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| From In the Garden |
Houseplants are something I grew up with and I really enjoy houseplants even though I complain about them all the time. This post will be a complaint about a stinky houseplant, but a complaint with a smile. I was given a start of a starfish plant, aka Stapelia gigantea, several years ago from a garden club friend. I liked this plant because I barely had to water it and it did not drop its leaves in the winter like most houseplants in my home. It just was there. A nice dull green but alive plant that was easy to care for. Easy enough so it stays around my home in the winter and lives on the deck in the summer time. Recently, while bringing in this houseplant I noticed it had two buds. I thought how cool! It has never bloomed in all the years I've been the keeper of it. This plant is one of the few that comes into the house and it gets a coveted sunny south facing window in my computer room-within two feet of where I sit. Once the plant was safely ensconced in its winter home I forgot about it and the two buds.
Forgetting about this plant was a mistake. After being away from home all day I entered the computer room during a sunny warm day and oh boy did I get a surprise. I initially thought a rodent had died and rotted right under my desk. A quick search following my nose ruled that out when my nose led me right to this carrion starfish plant. Ew! It is a most disgusting smell and one that there is no mistaking the smell of rotting flesh. The bloom even looks like flesh and feels quite-um-well fleshy. Yuck! But the bloom is ever so cool despite its smell and looks and feel. The bud shown right next to it is a huge balloon a good five inches from end to end. It too is most cool. I am posting a picture of the stinky plant here because I have to laugh at myself simply because this is a case I shoulda known better and seen it coming....
in the garden....
Any stinking surprises from your plants?
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
Well, I had to laugh, but eugh! Fascinating flower though. I don't "do" house plants, I just seem to kill them, which is strange given how much I love growing from seed...
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this plant, how interesting. Least you know it's happy even thought it's stinking.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I have had any stinky plants in my house...unless they have been over watered and are rotting.
ReplyDeleteThat one is pretty amazing.
Janet, Laughing is all I could do and still laugh when I smell that plant-I tend to avoid the room during the hottest period. It's a weird plant but easy!
ReplyDeleteDawn, When next I come up there I'd be happy to bring you a piece!
Janet, I have the opposite problem I never water! Ha! Those rotting ones will surely smell too.
Well Tina, I can hear the ripple affect of laughter from bloggers reading this post. I have to agree with you, so, so totally cool! I have never heard of this one before.
ReplyDeleteI do love stinky plants, but maybe indoors isn't the best place for them, lol. Plus, how does it eat/get pollinated if it needs flies? Or am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteCool plant but too funny. What a surprise to find when you got home. I would have moved it back outside!
ReplyDeleteThat's one interesting houseplant Tina. I've given up on having any myself. The furry children in my household love to tastetest things. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have never even heard of this plant! Don't think I want one. :) I only have ivies in the house except for the begonias I bring in when the weather turns.
ReplyDeletePretty sure I won't be inviting stinking plants into the house~Interesting looking or not! gail
ReplyDeleteDarla, Laughter is the best! Even if the joke is on me:)
ReplyDeleteMonica, Lots of flies in my house-can't figure out where they all come from but spring and fall bring them around. Funny thing is though none are in this room upstairs.
GSS, I should move it outside but more work? Nah, I'm still bringing in plants. I have a lot like you and it takes time. Love your set up though!
Racquel, I wonder if my outside cat would be attracted to this rotting meat? Never really thought about it. I think the dogs show interest. Fortunately it is up high and out of the way now.
Linda, Love those begonias in the house! They just remind me of lush and succulent plant rooms.
Gail, It is THE coolest plant though I'm wondering why my friend did not warn me on the smell?
Tina that is funny. I remember hearing on the radio about a gardener giving someone else a start of a similar plant as a practical joke. lol
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting plant! I don't think I would want it in the house, though. How funny that you posted about something stinky the same day I did on my new blog. I guess there's something floating around in the air.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating, I love unusual plants. I have a couple of voodoo lily bulbs which I have been warned will smell so I will be vigilant!
ReplyDeleteInteresting plant but I do not think I have ever heard of it before so I will research it and may try to find one. I do love the unusual.
ReplyDeleteThere should be a little room in everyone's life for one stinky plant.
ReplyDeleteROFLOL, Tina that is something else. I had one of those plants but last winter got it. I have been trying to replace it but not yet. My friend, now gone, had given it to me. She didn't tell me about the smell either. lol
ReplyDeleteI also have the vodoo & when it's in bloom you don't want to be around it. Stinks to high heaven.
I like the unusual.
I'm just glad this houseplant is living in your house and not mine:)
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is cool Tina!
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine just had the same complaint about the same plant. She had to take it outside. Sure is pretty, though.
ReplyDeleteEw, it's not the most attractive looking plant either. I have a Hoya with lots of glossy dark green leaves and occasional lovely sweet smelling flowers. My husband swears he is allergic to them. Consequently he picks off the flowers and throws them away before they have a chance to open up emitting their honeyed scent.
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteI am LoL about this. I think this should be the plant to give our enemies. :)
It is a beautiful specimen even if it is stinky. I think my husband thinks most flowers are stinky. I, on the other hand, bring all the sweet peas inside and put them in vases. He says it smells horrible. Maybe I should get a plant like yours and give it to him to keep in his office? Sounds like a good April fools gift?
This plant you have must be stinky for a reason. It must attract some sort of pollinators that actually like the smell of rotting flesh. Ugh!
It's such a cool looking flower, too bad it smells so bad. I've heard of a starfish plant, but had no idea of how it smelled. Good warning about it in case I ever buy one.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow!! Although, to be honest, my first reaction wasn't that polite!! What a plant!! I'm not that into houseplants, but if I ever do buy any I'll be sure to make sure they're in bloom so I can sniff them first! What did you do with it??
ReplyDeleteHi TS, The plant is actually still in my computer room. It only really smells during the afternoon so I avoid the room then. Slowly the smell is dissipating and was never quite as bad as the first day it bloomed. I should move it out but am too-ah lazy-to do so. Anyhow, each time I see those starfish shaped blooms (2) I get a smile. And do you know the blooms still look fabulous almost a week after it started blooming? I just don't get up close and personal to smell them:)
ReplyDeleteSo what did you do? Surely you can't just live with a stinky houseplant! Knowing me, I'd tell everyone not to go in that room for a while but not do anything about the smell just because I thought it was so cool. :D
ReplyDeleteI have had one of these plants for nearly twenty years and could not find out the name anywhere. The lady who gave me a piece of it years ago warned me I would be sorry when it bloomed. I have not though.
ReplyDeleteIt had gotten so big and heavy I just cut it back to bring in the house for the winter. It has bloomed so much this summer on the porch. it is easy and the blooms are beautiful.
Missy, I did go in the room but had to open the windows:)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Aren't they the coolest plants? Easy too! Glad you have a name now and thanks for the info on cutting it back. It is a great houseplant and I'm even now liking the seedpods. Guess it got pollinated:)