Black Adder

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Velvety, darkly aromatic spikes of Black Adder rise with an inky, licorice-tinged fragrance that feels almost velour-soft in the garden air.

The foliage is richly textured and deeply green, setting off slender, bottlebrush-like flower wands that mature to a dramatic, near-black tone with cool, herbal complexity. Grow Black Adder for aromatic bouquets, fragrant sachets, and bold flavor in herbal infusions and savory blends—an herb that brings both beauty and character to every planting.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

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Black Adder Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Apr 20th	Jun 15th	Aug 24th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	Apr 6th	Jun 1st	Aug 10th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Mar 30th	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Black Adder’s licorice-leaning, cool-herbal character reads like a cross between mint and anise when you use it fresh or as a tight-steep infusion. Handle it like a delicate spice—short steep times and light chopping keep the aroma bright instead of turning medicinal.

Best Uses

strong herbal infusion for tea or spritz (steep briefly for clean top notes)
savory rubs and spice blends for lamb, pork, and mushrooms
chopped leaf finishing on roasted vegetables or grain bowls
vinegar or simple-syrup flavoring for cocktails and shrub-style drinks

Flavor Profile

inky licorice-tinged aroma cool herbal mintiness velvety, fragrant leaf bite

Kitchen Pairings

lemon honey lamb black pepper cucumber goat cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I deal with powdery mildew on Black Adder (common in warm, humid weather)?

Check leaves mid- to late-season for a gray-white powdery coating, especially on lower foliage. Remove the worst affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line (not overhead). If it keeps spreading, spray with a labeled potassium bicarbonate or horticultural sulfur product, reapplying according to the label at the first sign of new spots.

How often should I water Black Adder during peak growth to keep plants from stalling?

During the main growth phase (after seedlings establish), keep the top 1–2 inches of soil evenly moist but not soggy—typically about 1 inch of water per week depending on your soil and heat. In hot spells, water every 2–3 days, ensuring water soaks down rather than just wetting the surface. If plants droop by afternoon, feel the soil: only water if the top inch is drying out; avoid daily light watering that encourages shallow roots.

When is Black Adder ready to harvest, and how do I know?

Harvest at about 70 days when pods are fully formed and the surface is glossy and uniformly colored for the variety—pick when pods snap easily or are tender rather than tough. For best flavor, harvest in the morning, and don’t wait for over-mature, dull-looking pods. If your plants are bushy, inspect daily for the first pods that meet the glossy/tender stage and remove them to keep new pods forming.