Kelly Jackson
Christian County Extension Office
Terrifying Plants for Spooky Gardens
Is it possible for a landscape to be spooky? I have seen some gardens where the weed problems might be best described as ‘scary’ but few plants posse such creepy characteristics to be associated with the ghosts, goblins and witches of Halloween. That is until you discover the ghost, devils, and witches of the plant kingdom.
For me, this realization came when perusing a landscape article about a little know plant called Dead Man’s Fingers (Decaisnea insignis). This forbidding shrub is so named for its crooked, cold blue, finger-like fruit which develop in late summer. When clustered together these pods resemble knotty, albeit asphyxiated, hands. Even though they are grotesque, the pulp inside the pods is edible with a putty-like texture and a sweet aftertaste. In addition to its unique fruit, the large pinnately-compound foliage is quite tropical. Decaisnea is a native to Asia and is hardy to Zone 6b, or as a dieback shrub in Zone 5. It is deciduous, with slight yellow fall color, and grows 10 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. It prefers areas with high rainfall and cool summers, but will do well in our area if provided irrigation. Consider using Dead Man’s Fingers as a naturalistic grouping or a very unique specimen plant.
Another spooky plant, at least by name, is the Devils-walkingstick (Aralia spinosa). This is a native plant to the eastern U.S. where it grows along forest edges and open woodlands. It often forms a loose colony of gray stems, although it can be trained to tree form and may grow to 20 feet. Devils-walkingstick is one of the most viciously spiny plants found. Each stem is ringed with a circle of sharp, tooth-like spines at various intervals. Even the foliage, which are exotic-looking bi- or tripinnate leaves, grow from long prickly stems and are themselves spiny along the leaf ribs. This nasty arrangement of spines is likely the reason for its name. It is also why this plant makes a great deterrent of burglars near vulnerable windows or used as a living fence with its impenetrable branches. However, Devils-walkingstick does have a softer side. It produces huge clusters of little white flowers from July to August that appear as a lacy veil over the top of the plant. The flowers persist for a long time eventually giving way to a small purple-black berries savored by birds and other wildlife. Devils-walkingstick performs best in well-drained, moist, fertile soils but also grows in dry rocky or clay soils. Easy to transplant, pH tolerant, no serious pests, and tolerant to city conditions top the list for reasons it is often said to “thrive with neglect”.
To recognize the ‘spirit’ of the season, you may consider planting Kintzley’s Ghost Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulate). This improved selection of the native perennial vine, was selected as a 2006 Plant Select by the Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University. The vine is easy to grow and undemanding, requiring only average garden soils and moderate irrigation to reach its 8 to 12 foot potential. Tubular light yellow blooms cover this vine in June and eucalyptus-like bracts remain showy through fall. The unusual and distinctive appearance makes this a ‘must have’ for gardeners wanting something new and different.
Halloween would not be complete without the mention of witches. So, not to be out done, the spooky garden offers us Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana). This flowering shrub is far from scary but is unique in both its bloom shape and timing. After the leaves have fallen, in late fall and winter, squiggly clusters of fragrant strap-like flowers appear looking rather like little yellow octopuses. The fruits that follow these flowers are hairy brown oval capsules which, after ripening the following summer, explode open shooting small black seeds up to 30 feet in all directions. Being near one when it happens could certainly give you fright. Apart from its abnormal qualities, it is an excellent broadly-rounded shrub with attractive bark and clear yellow fall color. In deep rich soil with a slightly acid pH, witchhazel can grow to 20 feet tall with similar spread. On a final note, historically forked branches of witchhazel were favored as divining rods for locating sources of underground water.
These are just a few of the strange or creepy-sounding plants available. If you are determined to pursue the spookiest of all gardens you may also want to consider Bloodtwig Dogwood (Cornus sanguineum), ‘Diablo’ Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), and ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum). Also, don’t forget to add a few spine-tingly perennials such as ‘Firewitch’ Dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus), ‘Silver Ghost’ Sea Holly (Eryngium giganteum), Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) and ‘Goblin’ Blanketflower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) for a truly terrifying landscape.