What are some strange and/or unique plants that you've had the are not perhaps typically considered fragrant?
In the houseplant category is "string of pearls". And also there is Sanseveria- that's right, "snake plant." In U.S. it is known as "mother in law's tongue." But in some central American countries it is known as "La Dame de Noche"- lady of the night. Mmmm, mmm. So nice!
Under palms category is of course, Arenga engleri, aka 'sugar palm.' Wow! This flower is intense and super sweet - knocks you over. Then there is Chamaedorea seifrizii- that's right! But, I suspect that it is only in tropical conditions in mass plantings that you notice. It is sniff sniff sniff...hmmm....waft my way some more.
I know of an Alocasia that is fragrant. Typically a "carry" fragrance. Depending on full sun or shade, you may have a hard time to trace it and there are no known pollinators in the SE U.S. for the charismatic scent.
Last is the shaving brush tree. The elusive flowers last just a day, and you either have to stick your nose in it or just be 60 feet away.
what don't you expect to be fragrant?
Hmmmm good question F4F...except that I go ISO plants that are specifically known to be fragrant...LOL. That Hoya I mentioned to you earlier the Lacunosa...I had no idea (believe it or not) that it was fragrant when I ordered it many years ago - it simply sounded "cute" - was before my gotta have scent days. Tellin' you the first time she bloomed....I has in utter heaven.
That is pretty amazing Chantell! It was meant to be- the fragrant ones just find their way to you.
Another one I forgot to metion is smilax. Unpopular as it may be, it led me on quite a detective hunt last year trying to figure out where the sweet scent was coming from.
Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig' has an almost sickenly-sweet bloom - most unusual and quite unexpected!
Smilax!? I've also been chasing an elusive sweet smell every summer and I never even thought to check Smilax. You may have solved the mystery.
I'm amazed at how good our pansies are this year. We've got a whole flat planted in one area and the scent just teases you as you walk by.
Kay, yes the Dracaenas do have that "sickenly" sweet smell. No offense to Asian lilies, but I'd take a Dracaena fragrans over you! Back in my interior days, when those guys bloomed I couldn't cut that emerging flower inflorescence (soon to be laden with tons of sticky nectar) off fast enough........
I miss pansies! Jealous of yours Pillita, although this winter is so far "sustainingly" cold, for this zone. May be worth it to give them a try.
F4flora...another interiors veteran!!! me too.
and i as well 'go for scent' Chantell, makes one weak in the knees!! i've been collecting and distilling fragrant plants for about 20 years..
it is 19 degrees outside this morning and i am in the mood to garden..ha! i do have a quasi greenhouse that sits right at 32 this morning...and i'm wondering what else i can put over there to give me more to putter with. any suggestions?
smilax sounds familar...comman name?
Maybe roundleaf greenbriar?
I've never thought of making infusions before.......hmm. What do you do with yours?
So you were in the interior lanscape profession also? Very cool!
O... i call that cat briar (or horse briar, depending on how big the thorns are) also a wold edible, which i'm sure you knew...i nibble on the young shoots as i make my way thru the woods. nibble being the keyword here..i bet they grow like wild fire down there..enough for a whole meal! i had no idea they were fragrant!
i worked in the industry for about 4 years for the large nursery up here, but i had grown conservatory plants for myself long B4 that...specifically citrus as that is one of my favs to distill. are you familar with neroli? i make neroli 'water' and rose 'water', etc...you could prob google my name and my website would come up...i don't know how much info we are allowed to put here, but i'm not trying to advertize!
did you have your own plant biz?
LOL, Dabney. Yes, I've eaten Smilax leaves before. It's been awhile since I've done that, though. There are some that taste better than others- sort of a nutty taste. Whichever one that has a reddish leaf I always sought out. I used to do that while walking from my apartment to the college campus, or when walking in the woods!
The neroli water looks interesting. I love the fragrance of orange blossoms. Please Dmail me your site and I would like to learn more.
I worked at the corporate office for a very large company when I was in interior landscaping, and it was an honor for me to do so.
Queen Sago-the flowers give off this combination scent in July & Aug. Perfume + cooked cabbage.
Took me years to track that scent to its source
Interesting!
I haven't tried this one yet, but I find http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1082/ , arisaema candidissimum, the jack in the pulpit, to be a candidate for a surprise. I usually think of aroids (like voodoo lilys) as having stinky stinky blooms. :)
There's a weed that grows here, with a pale lemon yellow flower similar to an oenothera, sundrop. The flowers come on stalks, like nicotiana. The basal leaves are kind of pale green, fuzzy, and ugly. It has the most delightful, light, sweet fragrance. In spite of its appearance I always let it grow, just for the privilege of popping my nose into a blossom and getting that little whiff of perfection. :)
Merry Christmas everyone. :)
-Joe
Here:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/71989/
:) Now it has a name. :)
This message was edited Dec 25, 2008 3:37 PM
Hey there JoeGee. Boy,that Chinese Jack in the Pulpit is bewitching regardless of the scent. May have to revise my want list for the new year. I've also debated getting into primrose before, so I am rethinking that as well. Is there any chance those "weeds" make seeds?
Happy New Year all!