Plant picks beyond pumpkins for Halloween

Nothing screams Halloween like a carved jack-o-lantern on your porch.

Toronto Star file photo

Even though I am a proponent of bringing nature into your decor (especially if you can keep it alive!), I'd never really considered all the other plant decorating possibilities, barring making my own spooky twiggy branch arrangements.

But, a recent release that landed in my inbox from Landscape Ontario has me reconsidering my basic approach to Halloween plants. 

“Your summer annuals that have been bitten by frost can be composted and replaced with several different fall plants that will accompany your décor and Halloween props,” says Landscape Ontario's Denis Flanagan in a release. 

He suggests spicing up your decor with some of these spooky plants:

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO PHOTO

Fall asters, above, which are available in pink, purple, blue and white. I, of course, love the purple ones.

Ornamental grasses with dramatic seed heads. Flanagan says these will add interest, texture and drama to your holiday displays.

Flowering kale, below, and ornamental peppers. The two-toned or multicoloured leaves on the kale usually intensify after a fall frost, says the release, while ornamental peppers are a nice twist on the traditional mini-gourd.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO PHOTO

Bales of hay and corn stalks will, says the release, help complete the vignette with a "warm fall feeling."

And, if these aren't spooky enough, Flanagan suggests checking out some Halloween-inspired plants like the Venus Fly Trap, the black Bat orchid, black mondo grass - which, the release says, in a cluster mimics a group of long-legged spiders, ghostly grey Spanish moss or spider plants for a creepy-crawly feel.

Be sure to check out more of our Halloween decorating tips around the site, like 5 steps to simple spooky decor and budget-friendly ways to haunt your backyard.