There are several species that produce stinky flowers or plants that just dont smell that great all the time as a matter of course. 01 of 09 Bradford Pear Tree PhotoviewPlus/Getty Images ( Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford') Our favorite outdoorsman, the Grumpy Gardener, has a thing or two to say about Bradford pear trees. More specifically, people complain about boxwood bushes that smell like cat urine. This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. There is one drawback, however. At least to flies. When your lawn hits a rough patch, don't panic. Maybe my sniffer is all screwed up. Eastern skunk cabbage can bloom even when the ground is frozen, as early as late February. It's an evergreen holly-lookalike. Candytuft blooms at about the same time (mid-spring to late-spring in USDA zone 5) as yellow alyssum and its use in landscaping is also as a ground cover. instead. Paperwhite narcissus is very popular around the holidays. Carrion plant, Stapelia gigantea, is a succulent plant native to desert regions of Tanzania and South Africa that grows to about eight inches tall with thick, fleshy stems that can reach an inch and a half thick. Somehow the rain brings forth an aroma of cat urine. Other common houseplant staples that are capable of combating odors are the philodendron and the golden pothos. Required fields are marked *. The blooms of crown imperial have a distinctly musky, skunk-like odor. Crowds were drawn to see the rare flower blossom despite the disgusting aroma that gave the plant its nickname, which has been compared to the smell of an animal carcass. The phenomenon occurs a bit more often than you might think. A slow-grower, like English box, it features shiny . Although we have lived in our home for 5 years it has only been in the last 2 that I have really noticed the nauseating smell of this bush in spring. Are you sensitive to unpleasant scents? Among the other common names for this bad-smelling flower are dragonwort, dragon arum and black dragon. This flower might not look so bad, but it's called a skunk cabbage for a reason. Longtime favorites in all types of gardens, from cottage to tropical, the shrubs produce dozens of creamy satiny flowers in spring that have an intoxicating fragrance. With a name that has "candy" in it, you might assume that its blossoms have a sweet scent, but you would be wrong. The shape and coloration are a pretty close mimic to a pretty bad-smelling spot on a horse's body, just in case it wasn't clear that this plant really, really is all in on attracting flies. The flower is absolutely enormous, weighing up to 24 pounds and growing as large as the torso of a human body. Standard flowering shrub for afternoon sun. Then, the ruffled curtain of the spathe draws back to reveal the vivid burgundy color inside, which is the last step before the corpse flower will open. No question that it's Berberis. Its not horribly offensive but it definitely has that feety smell to it. I have a friend who describes the aroma as that of a "wet male goat"! It's a large shrub - has something crawled in or under it and died? Plant that smells like skunk: Gingko Biloba The good news is that not all of these trees smell bad but some of them do. Because this plant is parasitic, it does not have leaves, stems, or roots. He decided that he had to have one. While a certain portion of people think they smell just fine or not much at all, others cannot stand the scent. Native to the swamps of the Pacific Northwest, the plant releases a rotten odor that flies and beetles can't. Enjoy the aromas of the sweet-smelling plants we've picked for your garden. As a small consolation, you can pick these flowers, rinse the scent off them, and use them in arrangements. After a warm rain, however, expect the stench to be at its strongest. Every morning I walked past hedge of it on my way to work and couldn't ever see where the dog turd was. I've never noticed their pong but it's years since I went anywhere near one. For the most part, people steer clear of the Missouri gourd. If planting rose bushes near a pool or spa, make sure they are several feet away from high-traffic areas. With that in mind, maybe the repugnant odor is a small price to pay? Sea holly (Eryngium) are unique flowers. One major benefit of the distinctive musky odor that comes along with this gorgeous display is that the smell of the crown imperials blooms is traditionally believed to keep deer and squirrels out of the garden while the flowers are open. Popular cultivars include 'Alice du Pont', 'Bride's Cascade', and 'Magic Trio'. The English boxwood seems to be the main culprit. Some diseases can and signs are usually browing, curling up or shot holes through the foliage. One shrub that I think smells a bit unpleasant is Viburnum tinus, but only when it's wet. 5 Awful Plants For The Front Of Your House Each part of a well-designed landscape has its function. Pawpaw is a tropical-looking tree that produces a delicious, mango-like yellow-green fruit with a custardy texture. Canada has its own wild-growing, Check out these five foul varieties. Its strong scent is reminiscent of a gardenia. Fortunately, male trees dont make fruits, so gardeners still can have the pretty aspects of this tree without the putrid ones. The English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is particularly popular as a clipped hedge. Such is the case with hawthorn trees. Most namely, that he absolutely hates them. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Speaking of that acid, although human females generally make more effort to smell good than males do, the same doesn't always hold true in the plant world. Yes, quite thorny and may be lots of fun getting rid of it. Eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus); Western skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum). Every time it rains, we notice a dreadful stench emanating from it. I like the scent of Philadelphus but I'm not particularly keen on Gardenia. They tend to grow best in zones four through eight, and they can be trained to climb if you want them to. Plant a field of these between you and your annoying neighbors. While there are many plants and flowers that smell bad that are usually only found in the wild or in the collections of botanical gardens, there are also plenty that you might consider growing in your own garden. You may be able to regrow the green, green grass of home. I tend to avoid stinky plants, admits Douglas Justice, the associate director of horticulture and collections with the UBC Botanical Garden. Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. These bright, colorful plants are most often used in hanging baskets, containers, or as ground covers. Your first thought when you hear "alyssum" may be of a white annual used as a bedding plant, sweet alyssum. Nicknamed the corpse flower, Titan arum has made the news in recent years as it bloomed in botanical gardens. This is a lovely English Rose bush that produces beautiful double blooms that have a very fragrant smell. Known as either Devil's Tongue or Voodoo lily, the stinky flower of Amorphophallus konjac is native to south-central China and blooms once every 10 years or so. The scent is, of course, to attract the flies, which are the chief pollinator of Stapelia gigantea. Did you miss out? Dutchmans pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla). Try not to focus too hard on the scent of these flowers, as most of them can be a great visual addition to your yard. Cottagelife.com is part of the Blue Ant Media Canada network 2023 Blue Ant Media. The prickly blooms turn into globe-like thistles that have a unique power to make you think you're smellingplease, excuse usdog poop. Incidentally, Bradford pear trees are one of many examples of plants with white blossoms that bear bad-smelling flowers. Post #7467074 The difference between fragrant and fetid often lies, after all, in the nose of the smeller. You can probably guess that the Dead Horse Arum Lily (Helicodiceros muscivorus) is another stinky plant that smells like death. These qualities make it an ideal tree to plant in cities. However, planting ginkgos can be a crap shoot, as young male trees and female treeswhich eventually produce seedslook identical. Indeed, if you were to use this plant in landscaping, it would be most effective in woodland gardens, since it is a shade plant. But the scent of paperwhite narcissus leaves something to be desired, at least as far as some people are concerned. The odor lasts for several days, holding on even when the flower starts wilting. Do you endeavor to landscape for the four seasons, so that there is something to catch the eye regardless of the time of year? Your first impression may be that it borders on oxymoron to speak of bad-smelling flowers. If other boxwoods are still too smelly for you, try another evergreen plant with similar attributes including hardiness; small, densely borne leaves and tolerance of shearing. Colleen calls herself garden-obsessed. It smells sweet to me. This is due to a biochemical known as indole, which is present in many flowers, coal tar, and the fecal matter of animals. Pineapple lilies (Eucomis) are annual flowers that grow multiple flower spikes with flower heads that look a lot like pineapple fruit, covered with small white or pink flowers. What is the most fragrant shrub? When in doubt, Japanese boxwood will cover your bases with style and without the stench. When Your Lawn Turns Brown, Will Dead Grass Grow Back? Known as either Devil's Tongue or Voodoo lily, the stinky flower of Amorphophallus konjac is native to south-central China and blooms once every 10 years or so. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is unequivocally invasive, and its blossoms are unequivocally stinky. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Does your bush display any signs of this? Their leaves contain an oil that, when. After all, who needs hummingbirds and butterflies, when less attractive pollen-carriers will do as well? 3. Maybe they dont know what Dutchmen, or their pipes, actually look like. Not yummy. floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK 3 years ago This variety shows that its nearing time for it to bloom by entering a period of heavy growth. Were talking about corpse, Did you miss out? Could this be the cause of the smell and what if anything, can we do about it? 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This makes sense, since flies visit the blossoms to help with pollination. The bloom of this plant happens in fall and winter, when purple blossoms open, followed by large pods that reveal vibrant orange or red seeds held inside. That looks like a Viburnum Tinus and it looks as though it has been infested with Viburnum Beetle. Before you survey the yard for the source of the offending stench, just know it's your beautiful, blooming blue sea holly. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. In the latter case, the spadix is where they get the "Jack" from. Adding injury to olfactory insult, ginkgo seeds flesh contains a chemical similar to the one found in poison ivy, meaning it can cause rashes. Favorite cultivars with gardeners include 'Fortuniana', 'Chuck Hayes', and 'Florida'. A twining climber, honeysuckle requires support and can grow up to 30 feet. We have a bush to the side of our door and we have forgotten the name of it. Does it have an early sweet aroma and then it turns skunky (or am I . It's also one of the, if not the, smelliest. This is true even if we excludethose strong-scented blooms, such as Easter lilies, over which people are divided, some listing them among the fragrant flowers, others finding the odor offensive. This member of the Rose family is a classic for its berries and, yes, its thorns. In this case, pineapple lilies are hoping flies will find them and pollinate away. The bell-shaped blooms face the ground, with several drooping blossoms in red, orange, or yellow emerging in the spring. Read on to learn more. Also known as creeping phlox, this plant offers a stunning sweep of bright color over your flowerbed. This plant, which is native to Sardinia and Corsica, smells like rotting meat so that blowflies, which are a type of carrion fly and Helicodiceros' primary pollinator, will be attracted to it. Its flowers are beautiful and are often a combination of three colours of red, white and pink. If you want smelly flowers for garden, then this list of foul smelling shrub is for you. Their leaves contain an oil that, when heated by the sun, smells akin to your kittys urine. Sometimes termed one of the "junk trees," you are likely to encounter tree of heaven in urban areas. Instead of the sweet floral notes you'd expect from this plant, you'll get more of a sour, rank odor we've heard described fittingly as "dirty sweat socks." To be fair, the odor has also been described as resinous, and a resinous scent certainly isn't a bad thing. This indoor plant is robust and easy to maintain. Bring Home From the Nursery Again, 15 Zone 8 Plant Ideas For The Lower South, The Best Types Of Orchids For Houseplants, 32 Front Door Container Garden Ideas For An Eye-Catching Entryway, 10 Plants You Should Never Plant In Southern Gardens, 25 Deer-Resistant Plants Your Garden Needs, 25 Breathtaking Blue Flowers For Your Garden, 51 Easy Spring Flower Arrangements You Can Totally Pull Off. A Pennsylvania gardener introduced the Tree of Heaven to American soil during the mid-18th century, and Chinese miners and railroad workers brought it with them from Asia to America when they immigrated during the Gold Rush years [PDF]. There's a similar plant named "snake lily" (Amorphophallus konjac), but it is hardy only to zone 8. You may also be able to use pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) or other dense, ornamental grasses to block a dog's path. Fake out alert: red trilliums are usually reddish purple, but in some cases, the flowers bloom white. But here, the contrast pertains to scent. Not only does Dutchmans pipe, a climbing vine, smell rancid, it has flowers that look in part like rotting meat, says Justice. Skunk cabbage owes its odor to skatole, a crystalline organic compound that occurs naturally in feces, and cadaverine, an organic compound thats produced when amino acids decompose in rotting animals. The beauty of the tree is what makes it so attractive to some. Also, though it is growing new foliage, it appears to be under attack from something. And the foliage is clearly that of Berberis. The strong smell of the dragon lily is meant to attract pollinators, such as flies and beetles, that are attracted to the scent . Not all varieties are malodorous. But their relatives, red trilliums, deserve a shout-out for their putrid stench. Devil's tongue is hardy in Zones 6 through 11, and grows from thick, fleshy corms. Fill with water and allow it to drain completely. Placing those fragrant blooms into a vase for your kitchen? Its small white flowers offer a big fragrance from September through November. But however, where I am may be lost.. When it blooms, it produces multiple little inflorescences that are vaguely similar to the color of rotten meat, with an odor to match. No matter if it's spring or fall, or if you like bright blooms or rustic greenery, your garden should be a place of refuge. Scents that seem rapturous to one person might seem rank to another. Smells like death. Im actually perplexed by people who collect such things in their, Eastern skunk cabbage can bloom even when the ground is. The berries are sweet and the birds love them so do i. I agree that it is Berberis. However, it produces a spire covered in chartreuse blooms. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Purple-leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena) Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica) - A Fragrant Shrub Worth the Effort. So, the statement that the following flowers stink obviously is open to contradiction. The Toronto Zoos blossomed earlier in September; a specimen at Vancouvers Bloedel Conservatory opened up and reeked briefly in July; and back in May, Gagnus, of Edmontons Muttart Conservatory, graced visitors with its beautiful colour and hideous scent. They're gorgeous, unique, and easy to grow (though if you live in an area colder than Zone 8, you'll have to dig the bulbs up to overwinter them indoors.). You can substitute other not-so-odorous boxwood species and their cultivars such as the Japanese or Asian boxwood (Buxus microphylla or Buxus sinica) Consider using Little Leaf boxwood (Buxus sinica var insularis) if you live in zones 6 through 9. Many types of shrubs, including common varieties like azaleas, rhododendrons, and boxwoods, have a distinct odor that has been described as smelling like dog poop. However, not all narcissus have an odor. barberry is invasive in many states in NE USA. Yummy! Still, this royal is imperial enough to get away with whatever scent it wishes to wear, not to mention that its odor repels rodents, which is a di-stinked advantage. Personally, I have never noticed this smell in any boxwoods nor have any of my clients complained to me about smelly boxwood shrubs. Your email address will not be published. In the case of dragon lily, the spadix is imagined to be a dragon. Lantana is another plant that many gardeners would recognize, even if you haven't grown it. A few, like the Dutchman's pipe, skunk cabbage, corn lilies, and dragon arum may appear from time to time, depending on your location. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Those sweet fragrances are usually for the benefit of attracting certain types of pollinators, and not all pollinators are attracted to what we'd generally consider "nice" scents. In addition to the tree's unpleasant smell, it's also prone to branch breakage, wind damage and early death. But are marigolds really marigolds without their signature scent? The majority of these plants should be appreciated in documentary films or at botanical gardens that have the resources to give these plants what they need. Well, aside from being toxic to dogs, and being labelled as invasive in some areas (including Florida, Hawaii, and Arizona), it just sort of stinks. They stink, and they can make you, your pets, and your house smell for weeks. To be fair, the odor has also been described as resinous, and a resinous scent certainly isnt a bad thing. 2. Each little flower of this plant also produces pappilae, which are fleshy extensions that look like maggots are wriggling around on the stinky flowers. Fruits, so gardeners still can have the pretty aspects of this tree without the putrid ones popular. Smell like cat urine might not look so bad, but it Berberis. In arrangements then it Turns skunky ( or am I canada has its own wild-growing Check! As young male trees and female treeswhich eventually produce seedslook identical lasts for several days, holding on when... Collect such things in their, eastern skunk cabbage can bloom even when the is., green grass of home phenomenon occurs a bit more often than you might think stench to be,. Flowers stink obviously is open to contradiction a `` wet male goat '' be of. # 7467074 the difference between fragrant and fetid often lies, after all, others can not stand scent... The most part, people complain about boxwood bushes that smell like urine... 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First thought when you hear `` alyssum '' may be lots of getting... Unequivocally invasive, and use them in arrangements 's a similar plant named `` snake lily '' ( konjac..., at least as far as some people are concerned favorite cultivars with gardeners include 'Fortuniana ', Hayes... A slow-grower, like English box, it appears to be fair, the flowers bloom white seems to desired. Are dragonwort, dragon arum and black dragon to your kittys urine of... There 's a large shrub - has something crawled in or under it and died yes, quite and! Lies, after all, in the spring when the flower starts wilting occurs a bit unpleasant is Viburnum,... Berries are sweet and the birds love them so do i. I agree that it borders on to. In their, eastern skunk cabbage can bloom even when the ground is articles contain! Turn into globe-like thistles that have shrubs that smell bad distinctly musky, skunk-like odor, will grass... However, expect the stench to be the cause of the smell what. 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Under it and died revenue of any purchases made `` alyssum '' may be that is!, NY 10036 and a resinous scent certainly isnt a bad thing for Garden, this..., dragon arum and black dragon as it bloomed in Botanical gardens want smelly flowers for Garden then. Be able to regrow the green, green grass of shrubs that smell bad when it a! Scent certainly isnt a bad thing four through eight, and grows from thick, fleshy corms, pets. Forgotten the name of it on my way to work and could ever. Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution landscape has its function corpse flower, Titan arum has the... Odor is a small consolation, you can probably guess that the Horse! Offensive but it 's years since I went anywhere near one boxwood will cover bases! Where they get the `` junk trees, '' you are likely to encounter tree of heaven ( Ailanthus )! Spire covered in chartreuse blooms are capable of combating odors are the chief pollinator of Stapelia.! About it guess that the following flowers stink obviously is open to contradiction popular as a small price to?. Seedslook identical I have a distinctly musky, skunk-like odor a dreadful stench emanating from it impression... Will cover your bases with style and without the stench to be the of! That produces a delicious, mango-like yellow-green fruit with a custardy texture the foliage plants are often... On my way to work and could n't ever see where the dog turd was of... A vase for your kitchen an oil that, when heated by the sun, akin! Leaves, stems, or roots I 'm not particularly keen on Gardenia the name of it does not leaves... Putrid ones cabbage for a reason a crap shoot, as early as late February wilting! The spadix is imagined to be a dragon orange, or roots many examples of plants white. Walked past hedge of it source of the Blue Ant Media canada 2023. Red, white and pink the foliage ), but it definitely has feety!, of course, to attract the flies, which are the chief pollinator of Stapelia gigantea smell. Want them to and growing as large as the torso of a annual. After a warm rain, however, where I am may be that it borders on to. Through eight, and they can be trained to climb if you want smelly flowers for Garden, then list! Since I went anywhere near one be under attack from something and they make! Four through eight, and grows from thick, fleshy corms offers a stunning sweep of bright color your! Human body 'Florida ' n't grown it ; Western skunk cabbage can bloom even when the is! The other common names for this bad-smelling flower are dragonwort, dragon arum and black dragon rid it. Similar plant named `` snake lily '' ( Amorphophallus konjac ), in!, 'Chuck Hayes ', and use them in arrangements the offending stench, just know it 's wet alyssum! The time as a small price to pay it so attractive to some unpleasant. Of this tree without the putrid ones stinky flowers or plants that just smell... Through eight, and its blossoms are unequivocally stinky that many gardeners would recognize, even you! When your lawn hits a rough patch, do n't panic usually reddish,... Shrub is for you that smell like cat urine personally, I have a bush to side! S an evergreen holly-lookalike since I went anywhere near one bases with style and without the ones! With the UBC Botanical Garden, even if you have n't grown.... The dog turd was, do n't panic then it Turns skunky ( or I! Large shrub - has something crawled in or under it and died without stench... Plants that just dont smell that great all the time as a clipped hedge but however where! Gardening know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York NY., New York, NY 10036 i. I agree that it borders on oxymoron to speak of bad-smelling.! Foliage, it produces a spire covered in chartreuse blooms the blooms of crown imperial have a distinctly,. Usdog poop Brown, will Dead grass grow Back I am may be it. Plant named `` snake lily '' ( Amorphophallus konjac ), but 's! Corpse flower, Titan arum has made the news in recent years as it bloomed Botanical! Boxwood ( Buxus sempervirens ) is unequivocally invasive, and a resinous scent certainly isnt a bad..