Close-up of vibrant reddish-purple leaves with distinct veins, reminiscent of a favorite Halloween display, highlighted by sunlight and held against a blurred garden background.

A few of my favorite spooky plants for Halloween

by megan

One thing I’ve been really into lately is finding plants that go beyond the standard green or even variegated coloring. That’s taken me from pink plant hauls into my latest venture – being obsessed with goth gardening. There’s something that’s just so cool about the idea of having a dark, spooky corner of my plant hoard that made me want to share. Plus, duh, Halloween makes it all the more pertinent, right? Etsy recently published their Fall Decor Essentials guide, which made me want to put a little planty spin on it because while fall decor is great, fall decor with plants is even better. So, let me show you a few awesome spooky plants you can add to your collection and give your plants a little Halloween vibe.

Blood Irisine

Close-up of vibrant reddish-purple leaves with distinct veins, reminiscent of a favorite Halloween display, highlighted by sunlight and held against a blurred garden background.
Image Credit: CA Exotic Plants

The Blood Irisine (Iresine herbstii), sometimes called the Bloodleaf, hails from South America and can grow up to 5 feet tall in its natural habitat. As a houseplant, it typically stays a more manageable 1-3 feet.

The Blood Iresine thrives in bright, indirect light and loves high humidity – we’re talking 60-70%. Keep it warm at 65-80°F (18-27°C), water when the top of the soil feels dry, and feed it with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks during spring and summer.

Fun fact: The sap of the Blood Iresine was used by some indigenous tribes as a natural dye. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve – or, in this case, your plant’s blood on your shirt! (Too weird? Okay, sorry about that)

Sweetpotato Vine

A hand cradles a spooky plant with dark purple leaves against a wooden background, evoking a touch of Halloween magic.
Credit: Serenity Grounds

First, don’t get it confused with its veggie friends. Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) is not the same as sweet potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and won’t give you any delicious side dishes for dinner. Still, this is one of my most favorite goth plants because it’s so good at being hardy. If you give it the right conditions, it’s pretty hard to kill (at least, in my experience)

Native to tropical regions of the Americas, this vine can grow up to 20 feet long in the wild! As a houseplant, it’s a bit more modest, typically reaching 3-6 feet. But don’t underestimate its growth rate – this baby can grow up to 6 inches a week! It’s also happy to climb, so give it a trellis or grid and watch it go.

Care-wise, the Sweetpotato Vine is pretty chill. It loves lots of light but can handle shade if it has to. This plant prefers humidity around 50-60%. Keep the temperature between 60-75°F (15-24°C), water when the top inch of soil is dry, and fertilize monthly during the growing season.

Here’s a spooky fun fact: In some cultures, sweet potatoes were believed to ward off evil spirits. So, not only is this plant creepy-cool, but it might just be your personal ghostbuster!

Bat Flower

Bat flowers with large dark petals and long whisker-like bracts grow among lush green leaves in a garden.
Credit: Wishlist Foliage

Now, let’s fly into the night with the Bat Flower. This plant is like the Batman of the botanical world – dark, mysterious, and totally captivating.

Native to Southeast Asia, wild Bat Flowers can grow up to 8 feet tall. In your home, they’ll usually top out at about 2-3 feet.

These Gothic beauties prefer partial shade to mimic their natural forest floor habitat. They like it humid (60-70%) and warm (60-75°F or 15-24°C). Water when the top inch of soil is dry and fertilize monthly during the growing season. Unfortunately, these unusual flowers don’t do well once cut and will die quickly, so leave them on the stem as-is to get the most enjoyment.

Two batty fun facts for ya: While the black bat is the most famous, or infamous, there’s also a version that has white flowers, Tacca integrifolia. Tacca plants were often used by Polynesian people as a source for starches harvested from their tubers.

Dark Lord Philodendron

A hand holds a potted plant with dark green leaves in a greenhouse, with rows of smaller green plants in the background.
Credit: The Green Escape

Cue the ominous music, because it’s time to meet the Dark Lord Philodendron. This plant is so goth, it makes black roses look cheerful.

Originally from Central and South America, this philodendron can reach heights of 6-8 feet in the wild. As a houseplant, it usually grows to about 3-4 feet tall.

The Dark Lord prefers bright, indirect light and thrives in humidity levels of 60-70%. Keep temperatures between 65-80°F (18-27°C), water when the top inch of soil is dry, and fertilize monthly during spring and summer.

Fun fact: Despite its dark appearance, new leaves on the Dark Lord Philodendron often emerge a bright, coppery red before darkening to their signature deep purple-black. It’s like watching a little goth transformation every time a new leaf unfurls

Love Lies Bleeding Amaranth

Vibrant magenta amaranth flowers hanging down with green leaves in a garden setting.
Credit: Seed Geeks

With a name like Love Lies Bleeding, you know this plant has to be dramatic. And boy, does it deliver!

Native to South America, this amaranth can grow up to 8 feet tall in outdoor gardens. As a houseplant, it’s usually more petite, reaching about 2-3 feet.

Love Lies Bleeding prefers full sun to partial shade and moderate humidity around 40-50%. It likes temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C), needs regular watering to keep the soil moist, and appreciates monthly fertilizing during the growing season.

Here’s a bloody good fact: Amaranth was outlawed by Spaniards due to its use in Aztec rituals. In some parts of the western hemisphere it’s still considered a nuisance plant, with some varieties getting the name “pigweed.” Still, in foiklore love lies bleeding amaranth was used to call up the dead or worn to “cure the affections” AKA heal a broken heart.

Scalprum Alocasia

A hand holding three dark, textured leaves with visible veins against a blurred green background.
Credit: The Green Escape

Next up, we have the Scalprum Alocasia, a plant that looks like it belongs in a mad scientist’s laboratory.

This tropical beauty is native to Southeast Asia and can grow up to 6 feet tall in the wild. As a houseplant, it usually tops out at about 2-3 feet.

The Scalprum Alocasia loves bright, indirect light and high humidity – we’re talking 70-80%. Keep temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C), water when the top inch of soil is dry, and fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season.

Fun fact: The name “Scalprum” comes from Latin, meaning “knife” or “chisel,” referring to the shape of its leaves. It’s like having a set of botanical scalpels in your living room!

Midnight Colocasia

Variegated green and dark leaves with heart shapes, shown in a close-up image displaying natural patterns and colors.
Credit: The Green Escape

As we delve deeper into the night, let’s meet the Midnight Colocasia, also known as the Black Magic Elephant Ear. This plant is so dark, it might just disappear in a dimly lit room!

Originally from Southeast Asia, wild Colocasias can grow up to 6 feet tall. In your home, they’ll usually reach about 3-4 feet.

These shadowy beauties prefer partial shade to full sun and love high humidity – aim for 70-80%. They thrive in warm temperatures between 60-85°F (15-29°C), need consistent moisture (think bog-like conditions), and appreciate weekly fertilizing during the growing season.

Here’s a magical fact: In some cultures, Colocasias are believed to ward off evil spirits. So not only is this plant gorgeously gloomy, but it might just be your own personal bodyguard against things that go bump in the night!

Purple Oxalis

Purple shamrock leaves with small light purple flowers.
Credit: Easy to Grow

Last but certainly not least, we have the Purple Oxalis, also known as the False Shamrock. Don’t let its delicate appearance fool you – this plant has some tricks up its leaves!

Native to Brazil, the Purple Oxalis typically grows about 6-12 inches tall, making it perfect for smaller spaces. While typically grown outdoors, it can do well as an indoor plant, too, especially if you pay attention to giving it the right care.

This purple charmer prefers bright, indirect light and moderate humidity, around 40-50%. It likes temperatures between 60-75°F (15-24°C), needs watering when the top inch of soil is dry, and appreciates monthly fertilizing during the growing season.

Here’s a bewitching fact: The leaves of the Purple Oxalis fold up at night or when touched, earning it the nickname “Love Plant.” It’s like having your own magical, responsive plant friend!

A few tips for adding some spooky plants to your home

Lighting

Dark-colored plants are like little divas when it comes to light. Their dark hues come from special pigments that need a lot of energy to keep looking their best. So, here’s what they need:

  • Brighter lights: Think “high light” conditions, like at least 150-1,000 foot-candles or more than 20 watts of light.
  • Longer light days: Aim for 14-16 hours of light a day, just like you’d give a flowering houseplant.

But remember, even though they love the spotlight, too much direct sun can burn their leaves. So, find a spot with bright, indirect light or use sheer curtains to soften the sun.e protected from intense, direct sunlight that could scorch their leaves.

Soil

Soil pH can make a big difference in how well your dark-colored plants look. They might like a slightly acidic soil to keep their color popping. And be sure to use a potting mix that drains well to prevent soggy roots.

Water

Dark-colored plants are often a little thirstier. Since they need more light, they can drink up water faster. So, check on them often and water when the soil feels dry. But be careful not to overdo it—too much water can make their roots unhappy.

Fertilizer

Dark-colored plants might need a little extra food. To keep their colors looking great, you might need to fertilize them more often or use a slightly stronger fertilizer than you would for regular plants. But be careful not to overdo it—too much fertilizer can be bad for them.

Temperature/Humidity

Dark-colored plants often come from warm places like the tropics. So, they might like it a bit warmer than regular plants. And since they’re used to humid climates, you can help them out by misting their leaves or using a humidity tray.

Pruning/Maintenance

Regular pruning can keep your dark-colored plant looking its best. If you see leaves losing their color or turning green, it might mean they’re not getting enough light. So, give them a trim. Pruning can also help your plant grow bushier and have even more vibrant colors.

Sources

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