What Plant Is the Centerpiece of The Little Shop of Horrors
The plant most associated with The Little Shop of Horrors is Audrey II, the singing, man-eating monster that drives the story. In the original 1960 film, Audrey II is played by a puppet and voiced by actor Levi Stubbs. While the character is a fictional hybrid, it is most often described as a cross between a Venus flytrap and a pitcher plant, with the look and behavior of a fast-growing, carnivorous flowering plant. In real-world production, the plant effects were created using a combination of puppetry and stop-motion animation, making it one of the most memorable characters in cult cinema.
Origins and Creative Development of Audrey II
From Stage to Screen
Audrey II was created by writer Howard Ashman for the off-Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors in 1982, later adapted into the 1986 film directed by Frank Oz. The character was designed to be both a comedic and horrifying figure, a plant with a taste for human blood. The team behind the film used an innovative mix of animatronics and stop-motion techniques to bring the plant to life. According to production notes, the movement and mouth mechanics were inspired by venus flytraps, sundews, and pitcher plants, though Audrey II remains a fictional species.
Puppet Design and Performance
Several different puppets were built for Audrey II during filming, ranging from small hand puppets to a large, full-body version operated by multiple puppeteers. Levi Stubbs provided the voice, adding personality and menace. The plant’s rapid growth and exaggerated movements were achieved through fast-motion puppetry, making the transitions between stages both comedic and unsettling. This combination of voice and physical performance is key to the plant’s lasting appeal and iconic status in horror comedy.
Real-World Plant Inspirations
Venus Flytrap
The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States. It catches insects using a snap trap mechanism, closing its lobes when tiny hairs are touched. While it cannot consume human flesh, its rapid movement and predatory appearance make it a natural inspiration for fictional carnivorous plants like Audrey II.
Pitcher Plants
Tropical pitcher plants, such as those in the genus Nepenthes, use a pitfall trap to capture prey. Their modified leaves form a deep cavity filled with digestive fluid, into which insects fall and are dissolved. These plants vary in size and color, with some producing spectacular pitchers that inspired the imagined size and shape of Audrey II’s mature form.
Sundews
Sundews (genus Drosera) use sticky glandular hairs on their leaves to trap insects. Once prey is stuck, the leaves slowly curl around the insect to increase digestion efficiency. Though slower than a Hollywood monster, this real-world mechanism of controlled trapping and digestion informed the behavior of the fictional Audrey II, making its fictional feeding habits seem just plausible enough to entertain audiences.
Debunking Common Misconceptions
Audrey II does not exist in the real world as a single, giant man-eating species. While some movies and urban legends suggest that real plants can crave human blood, no known plant can digest human flesh or grow to human size. Claims of such a plant being discovered are fictional storytelling devices. The real science behind carnivorous plants is fascinating in its own right, focused on insects and small invertebrates rather than people. Understanding this distinction helps viewers appreciate both the creativity of the film and the actual biology of carnivorous plants.
Profiles of Key Plant References
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Audrey II in Film | Fictional hybrid plant, puppet and stop-motion effects | Production notes and film credits |
| Venus Flytrap | Snap-trap carnivorous plant, Dionaea muscipula | Botanical databases and peer-reviewed research |
| Pitcher Plant | Passive pitfall-trap, genus Nepenthes | Academic botanical sources |
| Sundew | Active sticky-trap carnivore, genus Drosera | Botanical society publications |
| Human-Digesting Plant | No verified species; fictional only | Scientific consensus and absence of evidence |
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The Little Shop of Horrors and its central plant have remained culturally relevant for decades. The musical and film are regularly staged and referenced in popular media, with Audrey II symbolizing both comedic horror and environmental themes around consumption and growth. The plant’s design has influenced later works in horror and animation, demonstrating how a fictional organism can capture public imagination while still being rooted in recognizable natural traits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Audrey II based on a real plant species? It is a fictional composite inspired by Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and sundews, but no single real species matches its behavior.
- Can any real plants eat humans? No. Carnivorous plants consume only insects and small invertebrates; they cannot digest human tissue.
- How were the plant effects created in the original film? A combination of puppetry, animatronics, and stop-motion techniques were used to simulate the plant’s movement and growth.
- What makes a plant carnivorous? Carnivorous plants trap and digest prey to obtain nutrients, typically in nutrient-poor environments, using specialized leaves and mechanisms.
- Are new adaptations or sequels in development? Various stage and screen revivals have occurred, but specific future projects are beyond the scope of this evergreen overview.
Conclusion
The plants in The Little Shop of Horrors, especially Audrey II, remain an influential part of horror-comedy history. While the movie’s plant is a fictional creation, its design draws on real botanical wonders like Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and sundews. Understanding the science behind these real carnivores enhances appreciation for the creativity and mythmaking in the story, making this an enduring topic for both film fans and plant enthusiasts.