11 Black and Purple Tomato Varieties You Have to Try

Adored for their smoky-sweet, complex flavors and rich, bold colors, purple and black tomatoes are here to stay. I still love the classic red and gold varieties, but there is something about these dark beauties that strikes my fancy. For sauces, stews, and salads, these unique cultivars add mystery and depth wherever you use them.

Black and purple tomatoes get their color from an abundance of anthocyanins and a high lycopene content. Both of these are powerful antioxidants known to reduce the risk of diseases. Anthocyanins can help lower blood pressure, slow the growth of cancer, and protect brain function. Perhaps even improve it!

The black and purple tones in tomatoes are variable and will intensify when they receive more light. They tend to have earthy, complex flavors and tons of visual appeal. If you’re looking for the perfect tomato for your garden and you want something unique, check out these stunning cultivars. 

‘Cherokee Purple’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Cherokee Purple’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Cherokee Purple‘ tomatoes are among the most beloved tomatoes on the market. They present a welcome balance of flavor and beauty and perform consistently in the garden. This beefsteak-style tomato has meaty flesh with an earthy, smoky-sweet flavor. Few seeds make it easy to slice for your favorite burger. 

The large fruits average about 10-12 ounces but can weigh up to a pound. They’re a lovely, dusky plum color with green shoulders; they always make a statement on top of salads. This indeterminate variety matures in 75-85 days and continues to produce through the summer. 

‘Black Krim’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Black Krim’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

Originating from the Crimean Peninsula, ‘Black Krim’ is a favorite of chefs. Its incredibly rich, salty-sweet flavor has a hint of smoke and a tangy finish, a lovely balance. It’s one of the most flavorful among heirlooms. Perfect for eating fresh, but not ideal for making sauces. If you want to cook them, slow-roasting is best.

For gardeners seeking a black or purple cultivar with striking visual appeal and bold flavor, this is the one. The indeterminate vines take 70-90 days to mature and continue to produce for months. The medium to large fruits are deep plum to brown-black, sometimes with green shoulders. 

‘Indigo Rose’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Indigo Rose’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Indigo Rose’ is one of the darkest tomatoes, with skin so dark that it appears black. This is an intentional result of breeding them for a high anthocyanin content. The side exposed to the sun is darkest, and as they ripen, the bottom takes on a rosy blush. 

This is a smaller fruit, larger than a cherry tomato, but not by much. The smooth, round fruits have a mild flavor with a slight tang. They’re not as sweet as most cherry varieties. Let them ripen fully before snacking on these for the best flavor. 

‘Beefy Purple’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Beefy Purple’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3′
	hardiness zones 2-11

This is a lesser-known tomato in the black and purple category. It’s a large beefsteak variety that can weigh up to a pound. The form is classic beefsteak, slightly flattened with deep ribs. It’s not as colorful as some others in this category, but it does have a distinctive reddish plum color. 

The flavor of ‘Beefy Purple’ is smoky and sweet with a richness similar to ‘Cherokee Purple.’ The flesh is meaty and dense with few seeds. The heavy fruit requires support on this indeterminate plant. They begin to mature about 75 days after transplanting. These are perfect for eating fresh but lack the acidity and moisture needed for canning. 

‘Black Cherry’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Black Cherry’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Black Cherry’ is an excellent snacking tomato, or what I would call a lunch box variety. It’s perfect for eating raw with its rich, savory-sweet flavor that has just a hint of smoke. It has the flavor of a much larger fruit wrapped in a pretty little package. 

This indeterminate vine produces a ton of small fruits in large clusters. They begin to mature at about 65-75 days from transplant. While it’s not technically an heirloom, it has that well-developed flavor and is open-pollinated. These are suitable for any purpose, tasty enough to eat raw and have a good skin-to-flesh ratio. That makes them great for cooking and dicing.

‘Purple Bumble Bee’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Purple Bumble Bee’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4′-5′
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Purple Bumble Bee’ tomatoes are a cherry variety and part of the Artisan Tomato series. They are reddish-purple tomatoes with green stripes, known for both their beauty and excellent performance. They are great for drying and roasting due to their firm, snappy skin. They’re also tasty enough to eat raw. 

The small, oval fruits are closer to a grape than a cherry, and they have a sweet and tangy flavor. The skin is firm and gives a satisfying snap when bitten into. The indeterminate vines mature about 70 days after transplanting. For a balance of performance and beauty, this is a wonderful cultivar. 

‘Purple Russian’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Purple Russian’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5′-7′
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Purple Russian’ is a beautiful, heirloom plum tomato with dusky rose to deep violet brown skin. As they mature, they’re nearly black. The elongated plum shape and low acidity make them nice for fresh eating. They also have a meaty texture and few seeds, so they’re ideal for sauce-making. 

This one has a unique and desirable combination of traits. It’s highly productive, like a classic paste tomato, but has the complex, rich, smoky-sweet flavor of a purple cultivar. They’re a decent size, ranging from four to six ounces. 

‘Black Beauty’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Black Beauty’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5′-7′
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Black Beauty’ is one of the darkest varieties of tomato on the market. It truly has skin that is deep indigo to black, not just dark red like some others. The flesh is darker than usual as well. This variety contains an extra dose of anthocyanins, making it rich in healthy antioxidants. 

These are great for fresh eating or cooking. The visually striking skin is darkest when it is exposed to the sun. These have low acidity, with more of a sweet and smoky, savory flavor. The flesh is dense, and they have few seeds. The fruits are medium to large and rounded with smooth, glossy skin.

‘Purple Calabash’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Purple Calabash’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Purple Calabash’ is a beautiful, complex heirloom. Their history goes back to pre-Columbian South and Central America. This historical significance, along with their bold, rich flavor, makes them highly desirable among heirloom enthusiasts. The flavor is sometimes described as wine-like. It’s tangy, rich, and complex. 

The fruits are medium-sized and have a heavy ribbing. They have burgundy to mahogany skin and juicy flesh with a moderate amount of seeds. They are perfect for eating fresh but not as suitable for sauces due to their shape and tang. 

‘Purple Boy’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Purple Boy’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3′-4′
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Purple Boy’ is a modern hybrid with rich, bold, and heirloom flavors, as well as excellent disease resistance. They have the best of both worlds with the complex flavor of a black or purple tomato but are easier to grow. In appearance, they are smoother and more uniform than a heirloom. 

The flavor is rich, smoky, sweet, and savory. Its flesh is juicy and meaty with few seeds, making it great for any preparation. The indeterminate plants take about 80 days to mature from transplanting. They manage to produce a good crop even in less-than-ideal conditions. 

‘The Big Purple’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘The Big Purple’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3′-4′
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘The Big Purple’ lives up to its name. It produces very large, deep red-violet to mahogany-colored fruits. Bred for larger fruit and higher productivity, it’s similar to the heirlooms but better. It’s open-pollinated and indeterminate, maturing in about 80-85 days. 

The heavy fruit, up to a pound each, needs support. These slightly flattened, ribbed, beefsteak-style tomatoes are dense and juicy, with low seed content. They’re perfect for slicing and eating raw. Their deep, umami flavor adds a special element to sauces, but nothing beats the fresh and juicy texture.