19 Halloween Houseplants That Ooze Creepy Ambiance

Whether you’re planning a Halloween house party, you like to decorate for Halloween each year, or you just like to keep the creepy season vibes going all year long, there are a ton of sinister-looking houseplants out there that can thrive in the home.

From the strange and unusual to the downright creepy, there are tropical plants, succulents, cacti, and more from which you can choose. Some have black, gothic leaves; some take the form of slightly disturbing shapes (like brains), and others even smell like death and decay (but just temporarily!).

Of course, these Halloween picks have various care requirements. Some can be a challenge, like the handful of carnivorous plants on this list, but others are some of the most easy-going houseplants in the trade, like the raven ZZ. Either way, we’ll give you some basic care tips to keep your creepy houseplants thriving all year, so on Halloween, they’ll be ready for their close up.

Zulu Giant

Zulu giant is the common name for Stapelia gigantea, a flowering plant that looks like a cactus. It’s mostly appreciated for its huge, creepy-looking flowers. These enormous star-shaped blooms can reach 16 inches in diameter, and they smell like garbage and decay, attracting flies for a couple of days until the odor fades.

Note that this African native isn’t in the cactus family and is, in fact, a member of Apocynaceae, a family that includes Hoya and even milkweeds. Despite its cactus-like appearance, it does not have spines and is actually soft to the touch.

That said, Zulu giant has virtually the same care requirements as a cactus. It prefers full sunlight and requires well-draining soil to avoid rot. Watering Zulu giant is easy, as you can wait for it to become a bit floppy. Water thoroughly, and it’ll bounce right back.

Begonia Rex

Begonia rex is an easy-going houseplant with truly unique foliage. There are countless cultivars and hybrids available with leaves in shades of green, silver, purple, red, black, and pink. If you’re decorating for Halloween, the Begonia rex varieties you’re on the hunt for would be those with dark purple and or black leaves.

‘Black Velvet,’ ‘Black Mamba,’ and ‘Jurassic Dino’ are just a few of your options. The leaves are not only dark in color but also have odd swirls and textures. They definitely stand out among other houseplants as a bit weird and unusual.

Like other Begonia species, these perennials like somewhat consistent moisture when kept as houseplants. They will not respond well if their soil dries out completely, but they will rot in soggy soil. High humidity is also key to preventing crispy leaves.

Raven™ ZZ

Raven™ ZZ is a cultivar of Zamioculcas zamiifolia, aka the ZZ plant, known as one of the most low-maintenance houseplants out there. ZZ plants will grow in low light conditions, often thriving in offices without a single window.

Usually, ZZ plants have glossy, green leaves, but the Raven™ ZZ’s leaves are shiny black. This cultivar gives serious Edgar Allan Poe vibes, not only from the black leaves but also its name. Move Raven™ ZZ anywhere you need more black in your Halloween decor, and it’ll grow there just fine.

In addition to its limited light needs, Raven™ ZZ barely needs any water. Its bulbous root system stores a ton of moisture. In late fall and winter, you should water it once a month. It might be the most beginner-friendly creepy Halloween houseplant.

Echeveria ‘Black Prince’

Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ is a stunning rosette-shaped succulent with dark red leaves that are nearly black. The leaves are green towards the center of the rosette, transitioning to red and then black towards the edges.

In poor lighting, ‘Black Prince’ leans more green, but in a location with full sun exposure, it’ll be a solid shade of black. It’s the perfect Halloween succulent if you have a south-facing window, skylight, or super sunny spot. You can also achieve full black leaves with a strong grow light.

You must plant these succulents in well-draining soil in a pot with a drainage hole, ideally one made of terracotta or clay. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering these plants. When you do, water until excess pours out of the drainage hole.

Pitcher Plant

Pitcher plants of the Nepenthes genus aren’t the most beginner-friendly houseplants, but if you’re up to the task, there’s nothing more perfect for a creepy Halloween decoration. The pitchers on these carnivorous plants actually eat bugs, and what could be spookier than that? (Not to mention convenient, if you have a fungus gnat problem.)

Typically, these pitcher plants will be potted in sphagnum moss, though sometimes nurseries plant them in soil. They like their potting medium to be consistently moist but never wet. The roots need to breathe. Moisten the sphagnum before it dries out, or use a moisture meter to evaluate the soil and water just before it goes from “moist” to “dry.”

Use distilled water. It’s crucial that you never water pitcher plants with tap water and never fertilize them. They get their nutrients from the carnivorous pitchers, so if you supply any (including trace amounts in tap water), they may stop producing the pitchers entirely.

Brain Cactus

It’s not hard to figure out why the brain cactus is on this list. It looks like a brain, making it the perfect houseplant to put with skull-related Halloween decor.

However, if you’re setting up a classic “eyeballs but it’s really grapes” or “intestines but it’s really spaghetti” station, stick to Jell-o for the brains, as the brain cactus is covered in tiny spines. Keep it away from kids and allow them to safely enjoy its spooky appeal from afar.

Like most species in the Mammillaria genus, the brain cactus needs a lot of light to grow properly and achieve the perfect brain-like shape. A south-facing window and/or supplemental grow lights will be your best bet when growing it indoors.

Try moving this cactus outside in spring and summer to provide optimal lighting, and then when it’s time to bring it indoors for Halloween, it should be in great shape.

Venus Fly Trap

Another carnivorous species like pitcher plants, the Venus fly trap makes an excellent creepy Halloween houseplant. In fact, there are more fake Venus fly traps in Halloween decor than ever before, think “Little Shop of Horrors,” so why not get the real thing?

Like Nepenthes, Venus fly traps get their nutrients from tiny bugs that get caught in the traps, and they do not like supplemental fertilizer. Do not plant them in soil with fertilizer, do not water them with tap water (use distilled instead), and definitely skip them when you’re fertilizing the rest of your plants.

They also like to sit in moist soil that never dries out. This can make them a bit more high-maintenance than some of the cacti on this or the raven ZZ, but caring for Venus fly traps is worth the hassle.

Geogenanthus

Geogenanthus ciliatus, often just referred to informally as geogenanthus or “geo,” earns a spot on this list with its gorgeous, dark-purple-to-nearly-black leaves. This foliage is glossy, thick, and almost leathery, standing out in a sea of green options. It’s the new “goth plant” on the houseplant scene.

While the leaves themselves are large (up to eight inches long), the plant itself doesn’t get very tall, reaching about ten inches high at maturity. Plant it in well-draining soil and place it in a spot where it gets bright, indirect sunlight or diffused window light.

Keep the soil in your geogenanthus’s pot moist, as it doesn’t like to dry out and will droop dramatically. A ceramic or plastic pot may be ideal to retain extra moisture. Be sure not to overwater and always allow water to drain out of the drainage hole.

Living Stones

Lithops refers to a genus of 37 species of small, round succulents that look like rocks. Seriously, it would be easy to overlook them as rocks if they weren’t located in a plant nursery. These bizarre living stones split down the center, from which new growth emerges.

While not exactly scary, they’re definitely weird looking. Some collectors find their shape and their manner of growth to be off-putting and strange.

Like many succulents, living stones prefer full sun and need very little water to get by. Living stones would look great next to a brain cactus in a sunny window, but keep Lithops plants in their own pot.

In fact, Lithops species need water only at certain times in their growth cycle. The only times you should water them are in late spring/early summer and late summer/fall. They should be in totally dry soil through peak summer and all through winter. 

Philodendron ‘Royal Queen’

With dramatic dark purple leaves that appear nearly pitch black and a potential mature height of four feet, Philodendron ‘Royal Queen’ is fit for a true creepy Halloween houseplant display. Fortunately, it’s super easy to care for, like most Philodendron species, as long as you have the space for it.

‘Royal Queen’ will thrive in bright, indirect sunlight or in a spot that gets a few hours of direct light from a window (just avoid midday sun), and it doesn’t need constant moisture. Wait for the soil to dry out, then water thoroughly.

The trick to growing these plants just right is to encourage them to climb. Simply tying them to a pole or trellis isn’t enough if you want big, beautiful leaves. Create a moss pole that’s truly filled with sphagnum moss for the aerial roots of ‘Royal Queen’ to actually grow into, and this Philodendron will produce huge, glorious dark leaves. Don’t forget to water the moss and keep it moist for the full effect.

Sundews

Another carnivorous plant option, sundews are somewhat lesser known carnivorous plants for new houseplant collectors. These small, sticky plants have tendrils that unfurl like octopus tentacles, covered in dewy, hair-like structures that attract and digest insects.

Given the tentacle look, sundews would really add a Lovecraftian feel to your Halloween decor. Sundews are often bright shades of green, yellow, or pink, with red dew. They’re definitely creepy-looking, and that’s before you learn that the “dew” in “sundew” is filled with digestive enzymes.

Species within the Drosera genus vary, but most will do best in a sunny window. They prefer consistently moist soil, just like pitcher plants and Venus fly traps. It’s also critical that you avoid watering sundews with tap water, which has nutrients these plants haven’t evolved to accept. Use distilled water instead.

Emerald Ripple Peperomia

Emerald ripple peperomia isn’t exactly the most frightening plant on this list, though its dark green or emerald leaves perfectly compliment Halloween color schemes. The foliage also has a bumpy, atypical texture.

There’s a fairly long list of cultivars of emerald ripple peperomia available—including the red-leaved ‘Red Luna’ and ‘Abricos,’ which has leaves with an orange barrier—which would really pop next to a raven ZZ or geo plant. 

Peperomia plants don’t need too much light, so they’ll do just fine in the bright, indirect light. Like a typical houseplant, you want to wait until their soil dries out completely and then give them a good drink.

Old Man Cactus

Old man cactus is a true cactus with classic cactus care requirements: lots of light, well-draining soil, and minimal water. What makes it stand out is what appears to be furry, white hair covering it, reminiscent of an old man who needs to visit the barbershop.

These cacti are kind of creepy and reminiscent of Cousin Itt. They’re unusual among so many other cacti that are similar. This season, an old man cactus would look perfect near your brain cactus, living stones, or dark-leaved rosette succulents.

Plant old man cactus plants in terracotta pots with drainage and never let them sit in water.

Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’

Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ is a real stunner. It’s the right choice for the houseplant lover who’s looking not just for an accent this Halloween, but also a plant that gives off a goth aura all year long. ‘Black Velvet’ has huge, velvety leaves that are dark green (nearly black), with prominent veins and red undersides.

This plant can be somewhat finicky, but it’s worth the gamble. Keep its soil moist but not wet, and don’t let it dry out 100 percent. ‘Black Velvet’ will not tolerate drought but also will perish in soggy soil, so use a moisture meter to stay on track.

Aeonium ‘Zwarktop’

Similar to Echeveria ‘Black Prince,’ Aeonium ‘Zwarktop’ is a black-leaved cultivar of a popular rosette-shaped succulent. Aeonium plants look similar to Echeveria but have thinner leaves. They grow fairly quickly and form stems over time.

‘Zwarktop’ has mega-dark purple leaves that appear black, with some green at the center of the rosette. These succulents can tolerate partial shade, while the same can’t really be said for Echeveria. If you lack the ideal indoor lighting, ‘Zwarktop’ is the spooky succulent for you.

Be careful not to overwater ‘Zwarktop,’ which has a typical succulent intolerance for wet soil. 

Burgundy Rubber Tree

Burgundy rubber trees are the best Halloween houseplant option if what you’re really looking for is more of a tree. You typically find these plants when they’re still only a couple of feet tall in nurseries, but they can reach 40 feet in height in ideal conditions.

Okay, so maybe you don’t have that kind of height in your home, but burgundy rubber trees—with their dark, broody leaves—may only grow a foot or two each year indoors. Plus, the bigger it gets, the more monstrous it appears.

If your tree begins to touch the ceiling, you can move it outside (cold-hardy in zones 10-12) or give it the old chop and prop, sharing cuttings with friends.

Scindapsus treubii ‘Dark Form’

Scindapsus treubii ‘Dark Form’ is another option that makes the list due to its dark green, almost-black leaves, as indicated by its cultivar name. ‘Dark Form’ is an easy-going climbing or trailing plant, similar to Scindapsus pictus, also known as silver pothos, a super popular houseplant.

‘Dark Form’ is a bit more difficult to find than in common Scindapsus cousins, but you can easily get starter plants and cuttings online and from specialty nurseries. With low light requirements and a generally chill nature, ‘Dark Form’ fits wherever your Halloween decorations look best.

Baby Toes

Chalk this one up to the list of Halloween houseplants that are just downright weird looking. Baby toes succulents look like a baby’s toes, with small see-through windows on the tips. Some may consider these plants a trypophobia trigger, and most agree they’re just plain odd.

Baby toes succulents are very easy to take care of, as long as you can give them really strong light. They would grow best in a south-facing window or with the help of grow lights. Like the other succulents and cacti on this list, plant your weird little baby toes in well-draining soil and only water once it’s gone completely dry.

If you’re lucky, your baby toes might even bloom around this time of year. Yellow flowers sometimes emerge in fall.

Black Bat Flower

Nothing says Halloween more than bats, except for maybe black cats. Tacca chantrieri is a flowering plant in the yam family that offers both.

Its shocking purple-black flowers look like a mix of a bat and a whiskered black cat. It’s often called the black cat flower or even devil flower. As far as plants go, it doesn’t get much spookier than that.

These tropical plants prefer bright, indirect light, well-draining potting mix, and terracotta pots that promote good air circulation.