summer.

Starlette Lily — Bi-color Red-Black and Orange-Gold

Starlette lily

The lovely Starlette lily may be brighter and not develop truly black hearts but many will.

©Juli V/Shutterstock.com

Orange-gold blooms with deep red hearts make the Starlette a truly unique and stunning early summer bloomer. The plant keeps vivacious blooms through the whole of summer, on 3 to 4-foot stalks thick enough to endure the whole season. Attracting bees butterflies, and other pollinators, the Asiatic hybrid requires full sun and is somewhat drought tolerant.

Black Pearl Asiatic Lily — True Black

Black pearl lily

The bold blooms on the Black pearl lily

©Catherine_P/Shutterstock.com

Healthiest in USDA Growing Zones 3 to 9, the Black Pearl Asiatic is absolutely one of the darkest options you’ll ever see. The intense dark trumpet-shaped blooms shimmer in a red-black sheen with fragrance lifting from the centers of the flower. Easy to grow, low maintenance, and pollinator-attracting, these stunning plants require proper draining soil and full sun to produce blooms in mid to late summer.

Lilies Asiatic Black Charm — True Black

Bold, black, and sleek, the Black Charm is one of the most elegant and darkest black lilies you’ll find. The plant adores the sun while being animal-resistant and winter-hardy. They must have well-draining soil but will remain a healthy perennial if cared for properly.

Netty’s Pride — Bi-color Black-Burgundy and Yellow

Netty’s Pride Lily

The stunning Netty’s Pride Lily blends deepest of reds with creamy white-green-yellow for vivid petals.

©akshal60/Shutterstock.com

Looking a bit like Starlette or Black Beauty, Netty’s Pride is a stunning deep purple-to-black bloom with yellow-to-white tips on each petal. The upward-facing flowers pop out in late spring to early summer on tall stems up to 4 feet in height. Give them full sun and well-draining soil and they will give you vibrant blooms earlier in the season than many other lily varieties.

Summary of 16 Types Of Black Lilies

NumberLilyShade of Black
1Persian LilyTrue Black
2Lily ‘Black Jewel’True Black
3Lily ‘Midnight Mystery’True Black
4Lily Black BeautyBi-Color Black and Burgundy
5‘Landini’ Asiatic Black LilyTrue Black
6Forever Susan Asiatic LilyMulti-Color Black, Orange, Burgundy
7Black Wizard LilyTrue Black
8Tango Lily London HeartBi-Color Black and Crimson
9Lilium Black DragonMulti-Color Black, White, Purple and Yellow
10Black Gold LilyBi-Color Black and Gold
11‘Black Spider’ LilyBi-color Black or Burgundy and Cream
12‘Night Rider’ LilyTrue Black
13Starlette LilyBi-color Red-Black and Orange-Gold
14Black Pearl Asiatic LilyTrue Black
15Lilies Asiatic Black CharmTrue Black
16Netty’s PrideBi-color Black-Burgundy and Yellow
Summary Table of 16 Types Of Black Lilies

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Janemf1/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Sandy Porter is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering house garden plants, mammals, reptiles, and birds. Sandy has been writing professionally since 2017, has a Bachelor’s degree and is currently seeking her Masters. She has had lifelong experience with home gardens, cats, dogs, horses, lizards, frogs, and turtles and has written about these plants and animals professionally since 2017. She spent many years volunteering with horses and looks forward to extending that volunteer work into equine therapy in the near future. Sandy lives in Chicago, where she enjoys spotting wildlife such as foxes, rabbits, owls, hawks, and skunks on her patio and micro-garden.

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