Botanical Name: Calibrachoa × hybrida ‘Caliloco™ Dracula’

Common Name: Calibrachoa, Million Bells

Hardiness Zone: Annual in Most Climates

Size: 6–10" Tall × 12–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Trailing, Mounding, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Thrives in Full Sun

Soil: Prefers Well-Drained, Fertile Soil

Water Needs: Moderate; Allow Slight Drying Between Waterings

Bloom Season: Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Regular Feeding with a Balanced or Slightly Acidic Fertilizer

Features: Velvety Dark Purple to Near-Black Blooms with Neon Yellow Throat, Dramatic Contrast, Heavy Flowering, Heat Tolerant

Uses: Ideal for Hanging Baskets, Containers, Window Boxes, and High-Contrast Combinations

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

See our complete Calibrachoa Plant Guide for more in depth care details.

More About Calibrachoa ‘Caliloco™ Dracula’

If there’s one Calibrachoa that consistently makes people stop, stare, and ask “What is that?”, it’s Caliloco™ Dracula. The flowers are incredibly dark—near black, velvety purple—with an electric yellow throat that feels almost lit from within. That extreme contrast is what makes this variety so unforgettable. It doesn’t blend in, and it’s not meant to. In containers and hanging baskets, it reads bold from across the garden and dramatic up close, with a richness that feels more ornamental than typical Million Bells.

As part of the Caliloco™ Series, ‘Dracula’ leans hard into novelty color and high saturation, but what impresses me most is how well it carries that drama all season long. This isn’t a one-hit wonder that looks great for a few weeks and then fades out. The plant flowers generously and consistently, creating a blanket of blooms that keeps the color impact strong from spring straight through frost.  Despite its exotic look, ‘Caliloco™ Dracula’ is refreshingly straightforward to grow. With regular feeding and good sun, it behaves just like a dependable Calibrachoa should, which is always a win in my book.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our testing grounds down here in South Carolina, ‘Caliloco™ Dracula’ has proven to be a strong, reliable performer in full-sun containers. From a design standpoint, this variety is a powerhouse for contrast. The near-black flowers create a dramatic backdrop that makes bright whites, yellows, chartreuse foliage, and silvery tones absolutely pop. I love using it to anchor high-contrast containers or to add an unexpected edge to otherwise classic color combinations. 

One thing that really stands out to me is how well ‘Caliloco™ Dracula’ holds its structure and intensity as the season wears on. Even in our South Carolina heat, it doesn’t thin out, stretch awkwardly, or lose its visual punch. The plant stays full and evenly shaped, with flowers distributed across the entire canopy rather than just at the tips. That consistency makes it easy to design with, because once it’s planted, it continues to look intentional and bold without constant adjustment or replacement—exactly what I want from a high-impact container plant.

Caliloco™ Dracula vs. Other Calibrachoa Varieties

Compared directly to Calitastic® Cappuccino, the difference is design intent: Cappuccino leans smoky, warm, and muted—more of a sophisticated, earthy neutral that blends beautifully with terracotta tones, dusty pinks, and bronzy foliage. When stacked against broader benchmarks like the Superbells® Series, Dracula separates itself as the “specialty-color showpiece” of the group. Superbells® varieties are often the standard for vigor, big seasonal performance, and strong garden impact across a wide palette—reliable, bold, and widely adaptable.

While the Cha-Cha™ Series of Calibrachoa brings cheerful color, heavy flowering, and a lively, energetic habit that fills fast and keeps moving. Dracula fits into that world differently: it’s less about being the most classic or the most neutral, and more about delivering an exotic, edgy color effect that’s hard to replicate with anything else. Cabaret® Selections are typically the polished, refined choice—tight branching, controlled habit, and a clean, professional look that holds shape in combos. If you want a conversation-starting Calibrachoa, Dracula is the one that plays in a category of its own.