COVERstory

Goth Gardening Creating a Dark and Brooding Landscape

By Melena DiNenna

As Halloween approaches, don’t feel restricted to plastic gravestones and fake cobwebs to put your garden in the holiday spirit. There are many other ways to spook it up with naturally scary plants and other garden features. Whether you want to grow plants with black flowers or foliage, gather naturally creepy decorations, or even attract some frightening creatures and insects, it’s time to embrace the spooky season. To jump-start the spine-chilling thrills, the Washington Gardener spoke to fellow gardening experts Emily Suzanne Zobel, Mikaela Boley, and Rachel J. Rhodes on GardenDC’s 77th podcast episode about all things “Goth Gardening.” The trio, who host a podcast for the University of Maryland Extension called Garden Thyme, use their horticultural expertise and own experiences in their gardens to discuss how nature alone can help you decorate for the Halloween season.

Pretty Poisonous Plants

ous plant to consider is the boneset plant, which is a “large, herbaceous, clump-forming perennial shrub with small, white flowers,” said Rhodes. It appears in the late summer and fall and grow best in “average to medium wet soil” with consistent water, she said, and can grow in either full sun or partial shade. Historically, boneset was regarded as a medicinal herb for the flu, colds, fevers, and even broken bones—however, the plant is actually toxic and bitter, so it’s no longer used for those reasons. Another poisonous plant is the spotted water hemlock, which is “one of the most violently toxic plants in North America,” said Boley. It has the same dainty, white flowers as Queen Anne’s Lace and other members of the carrot family—so they sometimes are confused for each other, but Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) has leaves “with veins that fork at their tips, with one branch ending at the tip of the leaflet and the other in the v-shaped sinus between adjacent leaflet lobes,” according to the U.S. Forest Service. Other poisonous, but pretty, garden plants include Monkshood, Foxglove, and Castor Bean Plant.

Fabulous Fungi

Another spooky addition to the garden are fungi, whose funky shapes and eyecatching appearance can add a unique look to your garden. Fungi might present a challenge to grow in your garden because they all need different environments to grow in, said Zobel, but you may be able to go out hiking in the woods to find them. Deadly Angels are pretty mushrooms, said Zobel, whose all-white color could create a nice contrast to the dark colors in your goth garden. Deadly Angels are also very toxic, however, so similarly to poisonous plants, make sure never to eat them and to wear gloves when handling them. Dead Man’s Fingers are another fungi you could attempt to use. They are initially white, but as they age, turn grey with dark tips and have a “crinkled texture” that makes them look like fingers, said Zobel. They often grow on dead, decaying, or stressed trees, and

they resemble a zombie’s hand reaching out from the ground. Other fabulous fungi you might cultivate include the Stinkhorn (phallus) mushroom and Tree Ear fungus, both of which look like body parts.

Sharp and Spiky

Spikes are an obvious gothic feature for any garden. The Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa) is a “funky-looking” native plant, said Boley, that would be a cool addition to a garden because it’s a woody plant that looks like a walking stick with spikes coming out of it. It looks very “intimidating,” she said, but “beneficial” as a food source for birds because of its berries. Another spiky addition to your garden could be the Locust tree, which has branches covered in long thorns. Black Locust tree wood even has bioluminescent properties, said Boley. Other sharp and spiky plants to add to your goth garden include the native Hardy Orange (Poncirus trifoliata) or Firethorns (Pyracantha sp.).

Pumpkins and Gourds

The most common way to decorate for Halloween is with gourds and pumpkins, but feel free to think beyond the typical smooth-surfaced, bright-orange pumpkin. In fact, these squashes are often considered “promiscuous,” said Boley, since they cross-pollinate often, resulting in a “wide range of cultivars have the same shape. They are limegreen with a bumpy texture, making them look like green brains. Native grasses can make great decorations for a goth garden as well, said Boley. The bushy Bluestem is a native grass that “looks like a Dr. Seuss character” and makes a funky addition to your garden. Another goth-themed grass is the Japanese Blood Grass. As is evident from the name, the top of this grass becomes a dark-red color, almost giving the appearance of being burnt. You can also collect ornamental grasses or any tall plant—such as spent Milkweed or Cardoon—and bundle it together using twine for a decoration.

and varieties” to choose from. Some pumpkins grow with warts on them, such as ‘Knucklehead’ and ‘Grizzly Bear’. Many people steer away from warty pumpkins, said Zobel, because some plant diseases can cause that wartiness. However, if you find a warty pumpkin at your local farmers market or grocery store, it should be safe to take home and make a great addition to a goth garden. Other pumpkins sold commercially include the ‘Cinderella’ pumpkins, which have a flattened shape and change from yellow to bright-red and orange. White pumpkins are another great choice to add color contrast to your dark goth garden, Zobel said. A black Japanese ‘Kabocha’ pumpkin is another option because although they don’t get big, these pumpkins are matte black—as the name suggests.

Naturally Creepy Decor

If you’re looking for a creepy decoration to put in your home, seek no farther than snapdragon seed pods—they look just like miniature human skulls (yes, really)! You can collect a handful of these seed pods, put them in a clear bowl, and set them out for guests to view with awe. Another plant to collect and put in a decorative bowl is an Osage orange. Despite the name, these are not oranges and are not edible—although they

Plants in Dark Hues

Plants with black or very dark foliage are dramatic and a great element to add to a goth garden. The jumbo ‘Diamond Head’ Colocasia is the perfect background plant for your goth garden, said Rhodes, because of its striking, glossy black leaves and significant height. This plant typically becomes several feet tall in a single season, so it will stand out from your garden’s other features. This plant is not cold-tolerant, Rhodes said, so you’ll need to dig it out before the winter. You can then pot it and make it a houseplant. Similar-looking are the black Alocasias, which can get just as big, but whose leaves point upward, rather than droop down. The ‘Black Prince’ Coleus plant gets very dark in color and looks great combined with red- and white-flowering plants. The Love Lies Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) is another great goth plant, not only because of its dramatic name but also because of its appearance. The plant’s main features are its long, dangling tassels of deep-red flowers. Another flower that’s sometimes a similar deep-red color is Celosia. Especially great for Halloween are Cockscomb Celosias, which bloom into a shape and texture that resembles a brain. Another great plant to choose because of its deep color is the ‘Winecraft Black’ Smokebush, a shrub that can get to be several feet tall. Its leaves are a dark-red/purple hue. If you

want to get closer to black, though, you might want to try Black Mondo Grass. This grass-like plant sprouts leaves that resemble blades of grass, with a nearblack color. This plant both darkens your goth garden and helps the other plants’ colors to stand out. Any type of weeping plant will add drama to your garden—no matter the color. One option is the Japanese Weeping Maple Tree, which displays a deep wine-red color. Many flowers are being bred to be deep red and almost black colors, from the ‘Queen of Night’ Tulip to the ‘Anvil of Darkness’ Iris. Dahlias are a great option because they are late-season bloomers, Boley suggested. They come in a wide variety of colors. Rhodes recommends the ‘Thomas Edison’ Dahlia, which is a deep-purple color and dinner-plate sized. It’s color, said Zobel, even makes it the perfect goth wedding flower. If you’re trying to make a goth garden, you wouldn’t typically consider florist Chrysanthemums the best fit. However, they are easy to dye. You can use floral spray or dip them in dye to make dark-colored mums. You can also use dye on many other plants, such as dried Astilbe or Allium flowers, to create the color scheme you want. If you’re considering edibles, you could choose eggplant, whose rich, dark-purple hue is a great addition to a goth color scheme.

Fearsome Critters

your garden seeking warmth or food, such as spiders, snakes, and moths. Fret not—these guys are great additions to your goth garden not only because they’re great for the ecosystem, but also because they can help spook up your garden even more. One kind of spider active right now is the orb-weaver, which comes out in the late summer and early fall. “If you look around your garden, it wouldn’t be surprising to see one hard at work on a beautiful, spiral webs,” said Zobel, an entomologist. They’re also distinct due to their large, round bodies. You might even catch a spiny orb-weaver spider, which is hard to miss with its brightred, black, and white body with spikes, resembling a character like Bowser from Super Mario, said Boley. Another visitor you might see as the warm weather transitions to cold is the wolf spider, which are sometimes called “accidental intruders.” They are trying to seek shelter. Their large bodies and long legs covered in fur can be frightening to some, but Rhodes said there is “no reason to panic and harm it—simply scoop it into a jar and carry it outside.” Alongside the orb and wolf spiders, you might see the black widow, whose venomous bite makes it a commonly feared spider. In fact, this is the only native Maryland spider that’s venomous, said Boley. However, they don’t often make their way indoors, she said, but rather lurk in dark, dry places like lawn benches and porches. If a black widow is in your garden, you might see a haphazardly made, three-dimensional web. Even though these spiders might be frightening to some, they actually take care of your garden by eating insect pests. You can take precautions by wearing gloves when working in your garden and be on the lookout for these spiders. Similar to spiders, some snakes also try to find shelter as the weather cools down in the fall. Zobel said snakes are a “great animal to have in your garden because they control pest species, such as rodents.” In general, they are a “sign of a good, healthy ecosystem,” she said. Boley said that people tend to be scared of snakes, but that they’re “not trying to harm you, but rather looking for a place to hunker down.” If you find a black rat snake in your house, just use a broom to scoot it outside. Moths are a great feature to have in a goth garden because of the variety of colors they come in—from the pale-tan American Dagger to the limegreen Luna moth. During the fall, many people are trying to dispose of fallen leaves, said Boley, but if you want to attract moths, leave the leaves where they are. If you prefer leaves not to be scattered around your garden, you can rake them up into a pile to the side. Moths use leaves as a habitat, said Boley. Another way to goth-up your garden is by whom you attract to it. Flies often symbolize death and decay because they’re attracted to certain odors. If you’d like to attract flies to your garden, look no further than the Voodoo Lily or the Devil’s Tongue (Amorphophallus), often dark red-purple flowers that emit a strong smell of rotting meat to the surrounding area. If you can tolerate it, this is certainly a plant that takes the cake for being on theme. There are a myriad ways to get yourself and your garden into the Halloween spirit. These are just some ideas to get you going. Whether you want to completely transform your garden or just try a new plant or two, the spooky possibilities are endless. o

Melena DiNenna is a journalism student at the University of Maryland, College Park, with minors in Spanish and sustainability studies. She is from Salisbury, MD, and is interning this fall with Washington Gardener.