The Black petunia is a beautiful yet weird flowering black plant that has fast become a top ornamental plant in homes and gardens everywhere.
The plant features striking dark purple flower petals which are so dark they could be mistaken for clack under the wrong lighting.
Black Petunias are varieties of the petunia genus which are natives of the South American regions. Where they are tropical and rely on trailing behind the covers of other trees for access to bright but shaded sunlight.
| Botanical Name | Black Petunia |
| Common Names | Black Mamba Petunia, Crazytunia, Black Velvet Petunia |
| Origin | South America |
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Plant Type | Perennial, Flowering, Trailing plant |
| Full Size | 12 inches |
| Sun Exposure | Bright but indirect light |
| Soil Type | Well-draining soil with slightly acidic pH level |
| Toxicity | Black petunias are considered as non-toxic |
Varieties of Black Petunia
The black petunia plant is produced from cuttings, this is why it is considered as a rare plant. However, some private growers have been able to create different varieties of exotic black plants. Some of these Black Petunia varieties are;
- Black Magic Petunia
- Black Velvet Petunia
- Black Mamba Petunia or the Petunia Crazytunia Black Mamba
- Black Cat Petunia, and
- Ray Black Petunia
Black Petunia Care
Growing the petunia black plant is easy if you have a great understanding of the exotic plant’s requirements. Meeting these requirements could help ensure that your black petunia plant flourishes. Some of these requirements would be:
Black Petunia Light Requirements
The Light requirement for the petunia black plant is enough to access to bright full sunlight. Beware of excess sunlight though, as the petunia foliage might get damaged when exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time.
It is ideal to leave your black petunia with at the very least, 6 hours of access to direct or full sunlight a day.
The black petunia plant can also survive low lighting, however, the growth of the beautiful exotic plant might get stunted.
A great place to keep your black petunias would be a room, close to a window that has its fair share of bright direct sunlight or full sun.
As a trailing plant, the black petunia does tend to grow towards the direction of the light therefore, placing a stake in the middle and placing them in a hanging basket could help in controlling the growth direction of the plant.
Black Petunia Water Requirements
The Black petunia is a drought-resistant plant, which means it can survive long periods without much water. However, the black plant does require regular watering to thrive.
Most varieties of black petunia including the petunia black magic plant, require soil that is kept moist often.
This, for the black petunia, is a better soil condition than dry soil. However, try as much as possible not to overwater your black petunia or leave its roots in soggy soil.
You can water your black petunia plant through drip irrigation. Ensure the water goes to the roots as leaves could be dangerous to the Black petunia by encouraging fungal and bacterial growth.
In hot regions it is advised that you water your black petunias once every week, ensure it is a deep watering and not surface watering as deep watering is ideal for a proper root system.
Black Petunia Soil Requirements
The perfect soil condition that is required by the black petunia plant would be soil that has a slightly acidic level.
The appropriate pH value for a Black petunia plant would be from 5-2 to 5-8. What is most important to the black petunia with regards to soil would be that the soil type used is well-draining.
The roots of the petunia black plant are delicate and could be susceptible to fungal attacks when exposed to soggy soil. This is why you must ensure that you provide adequate drainage for your soil.
Using a well-aerated loamy soil with the addition of organic compost, peat and mulch could go a long way in ensuring the health of the black petunia houseplant.
Black Petunia Humidity and Temperature Requirement
Petunias in general don’t do well in hot or rather humid conditions. This is why you must strive to keep your petunia plant away from excess heat.
During the night, your black petunia plant would do well with temperatures ranging from 57 degrees Fahrenheit to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
And during the day, ensure you keep your Black petunia plant in temperatures that range from 61 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Black petunias should be kept or stored in a cool but not too cold environment, this keeps them fresh and thriving, excess heat can lead to a drooping plant.
Black Petunia Fertilizing Requirement
With the Black Petunia, fertilizing should be a regular or frequent affair as it is necessary for strong, flourishing growth.
It is different from the other petunia varieties which require infrequent fertilizing. The Black Petunia plant requires more care than others.
When fertilizing your black petunia plant do ensure that you make use of a balanced fertilizer. Using an 8-8-8 fertilizer is most preferable as it would help in producing colorful, healthy blooms
Propagating your Black Petunia
The seeds of the black petunias are not useful. This is because the black petunia is a hybrid plant that is produced through rooting the stem cuttings.
The appropriate way to do this is by starting with the most healthy part of the petunia plant and using sterilized scissors to cut through the stem leaves, which are located at the top of the stem. These leaves should be dipped in hormone powder and then placed in a tray that is mixed with peat sand and adequate plant food.
This tray should be placed in a dark area for about 3 weeks, after which you check the cuttings. Once you notice that the stem cuttings have produced roots, you can then transplant them into a pot and provide the requirements listed above
Toxicity
The Black Petunia plant is regarded as a non-toxic plant. This does not mean that it is edible, it just shouldn’t be ingested in large quantities.
Common Health Problems of the Black Petunia
The petunia black plant is a tough plant that is also regarded as drought resistant. So, overwatering the plant can lead to a few problems. You can also notice tiny black bugs on petunias. Some of the known problems of black petunias are;
- Drooping leaves
- Crown Rot
- Mites
- Tobacco budworm
- Western flower thrips
- Botrytis Blight
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the black petunia plant is often regarded as a perennial
Ensure that you make use of insecticidal soap, whenever your petunias get a serious infestation problem.
The petunia black plant is becoming popular and can be found with relative ease in most garden stores and online stores too.
The black petunia is a hybrid and as such gains its color from genetic recombinatios.
A mature average petunia black plant is estimated to live for a period of 2 to 3 years.
