These Black Petunias Are the “It” Flower for Fall Gardens (They Look So Classy!)
This is definitely the year of the petunia, and with good reason. Earlier this year, “glow-in-the-dark” petunias were all anyone could talk about — including me! I had the chance to try them out, and unfortunately, they did not survive my lack of a green thumb. This summer, though, I also discovered black petunias, and while I’ve avoided trying them out so I don’t kill any more plants, they’ll definitely make a beautiful addition to any garden.
On a visit to Ball Horticultural’s gardens, their many varieties of black petunias caught my eye. Their sleek petals stood out among the brighter colors, and the sunlight gave them a lovely purple undertone — perfect for someone who gravitates toward a darker aesthetic. To get more information on these dark-hued beauties, I reached out to Katie Rotella, who works in marketing communications at Ball.
“Ball’s first black petunia variety was actually Black Velvet, which came out in 2011,” Rotella says. It’s an unexpected shade for gardens, where people usually opt for bright colors, but surprisingly, Black Velvet took off. “The color came about naturally through a gene mutation that Ball has since patented — ‘the green gene’ — that allows the breeder to select for the darker color. It was total chance,” she explains.
As for why Black Velvet became so popular, Rotella has a theory. “People associate black with sophistication — relating it to things like black tie events and the little black dress. It adds a touch of class to any garden, and people are also very invested now in trends like goth gardens.”
Unfortunately, Black Velvet isn’t on the market any longer, but Ball has plenty of dark-colored petunias on offer. Black Magic, Black Velvet’s “little sister,” is the next generation, and looks just like it with dark, velvety petals. If you’re aiming to really lean into the goth garden aesthetic, this is the one to pick.
Ball’s other darker-hued offerings are slightly different — Phantom was bred from Black Velvet, and features a black base with a distinctive yellow star pattern overlaid onto it. Midnight Gold features double blooms, with a black base color edged with distinctive pale yellow. Both are part of Ball’s Jewel collection, and Rotella likens them to “Vegas on a plant.”
Like all petunias, these require hours of direct sunlight, so it might be a bit late in the season to grab them, though it’s still possible to grow them for a couple months. Otherwise, you can always grab them for next planting season — they thrive in early spring.
These sun-loving flowers prefer long, warm days and cooler nights, so as temperatures drop, the stripes on Midnight Gold and Phantom might get thinner as the previous blooms shrivel up. These are great for patios and pots, so if you’re short on space, you can still plant them. Rotella recommends pairing them with frothy white or silvery blooms for a gorgeous contrast.
While these varieties aren’t available online, you can buy Black Cat Petunia seeds at Burpee, which were developed by Ball’s UK subsidiary. Otherwise, keep an eye out at Home Depot, Lowes, or your local garden center for seeds and blooms!