The allure of dark-colored flowers captivates many garden enthusiasts, offering a sense of drama and sophistication to any landscape. Among these striking blooms, lilies hold a special place, often sought for their elegant form and intense hues. The quest for a truly black lily is common, driven by the mystique of such deep tones. Understanding their true nature and how to cultivate them allows gardeners to successfully incorporate these magnificent flowers into their outdoor spaces.
The Reality of Black Lilies
While the term “black lily” is widely used, truly black flowers are exceptionally rare. What gardeners often refer to as black lilies are, in fact, flowers displaying intensely deep shades of other colors, such as maroon, burgundy, deep purple, or dark red. This deep saturation of pigment can absorb so much light that the petals appear black to the human eye. The coloration in flowers is determined by complex chemical compounds, and achieving a pure black hue without any underlying red, blue, or purple tones is a horticultural challenge.
These profound dark shades are typically achieved through selective breeding, where horticulturists work to enhance the concentration of pigments like anthocyanins. The visual perception of black is often an optical illusion created by the extreme depth of these dark colors, especially under certain lighting conditions. For instance, a flower might appear black in dim light but reveal its true deep purple or red undertones when viewed in bright sunlight. This phenomenon highlights the subtle beauty within these nearly black blooms, showcasing a spectrum of rich, dark tones rather than a monochromatic absence of color.
Notable Dark-Colored Lily Varieties
Lilium ‘Black Beauty’, an Orienpet Lily, has striking, recurved flowers of dark crimson or raspberry. These blooms, typically around 3 inches across, often feature narrow white margins, prominent anthers, and a green star center. ‘Black Beauty’ is also notably fragrant and can grow quite tall, reaching heights of 4 to 7 feet, blooming in mid to late summer with 50 to 150 flowers on well-established plants.
Lilium ‘Landini’, an Asiatic Lily, presents large, deep burgundy flowers, often appearing almost black with a satiny finish. This variety typically grows to a height of 35 to 39 inches. Blooming in early to mid-summer, ‘Landini’ offers a display of its intensely dark, star-shaped flowers.
Lilium ‘Night Rider’, an OT Hybrid, features deep ebony blooms with a satiny sheen, making it one of the darkest lilies available. These large, classic lily-shaped flowers, about 6 inches across, bloom in early to mid-summer. ‘Night Rider’ typically reaches a height of 35 to 48 inches and is suited for garden borders.
Cultivating Dark Lilies
Cultivating dark-colored lilies requires the right environment. Most lilies thrive in locations that receive full sun to partial shade, ideally benefiting from 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Keeping their root zone cool is also beneficial, which can be achieved by planting low-growing annuals or perennials around their base or by applying mulch.
Well-draining soil is important, as soggy conditions can lead to bulb rot. A soil rich in organic matter, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 7.0, is preferred, although some varieties, like Oriental lilies, may prefer a slightly more acidic range of 5.5 to 6.5. Plant bulbs in spring or fall, typically 6 to 9 inches deep for larger bulbs and 3 to 4 inches for smaller ones. Spacing bulbs 8 to 18 inches apart allows for adequate growth and air circulation.
Lilies need consistent moisture, watered regularly, about every 2 to 3 days, or when the top inch of soil feels dry. Fertilizing lilies with a balanced granular fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 formulation, in early spring as new shoots emerge. Supplemental feedings can be applied throughout the growing season, or a high-potassium liquid fertilizer can be used every two weeks until about six weeks after flowering.
For winter care in colder climates (USDA zones 3-6), apply a layer of mulch, such as straw or leaves, after the first hard frost to insulate bulbs. Potted lilies in these zones should be moved indoors to a cool, dry, and frost-free location for dormancy.