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Gardening

Are there plants that you don’t like?

(114 Posts)
Bazza Wed 01-Apr-26 15:24:47

We have a smallish garden which is cared for by my DH and mostly I’m very happy with it. I see the beauty in most plants and flowers but there’s just something about a shrub which I think is called Robinia or red robin which I really don’t like, and the other one is called sedum which has a pink flower and fleshy leaves. Just typing this makes me feel that I’m a bit weird, so I’d really like to know if any other grans have plants or flowers that they don’t like. Just for the record my favourite flower is snowdrops. We have quite a lot of red robin and my DH refuses to cut it back as it is blocking out some houses behind it, so I see his point. I did read the other day that Alan Titchmarsh doesn’t like gladiola so I’m not the only one!

Casdon Wed 01-Apr-26 15:34:33

I like both those you mention, but there are a few plants that I would never grow, because I’m not keen on them. Petunias, begonias, alyssum and anything that is invasive would be on my list.

Oreo Wed 01-Apr-26 15:37:51

I like the red robin Photinia they make a good backdrop to a garden and even hedges and are evergreen too.The young leaves look pretty too.We’re all different aren’t we?😄
I like most shrubs and plants but an not keen on the ‘grasses’ there was a craze for them some years ago and I think they look alien in UK gardens.Would suit a desert type garden in Arizona.
If I had a garden I would have lots of roses but at least I can grow some in pots.
Am not keen on those spotted leaf laurels now I come to think of it as they give off a depressing air.

Fatoldlady Wed 01-Apr-26 15:38:35

I don't like daffodils, so garish! One or two might be ok, but they seem to grow in groups of thousands.

Oreo Wed 01-Apr-26 15:40:38

😲 I wandered lonely as a cloud…..

cc Wed 01-Apr-26 16:03:43

I don't like bergenia, they look great in photos but in real life they have very big leaves full of slug holes which last all year, long after the flowers have died. Some look lovely in pictures but they're often just a not particularly nice mid-pink. There are some with nicer colours though and they apparently attract bees.
I share Fatoldlady's dislike of some daffodils, expecially the huge yellow ones, but rather like the smaller ones in cream and pale yellow with pretty cups.
Like Oreo I'm not that keen on grasses, unless they are in a particular type of garden, nor on the big old fashioned laurels.
I'm also gardening in containers now and finding I have to use very different plants and techniques.
In general I dislike any plant that is too big for the space it has to grow in. It means that it has to be pruned to keep it smaller than it wants to grow, which often spoils its natural shape. This is just as true of shrubs as of trees.

J52 Wed 01-Apr-26 16:29:24

I dislike Hypericum ( St John Wort). It’s a real thug, sending seedlings everywhere, I thinks got boring flowers and dull leaves. Why plant it when there’s so many more interesting plants.

DamaskRose Wed 01-Apr-26 16:33:43

I don’t like camellias, begonias or most types of annual bedding.

DianneAngel Wed 01-Apr-26 16:38:05

I won't have lillies in the garden or the house. I find the scent too overwhelming, plus they are poisonous to cats. hugs

Magenta8 Wed 01-Apr-26 16:42:39

I don't like annual flowers. Lobelia, petunia, nicotiana, cosmos and all that lot.

I grow a lot of vegetables on my allotment so I can't be doing with non edible annuals. My peas and beans make a lovely show of sweet pea like flowers every year.

Allira Wed 01-Apr-26 16:47:17

Arum lilies.

Bergenia, St John's Wort both take over so they have been heaved out.
I pulled out the gladioli because they seemed to spread but more came up and DD thought they were lovely!

The Photinia is just coming into flower. I like it, but it does need to be controlled.

Ivy! Our neighbour's ivy grows over the fence and strangles my plants.

MaizieD Wed 01-Apr-26 16:47:57

I don't like things with yellow flowers, I've been fighting a losing battle with Hypericum for thirty years, and yanked out all the Golden Rod in my first year in this house. (Fields of oilseed rape in full flower are loathsome)

Having said that, my garden is currently full of primroses, primulas and oxslips (which I grew from seed) I also have some pots of miniature daffodils and I love then all. But once spring is over, yellow is out.

I can cope with cream coloured flowers though.

I don't much like heather, either. Or most annual bedding apart from white Alyssum ( which smells divine) and blue lobelia.

JaneJudge Wed 01-Apr-26 16:50:29

it surely has to be Taraxacum officinale

MaizieD Wed 01-Apr-26 16:51:45

DianneAngel

I won't have lillies in the garden or the house. I find the scent too overwhelming, plus they are poisonous to cats. hugs

I may be tempting fate here, but I have bought cut lilies every week for 30 years and have loads in tubs in the garden and I've had cats all that time. Never a single one has been poisoned.

Rosie51 Wed 01-Apr-26 16:56:56

JaneJudge I'm letting a few of those remain in the garden, the bees love them and need the pollen and nectar they provide this early in the year. I shall try to deadhead before they set the seed, fingers crossed!

valdavi Wed 01-Apr-26 17:01:25

I agree with OP, I really don't like red robin (think its photinia).

I love the new pink growth on pieris, but not red robin. Monty Don doesn't like them either.

We had 5 when we moved here, but only 2 left I can cope with that.

Fallingstar Wed 01-Apr-26 17:03:05

I don’t like foxgloves or lilies, not sure why because I know most people love them.

Bazza Wed 01-Apr-26 17:10:14

I’m so relieved to know that other people take dislikes to plants!
My DH can’t understand why I don’t love all growing things. I can’t wait to show him this thread.

MT62 Wed 01-Apr-26 17:11:39

Pansies such miserable faces 😔

Lovetopaint037 Wed 01-Apr-26 17:13:15

Ivy. It’s invasive and a real nuisance.

JamesandJon33 Wed 01-Apr-26 17:20:11

I’m not too keen on dahlias. The petals are a bit too fleshy.

Jaxjacky Wed 01-Apr-26 17:29:12

Begonias and lilies. I used to grow annuals on my allotment to encourage bees.

Grannybags Wed 01-Apr-26 17:53:29

Hyacinths. They smell horrible!

Grammaretto Wed 01-Apr-26 18:10:19

Interesting! Daffodils are the only things the deer don't eat so I have plenty.
Wild roe deer eat everything else. They chomp their way through the tulips.

I am not keen on gladioli, dahlia or very showy flowers.

I adore roses, particularly the heritage ones which I'm a sucker for. These grow in a deer proof part of the garden.
I've managed to take cuttings of several of mine for when I move house. I hope the deer stay here 😊

Nell82 Wed 01-Apr-26 18:26:11

I enjoyed my passion flower for a couple of years before it ran amok and sent out long runners through a border. A similar thing happened with lily of the valley which I welcomed from next door until it spread like mad.