The air’s grown cooler, the days shorter, and leaves will soon be changing. Autumn’s in the air, and at Ah Sam Florist in San Mateo, we’re always excited for October! It’s our chance to highlight the unusual, the strange, and the oddly colored flowers and plants not usually featured in your average floral arrangement. At Halloween, we love to celebrate the diversity of the plant world by sharing some of the most unusual plants from around the world. 

If Halloween’s for wearing costumes, then these plants need invitations to your party! These spooky flowers are all dressed up and ready to go trick-or-treating in some pretty outlandish floral outfits!

5 Funny Costumed Flowers for Trick-or-Treating on Halloween

1. Monkey Face Orchid

Monkey face orchid

Every Halloween party needs someone in an ape suit. Why not flowers? These orchids feature face-like centers and three ruffly, white petals that strongly resemble the fur of simian monkeys. The blooms are native to the cloud forests of Peru and Ecuador. Naturally, they grow only at elevations above 3,000 feet, but you can grow them in your home, too! They’re perfect for a jungle or even “Wizard of Oz” themed Halloween party. 

2. Hot Lips

Hot Lips Orchid

If you’re having a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” viewing party this season, then these plants are a must! Scientifically, named the Psychotria Elata, it’s no surprise how this plant earned its common name. The plant’s lip-like structures aren’t actually petals; they’re called bracts. They resemble lips for a few days until they open up to reveal small white and yellow flowers. Grown in your home as a potted plant, these hot lips will continue to pucker up throughout the years.  

3. Fly Orchid

Fly Orchid

Halloween is every insect’s favorite holiday. Luckily, with the fly orchid, you can jazz up your decor without bringing in actual bugs! This spooky flower looks just like a black fly and complements any October decor perfectly. Plus, you can continue enjoying the frightful spirit of the season, as your orchid (in the right conditions) continues to bloom periodically throughout the year. 

4. Naked Man Orchid

Naked Man Orchid

At first glance, you could easily mistake this orchid for a spiny sea creature. Upon closer inspection, it resembles something else entirely. This orchid’s little, man-shaped petals are truly something to behold. These flowers are native to regions around the Mediterranean Sea. As a wildflower, it’s considered threatened because it’s sought after for use in a variety of medicinal concoctions.

The naked man orchid, however, doesn’t have to be endangered in your own home. They grow quite well if you have a sunny window where the orchids can bask. Plus, your October guests are sure to get a kick out of this costumed plant!

5. Snapdragon Seed Pods

Snapdragon Seed Pods

So, technically seed pods aren’t flowers. But we had to include these seed pods in our list because they’re perhaps the spookiest choice for Halloween decor! Like a branch of tiny skeleton skulls, these seed pods can be frighteningly displayed on their own in a rack of test tube vases or in an arrangement of other Halloween-themed flowers. 

Snapdragons are common flowers found almost everywhere because gardeners love their bright, dragon-like blooms. Many, however, don’t notice the skeletal seed pods that remain once the blooms have finished. You can collect them to use for spooky decorations and save them to spread the seeds come spring. 

Decorate Your October with Creepy Colors, Terrifying Textures, and Spooky Shapes

If you’re not exactly excited about decorating your Halloween party with naked man orchids, don’t worry! At Ah Sam Florist, our flower experts can help you find the perfect flowers, plants, and arrangements to decorate your season. For example, check out our Pumpkin Spice Arrangement and Boo! To You! Cacti Dish Garden.

Pumpkin Spice Arrangement

Boo! To You! Cacti Dish Garden

Whether you’re looking for something a bit quirky and strange or hoping to achieve a welcoming, apple-bobbing atmosphere with a variety of ever-cheerful chrysanthemums and sunflowers, we can help you! Call us, visit us online, or come into our shop today!