When you think of Halloween, what words or images come to mind? Death, ghosts, and witches all represent the supernatural. Blood and monsters are familiar associations with the afterlife, popularized by horror films and haunted attractions.
These spooky names of plants in our collection pay tribute to the scary and thrilling traditions around Halloween.
Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
Deadly nightshade is a highly poisonous plant. Its latin name comes from the Greek mythological character Atropos, one of the three fates whose role was to cut the thread of human life. Deadly nightshade was reportedly used in witchcraft as a flying ointment. When the plant was soaked in fat then applied externally, it induced the sensation of flying or astral projection, due to its hallucinogenic effects. Atropine, an alkaloid derived from the plant, continues to be used in surgery to control salivation and to regulate the heartrate.
Death Flower (Tagetes lucida)
Death flower gets that name from its role in death-related rituals and remembrance traditions, but not because it’s deadly. The bright golden-yellow flowers are believed to guide the spirits of the dead to the world of the living. Other common names include sweet scented marigold, Mexican mint marigold and Mexican tarragon. It has long been used in Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations.
Herb of Death (Petroselinum crispum)
A more common name of this plant is parsley, but the name “herb of death” comes from ancient myths and historical associations. Parsley has been linked to funerals and death in ancient Greece and used to make funeral wreaths. In Greek Mythology, parsley grew from the blood of the slain hero Archemorus, whose name means “the forerunner of death.” Because of this, it was considered unlucky to eat or plant parsley near graves.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Bloodroot’s scientific name Sanguinaria comes from the Latin word “sanguis,” meaning “blood.” The underground rhizome of this plant contains a bright red sap. Like other members of the poppy family, the sap throughout the plant is red, which may be seen by breaking a vein in the leaf with your fingernail. Indigenous Peoples living within the plant’s native range have used bloodroot as a dye for decorative materials and body paint.
Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Dragon’s Blood’)
Plant breeders often use descriptive, attention-grabbing names to highlight a plant cultivar’s most striking feature. The intense, blood-red flowers of this quince variety won it the name “dragon’s blood.” In folklore and historical trade, “dragon’s blood” referred to a deep red resin obtained from several different plant species, prized for its vivid color and use in dyes, varnishes, and medicine.
Geranium ‘Tiny Monster’
The cultivar name ‘Tiny Monster’ for this geranium captures two of its signature traits—low-growing (tiny) and vigorous, like a crouching monster. This hardy geranium forms a low, dense mound of foliage that spreads quickly and aggressively, covering a lot of ground for its size. Gardeners love it because it’s tough, fast-growing, and produces lots of bright magenta-purple flowers over a long duration of continual blooms.
Hybrid Ghost Fern (Athyrium 'Ghost')
This fern is a hybrid between a southern U.S. lady fern (Athryium filix-femina var. asplenoides), and a Japanese painted fern (A. niponcum 'Pictum'). It was an unintended cross discovered in the garden of Nancy Swell of Richmond, Virginia. Despite its ghost-like silvery foliage, Nancy named it 'Ghost' for its upright habit because "when you see a ghost your hair stands on end!"
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
The “witch” in witch hazel comes from the Old English word “wice” (pronounced witch), meaning “bendable” or “pliant.” It referred to the tree’s flexible branches, which people used to make divining rods for dowsing (finding underground water or minerals). Over time, “wice” turned into “witch.” The word “hazel” was added because the leaves and twigs of witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) look like leaves of the hazel tree (Corylus avellana).
