Below is a list of 5 bad smelling plants to not grow. The reason I say to avoid growing them is because the smell is just too horrendous! They might be interesting, but the intense stench is over-bearing. Why plant these smelly things to attract lots of bugs, when there are many other plants that have a fantastic fragrance.
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5. Rafflesia
This plant smells like rotting flesh and grows to be 4 to 5 feet wide. Sure, it’s a truly impressive flower, but it isn’t known as the Cadaver Flower for no reason at all. It’s hard for people to take a picture of this orange specked red blossom without gagging.
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Rafflesia is a species of flowering plant that is native to Southeast Asia and is commonly known as the Cadaver Flower. It is a parasitic plant, meaning it grows on the roots of other plants, such as the Tetrastigma vine, and it is the largest single flower in the world. It can reach up to 4 to 5 feet in diameter and has a strong, unpleasant odor that is often compared to rotting flesh. The flower is red with orange speckles and is surrounded by five large, leathery petals.
Rafflesia is a rare species due to its unique characteristics and its limited range. It is a slow-growing plant and can take up to 8 months to fully develop. It also has a very short lifespan, typically only lasting a few days. The flower is pollinated by carrion flies, which are attracted to its rancid odor.
Rafflesia is a protected species in many countries, and it is illegal to harvest or collect the plant without a permit. It is also listed as an endangered species due to its limited range and potential threats from deforestation and climate change.
Oof, good question! Some plants have evolved to smell bad to attract certain pollinators like flies or beetles. Others might use their stinky aroma to ward off herbivores. Nature's pretty clever, right?
Totally! You could plant them away from commonly used areas or use mulch to mask the smell. Sometimes pruning and good air circulation help too. It's all about location and management.
Yikes! There are a few notorious ones. Rafflesia, corpse flower, and even some varieties of stinkhorn fungi are pretty infamous. Skunk cabbage and Bradford pear trees are also in the mix. Not exactly the kind you want in your living room!
Surprisingly, yes! Some, like Rafflesia, are rare and fascinating, attracting lots of interest from botany enthusiasts. Plants like skunk cabbage can even be helpful in wetlands. Just because they smell doesn't mean they're useless!
Great tip: always do a little research first. Reading up on the plant or asking at your local nursery can save you a lot of nose-pinching later. Sometimes a quick sniff test if you're at a store helps too, just maybe don’t get too close!
4. Ginkgo Trees
They grow into a tree and smell like rotten eggs. The benefits of ginkgo are widely known, but I wouldn’t want to be the one who had to harvest this plant. These trees get enormously large, which means there are plenty of leaves to stink up quite a lot of area.
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The foul odor of ginkgo trees specifically emanates from the female tree's fruit, which drops to the ground and, when squished, releases a scent akin to vomit or rancid butter. Despite its unappealing smell, the ginkgo tree is actually a living fossil, with a history dating back over 270 million years. While its distinctive fan-shaped leaves turn a stunning yellow in the fall, the unattractive fragrance might be too much for a small backyard. Choose wisely if you're considering this ancient species for your garden!
Oof, good question! Some plants have evolved to smell bad to attract certain pollinators like flies or beetles. Others might use their stinky aroma to ward off herbivores. Nature's pretty clever, right?
Totally! You could plant them away from commonly used areas or use mulch to mask the smell. Sometimes pruning and good air circulation help too. It's all about location and management.
Yikes! There are a few notorious ones. Rafflesia, corpse flower, and even some varieties of stinkhorn fungi are pretty infamous. Skunk cabbage and Bradford pear trees are also in the mix. Not exactly the kind you want in your living room!
Surprisingly, yes! Some, like Rafflesia, are rare and fascinating, attracting lots of interest from botany enthusiasts. Plants like skunk cabbage can even be helpful in wetlands. Just because they smell doesn't mean they're useless!
Great tip: always do a little research first. Reading up on the plant or asking at your local nursery can save you a lot of nose-pinching later. Sometimes a quick sniff test if you're at a store helps too, just maybe don’t get too close!
3. Voodoo Lily
This tropical plant smells worse than decaying meat. Thankfully it is a very short-lived flower. There’s really no need to try growing this enormous plant, other than to irritate your housemates or to keep guests away.
Oof, good question! Some plants have evolved to smell bad to attract certain pollinators like flies or beetles. Others might use their stinky aroma to ward off herbivores. Nature's pretty clever, right?
Totally! You could plant them away from commonly used areas or use mulch to mask the smell. Sometimes pruning and good air circulation help too. It's all about location and management.
Yikes! There are a few notorious ones. Rafflesia, corpse flower, and even some varieties of stinkhorn fungi are pretty infamous. Skunk cabbage and Bradford pear trees are also in the mix. Not exactly the kind you want in your living room!
Surprisingly, yes! Some, like Rafflesia, are rare and fascinating, attracting lots of interest from botany enthusiasts. Plants like skunk cabbage can even be helpful in wetlands. Just because they smell doesn't mean they're useless!
Great tip: always do a little research first. Reading up on the plant or asking at your local nursery can save you a lot of nose-pinching later. Sometimes a quick sniff test if you're at a store helps too, just maybe don’t get too close!
2. Skunk Cabbage
The smell of decaying meat oozes from the leaves of this plant. The blossoms are a deep purple and measure around 4 inches. All you have to do is break or tear a leaf to get the smell rolling out. This can be treacherous if the plant starts growing in your yard and you end up mowing over it.
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Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is a perennial flowering plant native to the eastern United States and Canada. It is a member of the Araceae family and is the only species in the Symplocarpus genus. It is an emergent plant, meaning that it grows in shallow water or wet soil.
The plant has large, heart-shaped leaves that are deep green in color. The flowers are a deep purple and measure around 4 inches. The smell of decaying meat is emitted when a leaf is broken or torn. This can be dangerous if the plant is growing in a yard and gets mowed over.
The plant can be found in swamps, bogs, wet meadows, and other wet areas. It is an important plant for wetland habitats, as it provides food for a variety of wildlife, such as ducks, muskrats, and beavers. It also provides shelter for frogs, toads, and salamanders.
Oof, good question! Some plants have evolved to smell bad to attract certain pollinators like flies or beetles. Others might use their stinky aroma to ward off herbivores. Nature's pretty clever, right?
Totally! You could plant them away from commonly used areas or use mulch to mask the smell. Sometimes pruning and good air circulation help too. It's all about location and management.
Yikes! There are a few notorious ones. Rafflesia, corpse flower, and even some varieties of stinkhorn fungi are pretty infamous. Skunk cabbage and Bradford pear trees are also in the mix. Not exactly the kind you want in your living room!
Surprisingly, yes! Some, like Rafflesia, are rare and fascinating, attracting lots of interest from botany enthusiasts. Plants like skunk cabbage can even be helpful in wetlands. Just because they smell doesn't mean they're useless!
Great tip: always do a little research first. Reading up on the plant or asking at your local nursery can save you a lot of nose-pinching later. Sometimes a quick sniff test if you're at a store helps too, just maybe don’t get too close!
1. Corpse Plant
The Corpse Plant smells like rotting bodies and grows larger than most humans do. You can imagine the odor coming off of a flower that size. Although interesting, it’s best to leave these plants to the botanical gardens that can put them on display for the general public.
Each of these plants is too smelly to be grown in small areas, not to mention overly large in some cases. Have you come across some bad smelling plants at all? Do you see any reason to try to grow them in your own home?
Top Photo Credit: Araleya
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