Originally a Celtic festival that is now associated with US tradition, Halloween has become increasingly popular in the UK over recent years. Last year alone, a whopping £419 million was spent celebrating the event, a figure which has almost doubled since 2013.
But there’s more to Halloween than pumpkins, as the dark autumn nights creep in, why not join the celebrations by brightening up your home or office with some fearful foliage that could last long after the face paint is washed off. Plants also have the added benefit of increasing our connection to nature and can boost wellbeing and productivity.
Here’s our run down of plants to help bring a touch of the macabre this Halloween:
Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Sometimes referred to by its nickname ‘Mother in Law’s tongue’, the snake plant, famous for its spikey leaves, thrives in all indoor environments no matter what the light conditions. It is also rumoured to help with sleep – not so scary after all.
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnm aureum)
Devil’s ivy is an extremely versatile indoor plant. The species adapts well to a variety of office conditions, from low light levels to brighter ones, and is particularly striking when its leaves are left to creep down from a shelf or windowsill.
Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)
This plant isn’t as intimidating as its name might suggest. In fact, it’s one of the easiest indoor plants to grow and maintain. All you need to do is place it in some light and water it occasionally. With tall and thin, spikey leaves it is guaranteed to become a great focal point for any room.
Cactus (Cactaceae)
Cacti come in various shapes and sizes and are probably one of the only plants that really do thrive on neglect. They can contain a huge amount of water enabling the plant to withstand life with even the most forgetful of plant owners.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)
The Spider Plant gets its name from the daughter plants that attach to the main plant, bearing a resemblance to spiders. But fear not, this species is one of the most easy going and resilient plants on the market. Try to position it near an east or south facing window in order to see its green leaves thrive.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)
A popular ornamental plant, grown for its clusters of rich yellow flowers which begin in the autumn and continue throughout the winter. It is thought that the use of the plant’s twigs as divining rods by American colonists may have influenced the “witch” part of the name.
Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
No Halloween list would be complete without the Corpse Bride of plants. This carnivorous plant dines on any insect that wanders into its gaping jaw-like leaves. When an insect or lands or crawls onto it and makes contact with the hairs on its leaves, the trap strikes quickly. The carnivorous diet is a very specialised form of feeding and is an evolution found in plants whose soil lacks nutrients.
Despite their spooktacular names, all these plants are completely harmless. So, don’t miss out on trick or treating yourself to a little greenery this October.