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12 On-Screen Plants That Deserve Their Own Oscar
If botany ballots were cast, here are the bits of movie greenery that would win big
By: Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal
Hollywood’s most glamorous night is upon us. Oscar pools are in full swing (will Sinners sweep or get snubbed? Is Emma Stone taking home her third statue before she’s even 40?), and insiders are already buzzing over who will be the red-carpet hits and misses.
But because it’s our job to see the world through greenery-colored glasses, we couldn’t help but wonder which on-screen plants (past and present) deserve a statuette of their own. From horticultural heroes to botanical villains, here are the winners of our first-ever "Plant Oscars."
1. Category: Most Likely to Gaslight You Into Committing a Felony
And the Winner Is: Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors
Between the soulful singing and the "Feed me, Seymour" demands, Audrey II is the only plant in Hollywood history destined for a rap sheet and a SAG card. But while murder is never the answer, we can at least all agree that the dentist had it coming.
2. Category: Best Achievement in Ultra-Intense Humidity
And the Winner Is: The swamps and Spanish moss in Sinners
This moss isn't just hanging; it’s lurking. Its creepy-chic vibes make the audience feel like it needs a hot shower and a dehumidifier just from looking at the screen. Bravo!
3. Category: The Garden Most Likely to Launch a Million Imitations
And the Winner Is: Meryl Streep’s Santa Barbara veggie garden in It’s Complicated
It's not a Nancy Meyers' movie if you don't immediately feel the urge to max out your credit card at a local nursery and replicate the whole aesthetic. This garden dares green thumbs everywhere to recreate this masterpiece — or at least play a major role on a Pinterest garden-inspo board.
4. Category: Most Passive-Aggressive Houseplant
And the Winner Is: The fern in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
The "Love Fern" is the patron saint of high-maintenance relationships. One missed watering session, and suddenly it’s a metaphor for why you’re fundamentally incompatible.
5. Category: Steamiest Field of Grass
And the Winner Is: The reeds in A Room with a View
Yes, the odds-on favorite was “Splendor in the Grass,” but it’s an upset! Who knew Italian barley could be so scandalous? This field turned a casual stroll into a masterclass in Edwardian sexual tension — no dialogue required, just a lot of rustling.
6. Category: Tree Most in Need of Anger Management
And the Winner Is: The Whomping Willow in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Most trees are shady, but this one goes an aggressive step further. With branches that attack first and ask questions, well, never, it’s the only piece of landscaping that’s so strong and angry, it totaled a flying car!
7. Category: Best Achievement in Suburban One-Upmanship
And the Winner Is: The dinosaur, swan, and dog topiaries in Edward Scissorhands
While the neighbors were busy struggling with basic curb appeal, Edward was turning the hedges into a leafy zoo. Sure, the greenest grass on your block is good, but shrubbery that pays homage to prehistoric times can be even better.
8. Category: Best Performance as a Symbol of an Approaching Midlife Crisis
And the Winner Is: The rose petals in American Beauty
Who doesn’t love roses? However, if you start imagining overhead shots of floating red rose petals, it’s time to check your stress levels. It’s the ultimate botanical red flag — usually followed by trading in your cushy job for one with the “least possible amount of responsibility.”
9. Category: Prettiest Portrayal of a Lethal Plant
And the Winner Is: The Maypole florals in Midsommar
Never has a death sentence looked so much like a high-end Coachella activation. It’s 10/10 “cottagecore” aesthetic, but 0/10 for anyone hoping to make it to the sequel.
10. Category: Best Backdrop for a Date With a 100-Year-Old Vampire
And the Winner Is: The meadow in Twilight
This suspicious patch of sun-drenched lavender is the only place in rainy Washington where you can properly sparkle on this rendezvous. It’s the "Main Character Energy" of fields, specifically designed for forbidden romance (and intense staring contests) to bloom.
11. Category: Biggest Botanical Fake-Out
And the Winner Is: “Rosebud” in Citizen Kane
It’s the most famous "flower" name in cinema, but spoiler alert: it’s literally a piece of wood. Quite the plot twist for anyone thinking that tycoon Charles Foster Kane was pining for his childhood garden when it was really the brand of his sled.
12. Category: Best Spooky Special Effects
And the Winner Is: The decaying, Gothic estate flora in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
Trust del Toro to make dying plants look more glamorous than a bountiful botanical garden. This is award-worthy stuff for the gardener who prefers their flora with a side of ancestral curses and Victorian gloom.
About the Writer
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal is a multi-platform storyteller with over two decades of experience spanning TV, digital, print, books, podcasts, and radio. As a TV writer/producer, her work has been featured on Bravo, Peacock, CBS, BET, and more. Her editorial bylines include The Cut, Parents, Slate, and Glamour, among others.