3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of.

by Josef Reiter

Shop My Cart 

About WeddingsServicesLocations
Galleries Blog Contact Praise


The World’s Scariest Flowers...

or what nightmares are made
of.
October 14, 2020

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to showcase some of the
creepy and gruesome members of the floral and plant world.

...and no, I am not one of them!!!

Flowers are not always beautiful. When you think of flowers, the last thing you think of is
scary’, right?! While most flowers are quite beautiful, some are nondescript and some are so
creepy they look like they came out of a 1950’s horror film.

Cue scary music…Bwaaaaahahahaha!

While some of these are beautiful in a dark and twisted sort of way, some are downright gross,
so be warned and continue if you dare!!!

Bat Flo er
https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 1/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter
Bat Flower

The black bat flower or “tacca chantieri” is native to the Southeastern regions of Asia such as
Southern China, Malaysia, and Thailand. This nearly pitch-black plant definitely has one of the
more chilling appearances. There aren’t many flowers that have ears and whiskers, but the bat
flower does. The plant grows up to 12 inches across with long whiskers that grow up to 28
inches. It is known for its bat shape hence its common name.

I find this one extremely beautiful and fascinating. Can you imagine a Halloween wedding with
these in the bridal bouquet?! Wow!

Doll’sEye

Doll’s Eye is native to eastern North America and while the flowers are quite pretty and dainty,
it is the berries that are kind of creepy. They look like eyeballs on a stick. Another scary aspect
of this plant is that it is very toxic and ingesting the berries or stems can be fatal.

Walking through a forest full of these wouldn’t exactly be a welcoming sight on an dark and
foggy fall evening.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 2/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

 Corpse Flower

If you ever find yourself in Western Sumatra, be sure to look up this guy, The Corpse Flower,
Amorphophallus Titanum. Why Corpse Flower you ask?  A fitting name to be sure since it
smells like well…a rotting corpse! Mmmmm. But the carrion beetles and flies sure love it. The
flower itself can grow up to 10’ tall and is the largest unbranched flower in the world. It blooms
once every 40 years only for 4 days!

That sure is a lot of stink!

Another sweet scented, I mean rotten-flesh scented flower is Clathrus Archeri or Octopus
Stinkhorn You know, flowers really shouldn't have tentacles.

I think I’ll name this one Ursula.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 3/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

Witch Hazel

There is nothing really scary about Witch Hazel at all but I included it here because of the
name. This is one of my favorite shrubs for the garden. It blooms in mid-winter and has an
intoxicating sweet fragrance and really cool acid green, orangey brown or burgundy crinkly
flowers.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 4/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

Snapdragons

Snapdragons???!! What is so scary about a snapdragon? Well yes, the flowers themselves are
quite lovely but it is when the flowers fade and the seed pods form, that’s when things get
spooky. The dried seed pods resemble tiny skulls, tiny human skulls! Tiny human skulls on a
stick!! In olden days it was believed that the snapdragon had supernatural powers; the power
to ward off evil, be it a deception or curse. Supposedly, in Germany, it was hung above a baby’s
bed to ward off evil spirits and even witches!

I am not sure what this one is nor do I really want to know. Not a flower I would want to run
into in a dark alley or anywhere. That's for sure!

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 5/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

‍Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

‍Though not a flower, this is probably the best known insect eating plant in the world. In fact,
this carnivorous plant’s features are so unique and distinct, they’ve even starred in some
horror movies. The flytrap’s “jaws” (actually the plant’s leaves) snap shut in less than a second.
Though it’s native to North and South Carolina, the plant is grown worldwide. They are quite
effective and keeping your house or in my case, floral studio, free of flies and other small
insects.

Dracula Vampira

This unusual flower is actually an orchid that is native to  Ecuador and only on the slopes of Mt.
Pichuncha.  It gets it’s name because it resembles a hooded vampire or dragon.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 6/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

In my opinion, flowers with faces are the scary clowns of the plant world!

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 7/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

Another orchid related to the Dracula Vampira  though a little less creepy, is the Monkey Faced
Orchid, Dracula simia. Also native to Ecuador, these guys really do look like monkeys and when
they bloom they smell like ripe oranges. Go figure.

 Cute as they maybe, I still think flowers should not have faces.

Darth Vader Flower

 Seeing these amazing, slightly sinister-looking blooms, you’ll understand why the plant
deserves to be tagged as Darth Vader plant. Aristolochia Pipevine is a woody climber native to
the humid meadows and soggy flood plains of Brazil. The helmet-like shape and purple
coloration of the blooms, combined with the powerful aroma of rotting flesh, attract insect
pollinators. These visitors fly through the Darth Vader plant’s luminous ‘eyes’ which are lined
with sticky hairs that imprison the unfortunate guests long enough to cover them with pollen.
They are then released to fly out and pollinate more blooms. Each bloom lasts only a single
week.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 8/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

Alonsoa unilabiata also known as the Mask Flower, is native to Central and western South
America, from Mexico south to Peru and Chile. While he may look menacing and evil, he is
really quite harmless.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 9/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

Rafflesia

Rafflesia is a parasitic flowering plant found in Southeastern Asia. It has no stem, leaves, and
roots but only a flower. It weighs up to 22lbs and can grow over 39 inches in diameter.

Corsage anyone?!

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 10/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

Spider Orchids

If you are arachnophobic, then growing these orchids may not be for you.

Bleeding Tooth (Hydnellum peckii)

Is a beneficial yet poisonous fungus that 'bleeds' from its spores and has teeth lined up along
the bottom.  It grows throughout North America but can be found all over the world. The
fungus attaches itself to tree roots and them with minerals and amino acids. Other nicknames
for this fungus include 'strawberries and cream' and 'The Devil’s Tooth.'

Ummm…no thank you!

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 11/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

What smells like feces and looks like a vagina with fangs? Yep, you got it, the Hydnora Africana
or Jackal Food. This parasitic plant is often classified as one of the strangest plants in the world
and we can see why.

Most of the plant actually lives underground feeing on its host plant and sends up these
‘flowers’ to reproduce.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 12/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

BixaOrellana orAnnatto

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 13/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

This evil looking seed pod has probably been added to your cheese for color.

Aseroe Rubra or Sea Anemone Fungus

Add another not so sweet smelling plant to the list. Not only does this fungus smell horrible, it
also attracts flies; which in turn help it grow.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 14/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

‍Purple Pitcher Plant & Cobra Lily

These carnivorous plants capture their prey, consisting of insects and small animals, and then
slowly digests them in their stomach acids. Ugh.

You might also like...

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 15/17
3/5/22, 23:04
Y The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter

Well I hope you enjoyed your tour through the haunted house of the plant world.

All this reminds me of Little Shop of Horrors, one of my favorite musicals. In the words of
Seymour, Audrey, Orin and Mr.Mushnik….

’DON"T FEED THE PLANTS!’

W H AT T H E THE 10 BEST A NEW YEAR, A

*#@*?! THERE IS F LO W E R S F O R N E W S TA RT A N D
A F LO W E R M OT H E R ’ S D AY A NEW PLANT!
S H O RTA G E ? !

Contact Us
Address
Hours of Operation

Studio
Studio
Studio - Visits by
https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 16/17
3/5/22, 23:04 The World’s Scariest Flowers... or what nightmares are made of. by Josef Reiter
y
(503) 358-4687
3318 NE Wasco ST.
Appointment Only

josef@botanicafloralpdx.com Portland, OR 97232

Mon-Fri: 9:00am to


5:00pm

Retail Shop
NW Portland Flower Saturday: 9:00am to
(503) 477.9368
Shop
4:00pm

hello@botanicafloralpdx.com ‍1124 NW Lovejoy ST.

Portland, OR 97209 Retail Shop

Monday: 10:00am to
5:00pm

Tues-Saturday: 9:00am
to 5:00pm

Copyright 2021. Website made by Wink Digital.

https://www.botanicafloralpdx.com/blog/the-worlds-scariest-flowers-or-what-nightmares-are-made-of 17/17