18 Dark Lilies to Satisfy Your Dramatic Gardening Aesthetics

Dark lilies come in all sorts of cultivars, from the Asiatic lily to the calla lily of the Lilium genus, with other types in between. Dark-colored lilies can range from shades of rusty orange to a stunning black beauty cultivar.

Here, you will discover the various types of lilies of the Liliaceae family that produce dramatic flowers in rich dark hues.

List of Dark Lilies

1. Red Velvet 

Gorgeously colored, the Red Velvet lily is the classic Asiatic lily for a standout garden. The Red Velvet lily would be able to grow somewhere between three and four feet tall, producing its rich, dramatic blooms. Remember that this Velvet type is a summer delight, as it blooms quite early in the warm season, and thrives with the warmth.

One aspect that makes it so unique is hummingbirds are attracted to the rich pollen found within the dark red flower, making this variety the perfect addition to any pollinator garden.

In addition, they make wonderful centerpieces as cut flowers as well, which means you can display them as is, or complement their fiery blooms with an Oriental hybrid lily.

2. Lilium Henryi 

This delightful orchid has vibrant flowers deeply saturated in rusty orange colors. The festive flowers are distinguished by their gracefully long extensions called papillae. The inflorescence only grows taller with each passing year, eventually producing auxiliary buds.

Once this happens, this cultivar produces even more flowers for a longer period of time. One thing you should know is that you can grow this lily if you live in USDA zones 4 through 8. Their joyful flowers make them highly compatible with other colorful lilies such as Trumpet lilies, Tiger lily, and other varieties of the Oriental lily.

3. Black Wizard Lily

The black wizard lily rare and quite dramatic has an eager horticultural follower. For non-gardeners, this fascinating lily flower easily captures the vivid imagination since it is so deeply saturated.

This particular cultivar has some lily varieties names with Mapira being one of them. It is a perfect choice when grown it in USDA zones 3 to 8, because you will be seeing it bloom early in the summer all throughout midsummer, in a healthy way. Like other Asiatic lilies, the Mapira thrives in full sun with well-draining soil.

Overall, if you’re looking to contrast your lilies, this particular cultivar works dramatically well when paired with the pure white blossoms of the Casa Blanca lily or the Easter lily. Of course, you can always add other colors to the mix, such as the vibrant Golden Splendor lily, the sunset hues of the African Queen lily, or the pink perfection of other lilies in the Asiatic and Oriental families.

4. Black Pearl Lily 

It is scientifically classified as Lilium Asiatic Black Pearl and is one of the darkest colored lilies to exist. This beautiful lily has large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are produced during the mid-summer months. However, not only is the Black Pearl extremely dramatic, in addition, it is also incredibly fragrant and will fill up the whole place as it thrives.

Each bulb produces 10 to 15 flowers, making this one of the most admirable showstoppers in the lily family. Lucky gardeners can grow this stunning beauty in USDA zones 3 to 9.

Their lily flowers also make for wonderful cut floral arrangements, especially when you’re looking for a little drama in your centerpieces.

5. Forever Susan Lily 

Possibly inspired by black-eyed Susan flowers, this cultivar is one of the most striking Asiatic hybrids in the Lilium family. The center of the lily flower features a deep shade of rich yet dark burgundy, tipped with bright or vibrant orange and gold.

Growing in USDA zones 4 to 8, Forever Susan is incredibly easy to grow and requires very low maintenance. The vivid coloration attract pollinators such as butterflies in the early to mid-summer months of the year. Alternatively, you can use them as cut flowers for your decor.

6. Dark Secret Lily 

Reddish purple to deep burgundy colors saturate the highly dramatic flowers of this cultivar. Fittingly, Dark Secret brings out the inner longings of any admirer who wishes to grow this alluring but mysterious lily. Dark Secret has a slight fragrance, but is still favored for its deep hues by many gardeners and florists.

Dark Secret surprisingly grows darker when grown in full sun, although it can also tolerate partial shade. This variety of lily is frost-hardy and can be grown in USDA zones 3 to 10.

Just like other lilies, it requires a soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. However, being extremely low-maintenance, the Dark Secret will thrive with occasional watering, overall, it doesn’t require much challeneg.

7. Black Charm Lily

Deep, dark, and mysterious, Black Charm adds depth and drama to any garden. You can always plant it with other lilies with richly saturated hues, or contrast them with cultivars with light flowers. Which means that if you’re looking to make them more portable, grow Black Charm lilies in pots, they make an excellent choice.

Gardeners may find that the Black Charm is surprisingly easy to grow. Just care for them as you would with any variety of lily, and you should be good to go. These lilies love loose, well-draining soil with occasional watering. In addition, remember to expose them to the full sun to bring out the dark beauty of Black Charm.

8. Lionheart Lily 

Bursting with colorful contrast, the Lionheart lily is a striking cultivar that inspires joy and courage. Its dark purple petals are mottled with vibrant yellow splotches, making this spectacular lily a standout in any garden or centerpiece.

You can grow this lily in USDA zones 3 to 8 as long as you give it full sunlight. It can tolerate partial shade, but note that the colors or shades might not be as vibrant when grown under full sun. Just like other lilies, keep this away from curious chewing cats, as it can be toxic to them.

9. Sumatra Lily 

This fragrant lily has deep red floral hues that are highly saturated in the center and fringed with white on the margins. It requires full sun and is a perennial plant, especially when grown in warmer regions. The plant has the ability to grow up to a height of three feet, which makes this perfect for low hedges and borders as they stand gracefully.

However, as you are keeping it, note that its showy, attractive wine-red flowers come out during the summer season. Which means you can enjoy the blooms on the plant or display them as cut flowers for your interior design.

10. Turk’s Cap Lily 

The deep dark pink colorations of the Turkscap lily are ideal for those who want a more vibrant but still saturated flower, with the dark shaded petals that it has. Also known as Martagon lily, this wonderful perennial is a fantastic addition to your garden, especially if you’re looking to add more vibrant hues.

Grow this lily with the mulberry-colored flowers in USDA zones from 3 all the way through 8 as they would require receiving full sun to bring out its color.

As you provide these requirements, you will be rewarded with showy, fragrant flowers that have color variations from hot pink to wine.

These flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds so if you have a pollinator garden, leave the flowers as is.

11. Netty’s Pride Lily

The fantastically contrasting flowers make Netty’s Pride a curious case for lily lovers. At first glance, the flowers look so perfect that they border on appearing artificial. However, upon closer look, the attractive mix of black, dark purple, and white flower colors are indeed natural and very vibrant.

Netty’s Pride lilies become the focal floral centerpiece when arranged artfully among pure white flowers, as the tips of the petals are white, they would go great with white flowers. As an alternative, you can also display these lilies with other flowers with singular colors to make them stand out even more as they have two exquisite shades on either ends.

12. Landini Lily

The elegant darkness of Landini lilies never fails to entice lily lovers to get several bulbs for their gardens. These lilies are both mysterious and dramatic, the deep burgundy tones of the flowers make gardeners feel like opening a treasure chest full of ruby-red jewels in the summer.

They are, however, easy to grow and low-maintenance, the Landini lily blends in beautifully with similarly colored blooms but can also easily stand out in a sea of pastels. Remember to grow this wonderful perennial in USDA zones 4 to 8, and you will for sure enjoy your summer blooms.

13. Night Rider Lily 

The Night Rider lily is one of the darkest lilies that has recently been introduced to the horticultural world. The Night Rider lily boasts dark ebony blooms with an exotic satiny sheen to its petals.

This gorgeous black lily can be grown in USDA zones 3 to 8 as they receive some direct and full sun and blooms profusely during early to mid-summer. Note that since it is highly dramatic, you can plant this at the borders of your garden to draw your eyes over the entire area.

14. Dimension Lily 

Brooding and sumptuously dramatic, the Dimension lily features deep wine colors that range from plum to raisin. As the flower matures, the petals become even more recurve to showcase its deep coloration. In addition, you can always grow this lily in sunny spots that receive slight shade and include more vibrancy to your home or even garden.

The Dimension lily makes a wonderful cut flower and can be easily paired with other lilies of the same color family. However, if you’re looking for drama, contrast these lilies with pale flowers for a strikingly unique centerpiece.

15. Midnight Mystery 

One would think that dark-colored blooms would not be summer flowers, but the Midnight Mystery lily proves to be just the opposite. The latter would signify how these flowers are both gothic and dramatic, hence the Midnight Mystery pops out to bring a little darkness in the middle of the summer season.

Beautiful and saturated, the flowers range from blood red to deep dark aubergine. Which means if you want richer colors, expose your Midnight Mystery lilies to full sun. When cutting flowers, you must make sure to keep the anthers away from your clothing. Just like the anthers of other lilies, the Midnight Mystery anthers can easily stain fabric.

16. Queen of the Night Lily 

Deep burgundy wine colors burst from the center of the Queen of the Night flower while slowly desaturating to paler petal tips. These large, fragrant flowers come out during the summer, enticing pollinators with vibrant orange stamens.

The Queen of the Night flowers are impressive when displayed as cut flowers. Note that most florists pair these blooms with vibrant lilies in yellows and oranges, although the Queen of the Night blooms work equally well in the same pink and red color family.

17. Odessa Lily 

The Odessa lily belongs to the calla family, and the calla lilies are often known for their white or pale-colored flowers, so having a dark-colored cultivar can be surprising for some. The Odessa lily features deep purple blooms that are nearly as black as summer nights, which is its important trait.

Note that this lily attracts pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds during the mid-summer season. The Odessa lily will grow in the ground or in containers, with most of the blooms often harvested for floral arrangements. Calla lilies like the Odessa can be grown in USDA zones 3 through 10.

18. Black Star Lily 

Another member of the calla family, the Black Star lily. This dark beauty is more or less similar to its ebony-hued relative. 

This cultivar grows well in USDA zones 3 to 10 and requires full sun, however, note that it can tolerate partial shade, and would still thriveee.

Just like the Odessa, Black Star makes a wonderful cut flower. But if you are growing a pollinator garden, leave the flowers alone to give sustenance to the butterflies and hummingbirds.

Conclusion

The dark lilies meaning can be subjective, with many seeing them more as beautifully mysterious than menacing. But everyone will agree that lilies with deep, dark, and richly-saturated flowers are impressive and dramatic. 

While black lily seeds are not always available, but once you get your hands on them, they are the best ones that you can keep as they will have a unique vibrancy to add to your garden.