At VanderSalm’s Flower Shop and Garden Center of Kalamazoo, we welcome October and the heart of Autumn with great enthusiasm! While our florists are excited to celebrate the season with scary movies, changing leaves, and caramel apples, we love celebrating every season and holiday with flowers. So, this October, we’re getting into the Halloween spirit by sharing some of the creepiest and weirdest flowers from around the world. Keep reading, if you dare!

Top 3 Flowers of Terror

1. Titan Arum

Sumatran corpse flower – Titan Arum

This beast of a flower is native to the island of Sumatra and gets its name from the Greek word for giant because it’s a truly enormous flower. When in full bloom, this colossal plant can reach heights of up to 20 feet and can grow up to 16 feet wide! The impressive size of this carrion flower, however, isn’t its only claim to fame. It also emits a stench to rival its girth. Designed to attract pollinators usually drawn to dead animals, like flies and beetles, the titan arum puts out an aroma said to smell like decaying fish, feces, Limburger cheese, sweaty socks, chloraseptic, and something slightly sweet. 

2. Stinking Corpse Lily

Stinking Corpse Lily

Another Sumatran carrion flower, the stinking corpse lily gets its name from its odor which unpleasantly resembles that of rotting flesh. In spite of its strong stench, you might see it before you smell it. This bright red, yellow-spotted specimen is the largest type of single flower in the world. Some individual blooms have measured at almost three-and-a-half feet wide. Looking like something from an alien planet, the stinking corpse lily has no roots, leaves, or stems, like other flowers. Instead, this flower lives in and feeds off nutrients from host vines, like a parasite.

3. Hydnora Africana

Hydnora-Africana

Another parasitic chiller, the hydnora africana is native to southern Africa and lives its life almost entirely underground. This plant has no chlorophyll and, instead, eats the roots of plants innocently growing nearby. When the plant’s ready to reproduce it’s monster-like flowers burst through the soil. They give off a foul smell, which attracts creepy pollinators like dung beetles and flies. When these insects land on the flower’s flesh, its jaw-like petals close in, trapping the unsuspecting bugs. 

This plant is so terrifying that it’s believed to have inspired many scary characters throughout the ages. These include the monsters from “Tremors” and Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” in addition to the plant character from “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Popular Flowers for Fall and Halloween

You don’t need a bouquet of carrion flowers to decorate for Halloween. In fact, it’s probably best if you skip the bad smells and head straight for more popular October choices. 

Black Roses

Black Rose

Black roses are a favorite for creating both macabre and festive floral arrangements for Halloween. All-black bouquets look eerie and elegant at Halloween dinners or costume parties. They also make an impact when used for a bridal bouquet at a Halloween wedding ceremony. Mixed with yellow and orange flowers, black roses take on a fun, festive look and can be embellished with Halloween ribbons or flower picks featuring glittery spiders, ghosts, or pumpkins. 

Chrysanthemums

Orange Mums

Flowers for fall don’t have to be spooky, dark, or scary; they can be bright and happy, too! In fact, one of the most popular types of flowers for fall traditionally symbolizes cheerfulness, the chrysanthemum. Usually displayed as potted plants in decorative, autumn-themed planters, chrysanthemums feature copious amounts of blooms. Available in almost every color you can imagine, it’s easy to find them in the perfect colors for October, such as orange, yellow, gold, and burgundy. Chrysanthemums look beautiful adorning a front door, porch, or entryway. They create a warm, welcoming look that will attract trick-or-treaters and your favorite guests! To keep them healthy all season long, be sure to bring them indoors before any frosty weather. 

Decorate Your October with These Autumn Favorites

Could your October use a little more pizzazz? Flowers are the way to get it! At VanderSalm’s Flower Shop and Garden Center, we have everything you need to create a cozily happy or frightfully spooky October with unique autumn floral arrangements.

Trendy Autumn

Our expert florists can help you select the perfect floral designs to decorate your fall, October, or Halloween. We welcome you to stop by our floral shop or order online today!