What it is
Premium black/charcoal decorative stone, typically 1 to 3 inches. Sold by the ton. The darkest rock in our decorative lineup — reads true black at fresh install, mellows to dark charcoal as it weathers.
What it is for
Modern and contemporary landscape design. The signature decorative rock for:
- Modern xeriscape beds. Black rock framing succulents and architectural plants — pure design statement.
- Pool surrounds with white concrete decks. Black rock as the planting-bed mulch alternative. Sophisticated, intentional, low-maintenance.
- Front entry feature beds for modern homes. Black gravel base, single specimen plant, done.
- Japanese / Zen garden installations. Black gravel for the meditative ground plane.
- High-end accent beds at restaurants, corporate offices, modern residential.
Where it fights:
- Traditional house palettes (red brick, warm-tone stone) — black reads off-palette.
- Hot direct sun areas next to plantings — black absorbs heat, raising soil temperatures noticeably.
- Under deciduous trees with heavy leaf-drop — leaves against black look terrible; you'll be raking constantly.
How much do I need
About 90 sq ft per ton at 2-3" depth:
| Area | Tons |
|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.6 |
| 100 sq ft | 1.1 |
| 200 sq ft | 2.2 |
| 500 sq ft | 5.5 |
Install
Same fabric-critical build as all decorative rock:
- Excavate 3-4 inches.
- Heavy woven fabric.
- Steel edging — 4-6" tall.
- Spread 2-3" of Black Star.
- Hose off the dust.
For Zen-garden or pure-modern looks, edging is even more important — the line between rock and lawn is the design.
Heat consideration
Black rock in DFW sun gets hot — surface temps in July can hit 140°F+ in direct mid-day exposure. Plants right at the rock edge can stress from radiant heat. Either:
- Use Black Star in shaded or part-shade beds, or
- Plant heat-tolerant species (agave, yucca, sotol, salvia greggii) that don't mind the heat reflection.
Don't use Black Star around heat-sensitive plants like azaleas or hydrangeas.
Buying tips
- Premium price — most expensive rock in our yard. Worth it for the right design; overkill for utility uses.
- Limited stock — pre-order for jobs over 3 tons.
- Sample first. Black tone varies subtly by load.
Contractor notes
Specialty product — call to confirm availability before quoting jobs over 5 tons.
In the field
