Succulents are known for their ability to survive in the harsh areas of the desert. These plants can survive without water for months. This is because they can store water in their thick and fleshy leaves and other body parts. They can also survive the harshest sun in the summer because they have fewer pores in their leaves. These survival habits of succulent plants combined with their beautiful appearance make them a perfect choice for indoor decoration use, and for making a versatile outdoor garden.
These plants have beautiful shapes, colors, and come in all different sizes, from small plants that can fit in a small pot, to large 10 feet plants. Most succulent plants have green, or pale colors similar to most other plants, but some of them also have exceptional colors, such as pink and black. The pink color is also seen in a lot of succulents but the black-colored succulents are the rarest plants.
Black color succulents are rare because the succulent plants live in the desert areas, where they need to dissipate hate, while the black color does the exact opposite, it absorbs heat from the atmosphere. That is why it causes these plants to lose water to keep them cool, due to this reason, most of the succulents have pale green colors to avoid water loss. But some species and cross-species of the succulents still have black color.
There are only a few succulent species that have a natural black color or change their color to black. Below is a list of 11 species and cultivars of the succulents that have black color in their foliage.
1. Echeveria Black Prince
The Echeveria Black Prince, which is also known as the Black Hens and Chicks, is a small-sized black-colored succulent plant from the Echeveria family. The Echeveria Black Prince is also known for its small fleshy black leaves that form a rosette formation. It can grow multiple small branches that contain small leaf clusters. They also bloom during the spring season. The Echeveria Black Prince is black, and green leaves. Mostly green leaves are surrounded by large black fleshy leaves. The Echeveria Black Prince is an ornamental plant and known for its beauty worldwide.
The Echeveria Black Prince plant can grow ten inches tall and 8 inches wide within a small pot. It requires well-draining soil that does not retain water, apart from this, the soil should also contain all the required nutrients for the proper growth of Echeveria Black Prince. This plant requires plenty of sunlight, which means you will have to keep them near a window if they are placed inside. The Echeveria Black Prince requires extra protection against the cold winds and snow if they are not grown in their natural habitat. Cold weather can kill this plant, so, if you are growing it in a cold region, you must keep it indoors.
2. Black Gem
The Black Gem plant, which is also known as the X Alworthia ‘Black Gem’, is a succulent plant with large blackish-green leaves. It is one of the rare cultivars of the Alworthia genus from the Asphodelaceae family of succulent plants. The Black Gem plant has multi-colored leaves. The base of its leaves is dark green, but this dark green color fades as you move away from the base of the leaves. The dark green color fades into black, purple-black color. On the sides of its leaves, it has spines that are harmless to humans and pets. Its leaves are triangular and are very thick, meaning that it can store a lot of water for its survival in the hot summers.
The Black Gem plant is cross-between two species, Haworthia Cymbiformis and Aloe Speciosa. Both of these species are native to South Africa. The Black Gem plant requires protection against the harmful impacts of the environment if it is grown outside its natural environment. That is why you should keep it indoors during the winter. The Black Gem plant requires plenty of sunlight to properly grow and show its colorful leaves, if it faces deficiency of sunlight, its leaves would become pale. Its roots need protection against the root rotting disease that is caused by overwatering, or due to soil that traps water for the long term. These plants need occasional watering depending upon the seasons. They need nutrient-rich and well-draining soil to properly grow and thrive.
3. Black Rose
The Black Rose succulent, which is also known as the Aeonium Arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ is a cultivar of Aeonium Arboreum species of succulent plants. This is one of the most beautiful black-colored succulent plants. It is a small-sized plant with branches that grow in all directions from the main stem. If you want to have a beautiful succulent plant that looks like a giant flower of black color, it is a perfect choice. It changes its color from dark black to purple-black shade.
The Black Rose succulent has fleshy thick leaves of large size that can store water and help this plant survive in the desert areas. It is native to South Africa, and Islands near the African continent, but due to its survival skills, it can be grown in any kind of environment. Nowadays, it is grown worldwide as an ornamental, exotic black succulent plant for indoor decorations and outdoor gardens.
The Black Rose succulent plant requires plenty of sunlight for most of the day, if it does not receive enough light, its growth stops, and also its color starts to change. So, they must be grown in a bright environment or a place where sunlight can reach the plant directly. Apart from sunlight, this plant needs a controlled water supply, well-draining nutrient-rich soil, and proper care. It also requires protection if the environment is too cold. It cannot survive the snow or extremely cold temperatures, that is why if you are growing it in a cold area, you must keep it indoors to protect it from weather impacts.
4. Black-Spined Prickly Pear
The Black-Spined Prickly Pear plant, which is also known as the Opuntia macrocentra or long-spined prickly pear. This is a small cactus plant known for its black, and purple spines. It is not entirely black, only its spines are black, but still, it looks very beautiful and that is why it is used as an ornamental plant. The Black-Spined Prickly Pear plant is native to Arizona, Mexico, and some areas of Texas. This is a slow-growing perennial plant that can survive harsh summers, and cold winters as well.
The Black-Spined Prickly Pear plant grows multiple small cacti leaves, each leaf contains a huge number of small yellow spines, and a few large black, purple spines. In most of its varieties, its leaves are green, while in some varieties, these leaves are purple to pink. The Black-Spined Prickly Pear plant grows small flowers and fruit at the end of the blooming season. It is easy to grow them in a pot, or outdoor garden soil.
They need a controlled water supply to avoid overwatering, direct sunlight access, nutrient-rich and well-draining soil. If soil is not well-draining, it would hold water in it, and this water can cause root rot in the Black-Spined Prickly Pear plant. These plants also need more protection against the snow and cold weather in some areas.
5. Black Hens and Chicks
The Black Hens and Chicks plant, which is also known as the Sempervivum ‘Black’, is a small-sized succulent plant of black color. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family of plants, known for its skills to survive in the desert area. The Black Hens and Chicks have thick fleshy leaves of black color that surround one another forming a beautiful flower pattern. They look like a giant black-purple flower. All these leaves emerge from a single short stem, the roots of this plant move underground and form clusters of small size. So, if you are growing them into your gardens, expect them to grow in a cluster or group formation.
As you know that the Black Hens and Chicks are succulent plants, they also can survive in extremely hot areas, but in cold areas, they require protection against winds, cold, and snow. The Black Hens and Chicks are native to Southern parts of Europe, and Northern Parts of Africa. Some non-black varieties are also native to Mexico, United States as well. Due to its beautiful color, and shape, it is grown worldwide as an exotic ornamental plant for indoor and outdoor decoration.
The Black Hens and Chicks require direct sunlight to grow, so, if you are growing them indoors, make sure to keep them in a place where they can get enough sunlight for most of the day. Like most other succulents, they need a controlled water supply, nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, and protection against harmful weather effects. They can easily fit in small pots, so they are a perfect choice as a table plant.
6. Chinese Jade
The Chinese Jade plant, which is also known as the Sinocrassula yunnanensis, is a small succulent plant known for its Black color. The Chinese Jade plant grows in a small cluster, it has multiple stems, and branches that further divide into small thick leaves. Its stem and branches are also thick and fleshy and can store water. It is also native to Western China, Burma, Vietnam, and neighboring mountain desert areas.
The Chinese Jade plant can form small clusters in the pot, and in the ground, if the soil is well-drained, nutrient-rich and it is receiving sufficient sunlight. It is not a completely black plant, the upper part of the plant’s leaves is black, while the base of the leaves and stem is green. It requires protection against cold weather, overwatering, and some plant pathogens to grow properly.
7. Haworthia Marxii
The Haworthia Marxii plant, which is also known as the Haworthia marxii S.D. Gildenhuys is a succulent plant with large leaves of black color. This succulent plant lives mostly in the desert mountains areas. This plant can grow between the rock formations inside a mountain, and in the sand between rocks. It has the extreme ability to survive, it is also one of the rarest succulent plants in the world. Its leaves are attached to a single stem, and they move outwards away from the stem.
These leaves are thick, fleshy, and have black color, they also have lines of pale brown color over in their leaves. The Haworthia Marxii plant can survive without water for a very long time. They are native to Africa, Australia, but now they are grown worldwide as an ornamental plant. The Haworthia Marxii plant requires extra care, as it is sensitive to changes and can die quickly. It requires direct sunlight for most of the day, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil, and a controlled water supply. It also requires more protection against wind, temperature, and weather changes.
8. Anacampseros Purple Giant
The Anacampseros Purple Giant plant, which is also known as the Anacampseros Rufescens, is a small-sized, ornamental succulent plant native to desert areas of Africa. But with proper care, it can be grown in any part of the world. The Anacampseros Purple Giant plant belongs to the succulent plant family, Anacampserotaceae. This is a slow-growing plant, and it can only grow a few inches. Anacampseros Purple Giant plant forms a cluster of leaves around the small stem. It has thick green and black leaves that circle the stem.
The Anacampseros Purple Giant plant requires protection against pathogens, and harmful environments, if you are growing it outside its natural environment. It needs plenty of sunlight, a controlled water supply, nutrient-rich, and well-draining soil. If it is being overwatered, or it is not receiving enough sunlight, the color of its leaves will start to change, if that happens, you should keep it under the sun and also follow the watering chart. Due to its small size, and beautiful color, it is a perfect choice for indoor decorations and outdoor gardens.
9. Echeveria Black Knight
The Echeveria Black Knight plant, which is also known as the Mexican hen and chicks, is a beautiful ornamental succulent plant known for its black-colored foliage. This plant is native to Mexico, Texas, and Arizona region, but it can be grown worldwide with proper care. The Mexican hen and chicks are mostly grown for decoration use. It forms a leaf cluster in which the leaves of the Mexican hen and chicks overlap one another to create a beautiful rosette appearance. That is why the Mexican hen and chicks look like a black giant rose with multiple layers of thick and fleshy leaves.
The Echeveria Black Knight plant is a succulent plant and it can store water in its leaves and foliage. That is how it can survive the harsh desert environment without a water supply. They grow in well-draining soil that does not trap any water and has an abundance of required nutrients for the growth of the Echeveria Black Knight plant. Apart from the soil, it requires direct sunlight to grow properly, if it is not receiving enough sunlight, it changes its color. It requires only a small amount of water as excessive watering can damage its roots. Due to its small size, it can easily be kept in a small pot as well.
10. Haworthia Nigra
The Haworthia Nigra plant, which is also known as the Haworthiopsis Nigra, is a small succulent plant from South Africa. This is one of the rarest succulent plants of black color. The Haworthiopsis Nigra has thick shiny leaves that change color as the plant ages, first they are green, then they turn purple. In the end, purple starts to fade into the black color. That is why each leaf of this plant looks different. They grow one leaf over another, creating a ladder-like formation around the stem. Also, the Haworthiopsis Nigra blooms during the spring season and produces small beautiful succulent flowers.
The Haworthiopsis Nigra requires proper care and protection from harmful weather and seasonal changes if it is not being grown in its natural environment. It may require protection from icy cold winds, and snowfalls, that is why during winter, it should be kept indoors to protect. Apart from that, Haworthiopsis Nigra has growth requirements similar to the other succulent plants. For example, it needs well-draining soil, proper water and nutrients supply, direct sunlight, and protection to grow properly.
11. Lobivia arachnacantha
The Lobivia arachnacantha plant, which is also known as the Echinopsis ancistrophora subs. Arachnacantha is a cultivar of succulent plant species, known for its beautiful flower and dark green and black appearance. The Lobivia arachnacantha plant grows a large yellow or pink-colored flower on its thick stem. They build a small cluster around their stems, and then only one branch from that cluster moves upward to produce a flower. The Lobivia arachnacantha plant produces flowers during the blooming season. Apart from flowers, they also grow a large number of small, sharp spines. The Lobivia arachnacantha plant is native to Bolivia, and Argentina. Its natural habitat is the mountainous deserts of Bolivia and Argentina.
This succulent plant has a huge base to store water in the thick cluster that it creates on the soil. The Lobivia arachnacantha plant can also be grown in indoor and outdoor environments outside its natural habitat but that requires a lot of care and protection. The Lobivia arachnacantha plant requires plenty of sunlight, nutrient-rich soil, regulated water supply, and protection against plant pathogens. Its roots are very thin and very weak, if the soil absorbs water, instead of draining it properly, this can cause root rot in the Lobivia arachnacantha plant. This can cause the death and discoloration of the plant as well.
Conclusion
The article above contains a list of 11 beautiful, ornamental black succulent species and cultivars that you can grow in your homes. These plants have all the abilities of succulent plants such as survival in the hottest weather and environment. They thrive in their natural environment, but if you want to grow them outside their natural habitat, you will have to provide them a similar environment. These plants can survive the hottest summers, but cannot survive against snow, or cold winds. That is why you should keep them indoors if you are growing them in any cold region.
Apart from protecting them against environmental factors, you will also have to protect them from plant pathogens and diseases. These black succulent plants change their color if they are not receiving proper sunlight or proper watering. So, you should keep the track of their health by observing their color. Plant them in well-draining soil that does not trap water inside for long. This will help avoid the problems of root rotting. Some of these are small and can be grown in the smallest pots, but some plants require repotting over time. So, you should look for the plant that has outgrown its pot, you should re-pot it. With the help of these basic guidelines, you can take care of your black succulent plant. For specific care guidelines, you should look on the internet for articles related to their growth and care.
