Top 8 Flower Varieties with Rich Chocolate Hues Ideal for Scrumptious, Season-Spanning Border Designs
For those looking to add a touch of decadence and sophistication to their gardens, chocolate brown flowers are a perfect choice. Here are some of the best options for creating a sultry, moody garden aesthetic.
Tulip 'Black Hero'
Large, dark, near-black velvet-like blooms that open similarly to peonies and have a deep honey scent make Tulip 'Black Hero' a standout choice. These tulips tolerate full sun to partial shade and grow about 45 cm tall. They can be grown in pots, borders, or cut flower gardens.
Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Black Knight'
Deep maroon, almost jet black pincushion flowers that attract butterflies and grow about 90 cm tall make Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Black Knight' an ideal addition to any garden. This variety of scabious grows in broad swathes, adding nectar-rich, dramatic color.
Chocolate Cherry Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Featuring dark chocolate centers with brownish-burgundy petals reaching 6-8 feet tall, Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers provide gothic drama and make long-lasting cut flowers.
'Moccachino' Astilbe
Noted for its unique chocolate-brown foliage with white flower plumes, 'Moccachino' Astilbe is a great choice for shade gardens (zones 4-8) and is low maintenance. It reaches about 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide.
Dark burgundy and chocolate-toned Dahlias
Dahlias such as 'Rip City' (deep burgundy with a near-black heart) and others with velvety merlot or peach blooms with dark foliage add moody sophistication and work well in modern, moody bouquets or mixed palettes.
To balance the dark and moody tones in a garden, consider adding lighter tones like peachy salmons and butter yellow flowers.
Other Options
- Cosmos atrosanguineus 'Chocolate Cosmos' has chocolate-maroon flowers that smell like hot chocolate and grows about 24" tall. It loves full sun and requires deadheading to prolong flowering.
- Gladiolus 'Espresso' is a dark chocolate red gladioli variety that flowers from summer into fall and grows up to 5 feet tall.
- Oxalis Triangularis is a decorative, low-growing perennial with dark chocolate purple leaves and edible flowers. It thrives with bright, indirect light and well-draining soil.
- Angelica Sylvetris 'Ebony' has large umbels of architectural flowers that are coco colored and grows about 7ft tall. It thrives in moist, fertile soil with good drainage and prefers cooler temperatures.
- Digitalis parviflora 'Milk Chocolate' has silvery foliage and lance-shaped blonde chocolate flowers. It grows about 60cm tall.
- 'Milk Chocolate' prefers partial sun and flowers from mid April or early May right through to the tail end of July.
Where to Buy
- You can buy Cosmos atrosanguineus 'Chocolate Cosmos' from Ferri Seeds.
- Tulip 'Black Hero' bulbs can be purchased at John Scheepers.
- Oxalis Triangularis bulbs can be found on Amazon.
- You can buy Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Black Knight' at Eden Brothers.
- You can buy Angelica Sylvetris 'Ebony' at Ferri Seeds.
- Gladiolus 'Espresso' bulbs can be purchased at Eden Brothers.
A Note on 'Black Barlow'
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Black Barlow' has fully double, upward-facing, spurless, dark plum chocolate flowers and is a staple in cottage gardens, known for its aesthetic beauty and attractiveness to pollinators. It thrives in well-drained soil and partial shade and self-seeds readily, leading to naturalized drifts year after year.
[1]: Garden Design, (2021), Best Chocolate Brown Flowers for a Dark and Moody Garden [2]: The Spruce, (2021), 10 Chocolate-Colored Flowers for Your Garden
[4]: The English Garden, (2021), 10 Flowers for a Dark Garden [5]: The New York Times, (2021), Chocolate Sunflowers: A Delicious Treat for the Garden
Tulip 'Black Hero' and Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are excellent additions to a lifestyle that embraces a home-and-garden with a sultry, moody aesthetic, offering dark and dramatic floral elements. The 'Moccachino' Astilbe, with its chocolate-brown foliage and white flower plumes, is a perfect choice for a shade garden, contributing to the overall dark toned home-and-garden décor.
