Bayer (1999) no longer recognizes this as a variety of H. nigra, but it is sufficiently distinct from the rest of our H. nigra var. nigra that we keep it separate. The leaves are more of a brown-green than the black that earns the species its epithet, and the plants tend to be more upright and similar to H. viscosa. The numerous white tubercles sharply contrast with the dark green leaves. These plants are rooted offsets in 3-inch pots.