These black plants you can grow in water pair dramatic leaves with crystal-clear roots for beautiful indoor displays!
If your indoor garden is starting to look a little too green, it might be time to try something different. These black plants bring rich tones that go beautifully with clear glass jars, where both the foliage and roots become part of the display. Here are some of the best black plants you can grow in water.
Black Plants You Can Grow in Water
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, which support our website. You can check out our Amazon storefront here for all kinds of essentials you’ll need.
Note: While not absolute black, these plants have beautifully dark foliage that often looks almost black indoors, making them perfect for dramatic water displays.
1. Black Velvet Alocasia
Botanical Name: Alocasia reginula
The velvety leaves just steal the spotlight, and growing this Alocasia in semi-water culture also lets you admire its fascinating root system. It’s one of “jewel alocasias,” prized for their compact size and textured foliage rather than giant leaves.
One more thing to keep in mind is that this plant dislikes frequent changes in its location. So, once you’ve found a bright spot with indirect light, it’s happiest when left undisturbed.
Pro Tip: These LECA clay pebbles are great for supporting the roots while improving airflow in semi-water culture.
2. Rubber Plant
Botanical Name: Ficus elastica ‘Black Prince’
One of the nicest things about this rubber plant is watching a new leaf unfurl. Before opening, each leaf stays wrapped inside a reddish sheath called a stipule, which naturally dries and falls away once the leaf expands.
When taking cuttings, make sure to rinse away the milky sap and let the cut end dry for a 15-20 minutes before placing it in water.
Caution: The sap may irritate sensitive skin, so wearing gardening gloves is always a good idea. Try using these sharp bypass pruning shears to make cleaner cuts and encourage successful rooting.
3. Raven ZZ Plant
Botanical Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Raven’
Don’t be fooled if your new Raven ZZ leaves appear bright green at first; that’s exactly how they’re supposed to look. Over the next few weeks, they’ll slowly deepen into the glossy black shade the plant is famous for.
Now, water propagation does take a bit of patience because the plant first develops underground rhizomes before producing noticeable roots. So, if it is taking longer than 3-4 weeks to show roots, do not worry!
Pro Tip: Keep changing the water every week. Fresh water helps keep the developing roots healthy during the long rooting process. And a slim glass propagation tube makes it easier to watch the roots develop over time.
4. Philodendron Black Cardinal
Botanical Name: Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’
One of the most interesting things about the black cardinal is how its leaves change as they mature. Fresh growth often emerges in shades of bronze or burgundy before slowly deepening into the rich, almost-black foliage the plant is known for.
Black Cardinal is also self-heading, so it grows in a neat, upright clump instead of sending out long vines.
Here are some hanging glass planter options you must use for displaying the changing leaf colors while keeping the cuttings upright.
5. Coleus Black Dragon
Botanical Name: Coleus scutellarioides ‘Black Dragon’
Coleus is one of those plants that hardly keeps you waiting. Fresh cuttings root quickly in water, but the real secret to keeping it lush isn’t watering; it’s removing the flower spikes.
Pinching them off encourages the plant to keep producing those dramatic ruffled leaves instead of transferring the energy into forming seeds. Or just use precision garden snips to make it easy to remove flower spikes without damaging the stems.
Pro Tip: Cooler nights, paired with plenty of bright light during the day, encourage the foliage to develop deeper burgundy and near-black tones that we want!
6. Black Pearl Peperomia
Botanical Name: Peperomia ‘Black Pearl’
With a lovely compact size, black pearl peperomia is a beautiful plant with rich and glossy black foliage. Those thick leaves naturally store moisture, which is why this peperomia handles the occasional missing watering better than many leafy houseplants.
When growing it in water, keep only the stem submerged to avoid leaf rot. Also, a small jar works better than an oversized one, as it helps keep the stems upright and creates a cleaner display.
You can go with these ribbed tabletop glass vase options, which seem just the right size for compact peperomias.
Watching white roots slowly spread beneath black leaves is a combination that’s hard to overlook. Just give them fresh water and the right amount of light, and you’ll have a bold and attractive indoor display.
