Carlablackiae Ra 1 x 16

This cross was bred by Rory Antolak and acquired from Miranda, known as Plantyweeb. It was one of the first Carlablackiae in my collection—the first came from Scott Cohen, and this one followed shortly afterward.

I remember exactly where I was when I paid for this plant: standing inside a Trader Joe’s in Dallas on a Sunday, after spending part of the day shopping for pots at a local nursery. I knew she was special, although I had no idea how thoroughly she would put me through my paces. She was a nightmare to establish. Her roots rotted regardless of the substrate, watering routine, humidity, or light I tried. Eventually, the plant appeared to die completely. I tossed what remained into a propagation box and forgot about it. Somehow, she returned—not with one growth point, but two. I sold the second head to a dear friend and fellow Houstonian before the plant truly began showing what she could become. The mature foliage is dark, velvety, and nearly black, providing an intense background for thick, stark-white veins. Rather than flowing in perfectly continuous lines, parts of the pattern appear interrupted, offset, or abruptly reconnected. Smaller branches extend from the primary veins at unexpected angles, creating an irregular, almost hand-drawn framework across the blade. Broad, rounded lobes sit around a narrow sinus, while the lower half tapers into a pointed heart shape.

What a stunner. After everything this plant put me through, I am incredibly glad I never gave up on her. The veins are difficult to describe because they do not look quite like those of anything else in my collection. They are bold, broken, and slightly unpredictable—and that is exactly what makes her unforgettable.