A friend had this growing in her yard. She said it was an Amaranthus nigrum. I cannot find a reference to such a plant. Also when I did a google search for black leafed plants I could not find a match. Can anyone help? It is growing in zone 11

That looks like a Pseuderanthemum (Acanthaceae).

Maybe Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. atropurpureum 'Black Varnish'.

https://images.search.yahoo.co...

It's rather difficult to tell what those blooms really look like, but try Eranthemum nigrum and see what you think.

http://www.kartuz.com/pc/80069...

Eranthemum nigrum is a match I think. Including the bloom shape. And the name is close enough to what she told me (I might have misheard...)

You're welcome, Hetty.

It is a pretty plant!

Please keep in mind that Eranthemum nigrum is a synonym for Pseuderanthemum carruthersii.

http://www.catalogueoflife.org...

Metrosideros said:Please keep in mind that Eranthemum nigrum is a synonym for Pseuderanthemum carruthersii.

http://www.catalogueoflife.org...

The Plant List says the same ..

http://www.theplantlist.org/tp...

http://www.theplantlist.org/tp...

Thanks Janet! Good to see that Kew is getting up to date.

will this live in zone 5 or 6 as a perennial or is it grown only as annual?

Thanks for the heads up on names Dave and Janet.

Hi Frillylily,

It is a tropical plant, so can't be outside in temperature lower than 55 degrees F, but can grow indoors with good lighting.

Metrosideros said:Thanks Janet! Good to see that Kew is getting up to date.

It seems Kew is 'catching up'. Their date is later than the one given on ITIS.

http://www.itis.gov/servlet/Si...

Interestingly, the source World Plants (which is new to me!) on Catalogue of Life states:

WorldPlants and WorldFerns are synonymic checklists of the vascular plants of the world (including ferns and lycophytes). The data set has been compiled over the last 20 years by starting from the basic data of the Kew Index and the Index Filicum

http://www.catalogueoflife.org...

I've revised the name of Eranthemum nigrum to be a synonym for Black Magic (Pseuderanthemum carruthersii). I've also edited Purple False Eranthemum (Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. atropurpureum) to include both Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum and Eranthemum atropurpureum as synonyms.

I've also added an entry for Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. atropurpureum 'Black Varnish' although I'm unsure of the correct species or infraspecific name.

If the image needs moving just let me know.

I have what is labeled 'Black Varnish' and would like to add it. It has a very dark reddish purple cast to it and the leaf is more rounded. It definitely has shiny leaves. Wondering if Black Varnish is just the trade name.

It's being shown on the tag/label as a cultivar name so it's probably Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. atropurpureum 'Black Varnish'