Is there a mysterious foul odor wafting through your garden, but you can’t seem to pinpoint the source? Surprisingly, the culprit might be those stunning flowers you so carefully planted and tended to.
Not all plants smell like roses. A few plant families have independently evolved the ability to mimic nasty smells to attract pollinating insects.1 Here are 15 plants that could be the reason behind that awful stench in your yard.
1. Stinking Benjamin (Trillium erectum)
Stinking Benjamin, also known as red trillium or wake-robin, is a perennial wildflower native to eastern North America. This plant produces striking, deep red flowers in the spring, but don’t let its beauty fool you – the blooms emit a strong, unpleasant odor reminiscent of rotting meat.
The foul smell of stinking Benjamin attracts pollinators such as flies and beetles, which are drawn to the scent of decaying flesh. Despite its odor, this plant is a valuable addition to woodland gardens, providing early-season interest and attracting unique pollinators.
2. Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
Aptly named, the skunk cabbage emits a strong, skunky odor that can be detected from a distance. This plant, native to eastern North America, is one of the first to emerge in the spring, often pushing through snow and ice.
The skunk cabbage’s distinctive smell attracts pollinators such as flies and beetles, which are drawn to the scent of rotting meat. Despite its pungent aroma, the plant features unique, hood-shaped flowers that add an interesting visual element to wetland areas.
3. Ginkgo Tree (Ginkgo biloba)
Ginkgo trees are known for their beautiful, fan-shaped leaves that turn a stunning golden color in autumn. However, female ginkgo trees produce fleshy, apricot-like fruits that contain butyric acid, which is responsible for the tree’s unpleasant odor.
The smell of ginkgo fruits is often compared to that of rancid butter or vomit and can be quite overpowering when the fruits fall to the ground and begin to decay. To avoid this issue, many landscapers and urban planners opt to plant male ginkgo trees, which do not produce malodorous fruits.
4. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian is a perennial flowering plant that has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for insomnia and anxiety. While its delicate, pale pink flowers are quite attractive, the plant’s roots emit a strong odor often likened to sweaty socks.
Interestingly, the smell of valerian is highly attractive to cats, who may roll in the plant or dig up its roots. In the past, valerian was even used as bait in rat traps due to its scent, which is alluring to rodents.
5. Dragon Arum (Dracunculus vulgaris)
The dragon arum, also known as the voodoo lily, is a striking plant with a tall, dark purple spathe surrounding a black spadix. While visually impressive, the dragon arum is notorious for its foul smell, which is reminiscent of rotting meat.
This putrid odor attracts pollinators such as flies and beetles, which mistake the plant for a decaying carcass. The dragon arum is native to the Balkans, Greece, and the Aegean Islands, but is often grown as an ornamental plant in gardens worldwide.
6. Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)
Despite its unappealing name, the stinking hellebore is a beautiful evergreen perennial that produces clusters of pale green, bell-shaped flowers in late winter and early spring. However, the plant’s foliage emits an unpleasant odor when crushed, hence its common name.
The stinking hellebore’s scent is believed to deter herbivores from consuming it because of its toxic compounds. Nonetheless, this hardy plant is a valuable addition to shade gardens, providing year-round interest with its attractive foliage and early-blooming flowers.
7. Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum)
The corpse flower, also known as titan arum, is infamous for its colossal size and its pungent odor that mimics the smell of rotting flesh. This rare plant, native to the equatorial rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, can grow up to 12 feet tall and only blooms once every 4-6 years.
Despite its offensive smell, the corpse flower’s unique appearance and infrequent blooming cycle make it a sought-after attraction in botanical gardens worldwide. The putrid scent, which can linger for days, attracts carrion beetles and flesh flies that pollinate the plant.
8. Starfish Flower (Stapelia hirsuta)
The starfish flower, native to South Africa, is a succulent plant with hairy, star-shaped flowers that can reach up to 6 inches in diameter. These unusual blooms emit a strong odor of rotting meat, attracting flies and other pollinators.
The plant’s foul smell and mottled, flesh-colored petals mimic decaying animal matter, tricking insects into laying their eggs on the flower. Despite its unpleasant odor, the starfish flower is a popular choice among succulent collectors for its unique appearance and low maintenance requirements.
9. Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua)
The carob tree is an evergreen shrub or tree native to the Mediterranean region, known for its edible pods that are often used as a chocolate substitute. However, when the tree is in bloom, its small, red flowers emit a pungent odor.
The carob tree’s smell is often compared to that of rotten meat or sewage and can be overpowering during the flowering season. Despite this, the tree remains an important agricultural crop and is valued for its drought tolerance and low maintenance requirements.
10. Stinking Goosefoot (Chenopodium vulvaria)
Stinking goosefoot, also known as stinking motherwort, is an annual herb native to Europe and North Africa. The plant emits a strong, unpleasant odor that has been likened to the smell of rotting fish or trimethylamine, a compound found in decaying animal tissue.
Despite its foul smell, stinking goosefoot has been used in traditional medicine for its purported anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. The plant’s odor is believed to deter herbivores, protecting it from being consumed.
11. Hound’s Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Hound’s tongue is a biennial herb native to Europe and Asia, known for its soft, hairy leaves and small, reddish-purple flowers. The plant emits a strong, musty odor that has been likened to the smell of a wet dog.
This unpleasant scent is believed to deter herbivores from consuming the plant, as the hound’s tongue contains toxic alkaloids. Despite its odor, the plant has been used in traditional medicine for its purported anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.
12. Dead Horse Arum (Helicodiceros muscivorus)
Dead horse arum, native to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia, is a perennial plant with a distinctive, dark purple spathe and spadix. As its common name suggests, the plant emits a strong odor reminiscent of a decaying horse carcass.
This foul smell attracts pollinators such as blowflies, which lay their eggs inside the plant’s inflorescence. The dead horse arum’s unique appearance and pollination strategy make it a fascinating if somewhat malodorous, addition to botanical collections.
13. Durian (Durio zibethinus)
Durian is a large, spiky fruit native to Southeast Asia, renowned for its creamy, custard-like flesh and potent odor. The smell of durian is so strong and pervasive that the fruit is banned from many public spaces, hotels, and transportation systems in countries where it is consumed.
Descriptions of durian’s odor range from rotten onions and turpentine to sewage and gym socks. However, many people consider the taste of durian to be delicious, with a complex flavor profile that includes notes of caramel, almond, and vanilla.
14. Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima)
The stinking iris is a perennial plant native to Europe and North Africa, known for its evergreen leaves and pale purple flowers. When the leaves are crushed or bruised, they emit a strong, unpleasant odor that has been compared to roast beef or stale meat.
Despite its off-putting scent, the stinking iris is valued for its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in shaded areas. The plant’s seed pods are also attractive, with bright orange seeds that are often used in floral arrangements.
15. Stinking Passionflower (Passiflora foetida)
The stinking passionflower is a fast-growing vine native to the Americas, known for its intricate, purple-and-white flowers and fuzzy, three-lobed leaves. The plant emits a strong, unpleasant odor that has been described as reminiscent of rotting meat or wet dogs.
Despite its foul smell, the stinking passionflower is valued for its hardiness and ability to quickly cover trellises, fences, and other structures. The plant’s fruits are also edible, although they are not as widely consumed as those of other passionflower species.
While these beautiful plants may be causing an unpleasant odor in your garden, it’s important to remember that their unique scents serve a purpose in attracting pollinators and deterring herbivores.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.