Lisianthius nigrescens - Flor de muerto seeds

For flower enthusiasts and lovers of dark blooms, this Lisianthus nigrescens, also known as the Death Flower or Black Lisianthus, is a rare botanical species with some of the darkest tubular flowers one can find, throughout the summer. It has slender trumpets with metallic reflections carried on tall stems that dance in the light, above a slender and light, elegant plant. This render perennial from Mexico, is eye-catching at the back of flower beds and in bouquets. It thrives in warmth, sunlight, and fertile, well-drained, and chalky soil.

Originally from Central America, Lisianthus nigrescens is a cousin of gentians discovered in 1939 in a mountainous area located north of Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico. Its common name, Death Flower, comes from the local custom of planting this flower near graves. It is a tender perennial plant usually grown as an annual. In a few months, it forms a light, upright tuft 1.80 metres (6 feet) high and 50 cm (20in) wide. Its stems are covered with lanceolate, entire, slightly succulent, bluish-green leaves. From June to September, loose clusters of pendulous, very slender tubular, truly black flowers with metallic reflections appear at the stem tips, with a fused corolla that opens into five lobes arranged in a star shape. This plant has a fragile taproot system, so it is best to avoid transplanting it once it is established.

This black Lisianthus is a rare and spectacular species, but its airy silhouette and extraordinary flowers make it suitable for the background of country-style flower beds or in slightly wild areas of the garden. It can be paired with medium-sized ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku Jima', Muhlenbergia capillaris, Pennisetum rubrum, or combined with Ammi majus 'Graceland'. It is also a long-lasting cut flower, ideal for a minimalist contemporary-style arrangement.