21 Spooky Plants Perfect for Halloween

There’s a chill in the air, and that tells me that it’s time to decorate for Halloween! Spider webs and skeletons decorate neighborhood porches, but I want to make my garden match the decor. So, I set out to find the spookiest plants I could find.

First, I asked myself the question: What makes a botanical specimen send a shiver up my spine? There are several reasons, not the least of which is its carnivorous nature. Some are scary-looking, and some have a terrifying smell. 

If you want to add ghoulish fun to your spooky garden or houseplant collection, I’ve got you covered. Some of these are harder to find, but they are simply too chilling, not to mention. Let’s look at some of the most hair-raising herbage around!

Carrion Flower

	common name Carrion Flower
	botanical name Stapelia gigantea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-1’
	hardiness zones 9-10

At first glance, this species looks like your run-of-the-mill succulent. It’s related to milkweed and spreads easily, so when that pod pops up, it’s best to dispose of it. That is unless you like the smell of rotting meat. The Carrion flower, also known as the Zulu giant, produces large flowers that smell like death. 

Venus Fly Trap

	common name Venus Fly Trap
	botanical name Dionaea muscipula
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4”-12”
	hardiness zones 6-10

This classic creeper inspired the most famous of spooky carnivorous plants: the Audrey II. However, you won’t have to travel to any Little Shop of Horrors to find this plant. Venus flytraps are popular carnivores that commonly show up at nurseries and other plant retailers this time of year. 

Venus flytraps have adapted to poor, waterlogged soil by attracting insects that provide necessary nutrients. Fine trigger hairs along the edges of leaves look like pointed teeth, giving it a fearsome appearance. To appease this monster, give your flytrap plenty of light and keep the substrate moist but not soggy. 

Black Bat Flower

	common name Black Bat Flower
	botanical name Tacca chantrieri
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 9-11

This tropical terror is actually quite pretty and makes a nice potted specimen. It likes bright but indirect sun, so it can live indoors with few issues. It does prefer high humidity. The same conditions that keep an orchid happy will please a black bat flower. Named for the batlike form of its flowers, I’ve found this evergreen easy to care for. 

Keep your bat flower out of direct exposure, which will burn the sensitive leaves. It may look big and bad, but it’s sensitive. It also flowers in the fall. Mine is showing off disturbingly well right now. I’ll leave it to you to decide whether it’s beautiful or terrifying. This is a favorite of mine. 

Cobra Lily

	common name Cobra Lily
	botanical name Darlingtonia californica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-40”
	hardiness zones 7-10

Cobra lily is another creepy carnivore resembling one of the most dangerous snakes. With a bulbous head-shaped pitcher and a red leaf that looks like a forked tongue, it’s hard to imagine why any insect wouldn’t run for the hills. In reality, they do the opposite. 

This striking cultivar has glands in its tongue-like structure that produce an irresistible nectar. Cobra lilies are indeed spooky, but they are not great beginner plants. If you don’t have experience with carnivorous plants, starting with Venus flytrap is a good idea. If you’re up for the challenge, this native bog plant is fascinating and fearsome.

Ghost Plant

	common name Ghost Plant
	botanical name Monotropa uniflora
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height Up to 12”
	hardiness zones 4-11

This unique species isn’t a carnivore; it’s a parasite. Rather than using sunlight to create energy, it draws nutrients from a fungal host plant. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it? This trait means that it can grow in any exposure conditions, from full sun to full shade. It also means that it produces no chlorophyll, so it’s not green; it’s white. 

Ghost plants, or Indian pipes, are ominous due to their lack of color and parasitic nature. Small white stems terminate in a single, downward-facing flower. Though parasitic to its host, Indigenous people used it medicinally. It’s native to most of North America but too scarce to harvest, so if you see these, leave them behind. 

Brain Cactus

	common name Brain Cactus
	botanical name Mammillaria elongata ‘Cristata’
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 6”-12”
	hardiness zones 9-11

If you want to attract vegetarian zombies this Halloween, add a brain cactus to your collection. This spooky small succulent plant bears an uncanny resemblance to that all-important organ. Brain cactus is easy to care for and requires very little attention. Outdoors, give it shade in the afternoon. If you grow this indoors, bright indirect light is best. 

This Mammillaria variety’s twisting, curvy structures give it its gruesome look. Its general shape and size are so brain-like it would make a great addition to a scarecrow. 

Begonia Ferox

	common name Begonia Ferox
	botanical name Begonia ferox
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 12”-18”
	hardiness zones 10-11

Begonias aren’t typically at the top of the list of spooky plants. However, ferox is an exception. From a distance, this looks like an average rex begonia, but if you get too close, you’ll notice a mass of spikes on the surface of each leaf. Don’t be afraid—it only looks ferocious. 

The bullae covering the tops of the foliage look sharp to the touch, but they’re not. Begonia ferox likes moderate humidity and temperatures. Shelter it from direct sun, but give it plenty of indirect exposure. This makes a great addition to the terrarium. 

Doll’s Eyes

	common name Doll’s Eyes
	botanical name Actaea pachypoda
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 18”-30”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Perhaps it’s because the horror movie industry has leaned into the tale of the haunted doll. There is something that makes these little nonhumans just a tiny bit disturbing. Whatever the cause, there is definitely something unnerving about doll eyes. 

It resembles dozens of small doll eyeballs arranged in clusters on red branches. The small white eyes seem to look around in all directions for the ultimate “somebody’s watching me” vibe. If the appearance of this spooky plant doesn’t strike fear in your heart, the toxicity will. The berries contain a toxin that stops the heart, commonly resulting in death.

Bleeding Tooth Fungus

	common name Bleeding Tooth Fungus
	botanical name Hydnellum peckii
	sun requirements Shade
	height 4”
	hardiness zones 1-12

This terrifying fungus is the stuff of nightmares. The top of the fungus is white and porous, resembling a human molar. That could be creepy enough, but not for the Bleeding Tooth. The Bleeding Tooth oozes. The ooze, as it were, is the color of blood, creating a hideous specter where one might expect a toadstool to live. To top it off, the underside of the fungus has a coating of serrated spines. Truly horrific.

I’m not sure why anyone would want to grow this other than for a horror garden. If you like scary fungi, these prefer loose, sandy soil and very little sunlight. Bleeding tooth grows best in nitrogen-deficient soil. 

Corpse Flower

	common name Corpse Flower
	botanical name Amorphophallus titanum
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 6’-8’
	hardiness zones 10

This is the colossus of the spooky plant world. Titan Arum, or the notorious Corpse Flower, is a behemoth of putrescence. Blooming only once every 7-10 years, the blooming of the Corpse Flower is something that draws a crowd. It is possible to grow this plant at home, but it is relatively uncommon for a home gardener to do so as it’s quite a commitment.

It is no surprise that flies are responsible for pollinating this giant. Flies like stinky, rotting things, so this species emits a terrible odor similar to that of putrefying flesh. This draws the flies to the center of the flower. Then, the enormous flower collapses on itself, trapping the flies, who spread the pollen around. 

I find the Corpse Flower’s bloom to be rather pretty. It resembles an enormous Calla Lily with ruffled petals. The flower’s burgundy color and horrendous scent are thought to mimic the appearance and smell of rotting flesh. I think the bloom deserves some credit for its loveliness.

Darth Vader Plant

	common name Darth Vader Plant
	botanical name Aristolochia salvadorensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 16”
	hardiness zones 9-12

Come to the dark side; we have flowers! Check out the sinister little blooms on this tropical evergreen vine. Aristolochia salvadorensis called Darth Vader Plant, not for its skills with a lightsaber but for its creepy little flowers. They resemble the notorious villain from Tatooine. 

It’s rare to spot this species in its native habitat in Brazil. However, you can grow it in a greenhouse environment if this is the type of plant you want to cultivate. Beware though, as this is another species that smells like death. Which, ironically, is what entices its pollinators to pay a visit. 

Devil’s Walking Stick

	common name Devil’s Walking Stick
	botanical name Aralia spinosa
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 40’
	hardiness zones 4-9

With a name like Devil’s Walking Stick, you can be certain that this will be one spooky plant. From far away, this relative of Ginseng looks innocuous enough. You might even call it pretty.  In the summer, large, umbrella-shaped clusters of flowers spring up from the crown of the small to medium-sized, shrubby tree.

All this makes for a nice-looking plant, but watch out if you get too close. Up and down the long stems are some seriously enormous thorns. You might go so far as to call them spikes. Whatever you call them, a row of Devil’s Walking Stick plants would make a very convincing privacy hedge.

Dracula Orchid

	common name Dracula Orchid
	botanical name Dracula vampira
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 8”-16”
	hardiness zones 10-11

I have to admit that I have a soft spot for unique and unusual orchid species. This ominous orchid is one of the most interesting and strangely beautiful I have encountered. That is if you like black flowers, which I do. 

The Dracula genus isn’t named for the abominable, bloodthirsty fiend of story and film, although it would be appropriate to assume that it is. The name Dracula comes from the Latin ‘little dragon.’ These claim the name because of their dragon-like appearance. 

Ghost Tree

	common name Ghost Tree
	botanical name Davidia involucrata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20’-40’
	hardiness zones 6-8

Also known as the dove tree, the ghost tree is not an especially spooky plant. In fact, it’s rather beautiful in an otherworldly way. A native to Southwest China, the ghost tree is a medium to large-sized tree that produces clusters of small red flowers in the springtime. 

The flowers are not particularly noteworthy. However, the large, white bracts that hang beneath the flowers are reminiscent of tiny ghosts fluttering in the breeze. This tree can look a bit spooky in the dark, which is why it makes my list.

Hemlock

	common name Hemlock
	botanical name Conium maculatum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-10’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Hemlock is truly the stuff of nightmares. It grows wild in all but four states in the US, and it looks a lot like several other wildflowers like Queen Anne’s Lace and Elderberry. Because it is a pretty flower, settlers brought it to the States as a garden specimen. Now, it grows prolifically on roadsides, in meadows, in marshes, and in other low-lying areas around the country,

Now for the scary part. This extremely common plant is also extremely poisonous. Just ask Socrates… oh wait, you can’t, because he died… of hemlock poisoning. All joking aside, hemlock is highly toxic. Ingesting hemlock causes respiratory paralysis, renal failure, and central nervous system failure. No known antidote for this poison exists. If you see it while out on a stroll, steer clear.

‘Black Mamba’ Petunia

	common name ‘Black Mamba’ Petunia
	botanical name Petunia Crazytunia® ‘Black Mamba’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’
	hardiness zones 9-11

These garden flowers sound pretty terrifying. Named after Africa’s deadliest snake, this plant’s bark is much worse than its bite. Black Mamba Petunias are actually lovely flowers. Sometimes, they are called black velvet petunias for their deeply pigmented, velvety petals. There are several hybrid varieties of black petunias, but this is the darkest one, with true black flowers. 

In warmer climates, Petunias are perennials; however, they will grow as annuals in just about any Zone. They like full sun and plenty of moisture, but well-drained soil is a must. These lovelies will continuously bloom from spring through fall, bringing a gentle air of gloom and doom. 

Stinking Corpse Lily

	common name Stinking Corpse Lily
	botanical name Rafflesia arnoldii
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 13

Pinch your nose because this next one is an olfactory fright. Or is it an ingenious work of chemistry and biology designed to perpetuate the species? Maybe it’s a bit of both. Two things are certain: it is the largest and possibly the worst-smelling flower in the world. 

It takes the work of 30 different chemicals that the bloom secretes to produce the horrific odor of rotting flesh that emanates from these giant blooms. Aside from the smell, the Corpse Lily is what some might consider sort of pretty if you like the look of raw meat. 

Five large, rounded petals open to reveal a recessed center. This is the stink factory. The smell of decomposing flesh attracts the plant’s pollinator flies. Stinking Corpse Lily is also a parasite. It has an exclusive, dependent relationship with Tetrastigma, a vine in the grape family. 

Skeleton Flower

	common name Skeleton Flower
	botanical name Diphylleia grayi
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 16”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Not all spooky names accurately depict the plant they describe. In this case, an ominous name describes a very specific characteristic of this pretty little perennial. Skeleton Flower is a woodland perennial with lovely, large leaves that form an attractive ground cover. It is a subtle, flowering plant that likes a bit of shade and moist, rich soil.

Skeleton flower seems ordinary enough to the discerning eye. It has small, delicate white flowers with a sprinkling of yellow stamens. Only when it rains does this plant show off how remarkable it is. 

When the sweet little flowers get wet, they become nearly transparent, almost glasslike. They are quite a marvel to behold and a treasure to gardeners who grow them.

Octopus Stinkhorn

	common name Octopus Stinkhorn
	botanical name Clathrus archeri
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6”

I’m unsure what is scarier about this one: its unpleasant name, unappealing appearance, or how it smells. Either way, it’s not one that I would grow in my garden. But if you are into fungi that smell bad and look like an alien hatching from a slimeball, this one checks all the boxes. 

Octopus Stinkhorn, also called Devil’s Fingers, is a species of fungus that appears to hatch from a gelatinous egg. It has bright red, tentacle-like protrusions that reach out from its slimy casing and emit a rather unpleasant odor, hence the Stinkhorn part. 

This nightmarish plant is native to Australia and New Zealand, but it grows all over the world, particularly in the tropics. 

Wolfsbane

	common name Wolfsbane
	botanical name Aconitum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3′-4’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Based on the name, it’s clear that there is something sinister lurking behind the fair facade of the lovely Wolfsbane. We all know that wolves are among the most dangerous animals on earth. The word bane means a cause of great distress. So, what could be so bad about these pretty purple Buttercup family members?

Also called Monkshood, which you may have learned from one Prof. Severus Snape, Wolfsbane is highly poisonous. Think poison dart level poisonous. In Dracula, Wolfsbane is a protective agent that wards off Vampires. In the Harry Potter series, it is the antidote for a Werewolf’s bite.

Jackal Food

	common name Jackal Food
	botanical name Hydnora africana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 16”
	hardiness zones 10-12

Jackal Food may not have the deadly properties of hemlock, but it certainly is an eyesore. It’s also a burden to surrounding plants. You may never have heard of this plant and with good reason. It’s awful-looking and parasitic, so you won’t find it at your local nursery. 

This South African native makes its home beneath Euphorbiaceae plants, where it steals its nutrients. In addition to being a parasite, Jackal Food pods have a unique appearance. They resemble an open mouth full of pointed teeth or some other terrifying creature. 

In spite of their awful look, they are edible and provide food for many types of small animals, so perhaps they have some redeeming qualities.