What blooms black and gold?

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Amy Davis

Garden Variety is back behind the plow today after a weekend in Pittsburgh, soaking up the black and gold fun of a Super Bowl weekend with family and friends.

Alas, victory did not go to the Steelers, but the "seeds" of future football victories are no doubt there.

Speaking of black and gold....

Black is the Holy Grail of plant hybridizers. The black dahlia, the black tomato, the black rose. This is what those in plant science seek.

Mostly what they get, however, is a very deep purple or a very deep blue or a deep burgundy.

This season entry is the black petunia, hybridized by Ball, and named, very appropriately, Black Velvet.

There are also black blossoms gently striped with yellow or cream, named Pinstripe or Phantom.

However, I am not sure if black blossoms do not work at cross purposes for the gardener seeking "color."