11 Spooky Plants for Colorful Halloween Containers

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When the atmosphere gets parky and the leaves start falling , it ’s time to decorate for Halloween . But while many homeowners bedight their porches and terrace with scarecrows , colourful gourd , and knave - o - lanterns , you could also utilize colorful Halloween plants to wow trick - or - treater and add interest to porch planters . If you want to craft an unforgettable Halloween container garden , here are 11easy - charge plantswith a unequaled look , lots of fall semblance , and a delightfully skittish vibration .

1. Pumpkin on a Stick (Solanum integrifolium)

If you ’re see for an unusual plant to bring coloring material to your planters thisHalloween , look no further than pumpkin on a peg . Also bed as the “ ornamental garden egg , ” this fun and funky plant is a fellow member of the nightshade menage . Its bright orange fruit is technically edible , although not very tasty . loose to grow from seed , pumpkin on a peg can be used to supply height to planter , but you’re able to also harvest it fordried bouquets .

Best For : Thriller , edible , dried arrangementsHardiness Zones:9 to 11

2. Crotons (Codiaeum variegatum)

Crotons add up in unlike shapes and sizes , but most miscellany have bright splatter of yellow , orange , and red decorate their glossy green leaves . These flora can beplanted in Septemberand left outdoors until they die off in the cold , but you’re able to also bring Croton tiglium inside when temperatures decrease and grow them as houseplants . For that Halloween look , choose crotons with lots of bold leaf color , like ‘ Icetone , ’ ‘ Norma , ’ and ‘ Corkscrew . ’

Best For : Filler , houseplantHardiness Zones:9 to 11

3. Purple Passion (Gynura aurantiaca)

Also known as velvet plant , purple passion ’s vivid green leaves are covered in an galvanizing regal fuzz that seems to beam like something out of a mad scientist ’s research lab . This alone colouration can be used to complement the look of Halloween flora with sensationalistic or orange leave , but violet rage ’s trailing stems also see stately in hanging baskets or as trotline elements in planter . Like crotons , purple passion makes a fantastic houseplant .

Best For : Spiller , hang up baskets , houseplantHardiness Zones:10 to 12

4. Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus)

There are lots of colorful decorative dope for Halloween planter , but dark mondo is a particularly spectacular option with pasture - like folio that are so saturated with color they seem black in most ignition . grow just 8 to 12 inches eminent , black mondo is the perfect meridian for filling in empty soil blank space , and its slender leave shiver with movement when the chilly autumn winds mess up .

Best For : Filler , movementHardiness Zones:5 to 10

5. Doll’s Eyes (Actaea pachypoda)

A aboriginal North American plant , doll ’s eyes , or white baneberry , is most notable for its osseous tissue - white Charles Edward Berry , which emerge in autumn and are held aloft on smart ruby stems . Although baneberry berries are toxic to human race , wild wench love them andthese plant can be savor in winteras long as songster do n’t bolt up all their berries in evenfall !

Best For : Thriller , native gardens , attract birdsHardiness Zones:3 to 8

6. Ornamental Peppers (Capsicum annuum)

Ornamental pepper are dual - purpose plant that can be grown for aesthetics alone or harvested for their edible , yet spicy , fruit . Varieties like ‘ Black Pearl ’ and ‘ Sedona Sun ’ are particularly democratic around this metre of the year thanks to their teeny bantam pepper that come in classic Halloween shadowiness of orange and black .

comfortably For : Filler , edibleHardiness Zones:9 to 11

7. Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)

While the biddy and chick plant ( aka common houseleek ) arrive in unlike colors , dark beauty like ‘ ignominious ’ or ‘ Onyx ’ are especially well for Halloween planters . Not only are these succulent undemanding about water , but theircold - hardynature means they ’ll likely return year after year .

well For : Filler , dry soilHardiness Zones:3 to 8

8. Black Heart Vine (Ipomoea batatas‘Black Heart’)

dulcet Irish potato vines are commonly grow in hanging baskets or used as trawl line elements in assorted planter design . Like biddy and chicks , these plants fall in dissimilar colour , but the dark , center - mold leaves of ‘ Black Heart ’ are idealistic for Halloween .

Best For : trawl line , hanging basketsHardiness Zones:9 to 11

9. Celosia (Celosiaspp.)

Another popular fall plant , celosia are leisurely to grow from seed and they bring out colored flowers in showy dark glasses of orange , icteric , and Battle of Magenta . While there are lot of celosia to select from , cockscomb celosias may be the best choice for flighty season since their singular flowers are shaped a bit like brains .

Best For : filler , beginning gardenersHardiness Zones:10 to 11

10. Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta)

‘ dark Magic ’ and other dark variety of elephant ear sum social system , superlative , and a bit of drama to Halloween planters , and they can be winter as houseplants . Just make certain to keep elephant ears in spacious smoke that are at least 18 inch wide . A single elephant auricle leaf can rise over 2 feet foresighted !

Best For : Thriller , houseplantHardiness Zones:9 to 11

11. Ornamental Brassicas (Brassica oleracea)

Brassicas are one of the fewvegetables that can be establish in wintertime , but cosmetic brassicas are also commonly grown in autumn as container plants . Unlike the blue brassicas grown in vegetable gardens , cosmetic cabbage , kale , and Swiss chard produce shockingly coloured leafage in intense shades of purple , green , and more . Use these plants to emphasise the tone of other cool weather ornamental or serve their eatable leaves as garnish at your Halloween party .

well For : Filler , comestible , cool weatherHardiness Zones:2 to 11

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

Large pumpkins and spooky plants in containers outside a front door.

Photo: Catherine McQueen/Moment via Getty Images

We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised seam , or an in - earth plot out back — and pick out the ripe plants for your soil and region .

The red and yellow round fruit of Pumpkin on a Stick plants are growing on the dark vines of the plant.