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Gardening

Are there plants that you don’t like?

(123 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!

AskAlice Wed 01-Apr-26 18:47:15

Skimmia! Absolutely detest that plant for some reason. It justs looks lumpy and boringly the same all year round apart from when it flowers, and even then the flowers aren't particularly attractive in my opinion. I also really regret planting the tiny allium bulbs that I received in a mixed collection. They are not wild garlic, just very tiny alliums so I can't even eat them. They spread and self seed everywhere and I've spent the last six or seven years trying to dig out the tiny bulbs that have invaded every bit of one of my borders.

I have a lovely hypericum plant from the "Magical" collection (can't remember which one it is but I have the label somewhere in the garage so will look for it later.) It is compact, has small orange crown-like flowers and dark berries. The best thing about it is it doesn't tend to self-seed, I can chop it down if it gets too big for the space and it regrows with the most beautiful red new foliage.

AskAlice Wed 01-Apr-26 19:05:55

Here is the Hypericum - I chopped it back a couple of weeks ago.

AskAlice Wed 01-Apr-26 19:08:48

Oh yes, and ivy...I really can't bear ivy. I'm constantly battling with it growing through the fence from the woods at the bottom of our garden. Nasty destructive stuff, and a hotel for snails!

Astitchintime Wed 01-Apr-26 19:17:41

Hostas and euphorbia followed closely by lupins. There’s probably a few more though

foxie48 Wed 01-Apr-26 19:18:51

I don't like plants with thorns unless they are roses, which I love but I prefer roses with a lovely scent rather than flashy ones in unusual colours. I used to dislike dahlias, they provide such lovely late colour that I've come to love them but I prefer them in mixed borders . Actually I think most plants have their place but not in everyone's garden, they just have to be in the right setting.

Gran22boys Wed 01-Apr-26 21:21:32

Buddleia. Hideous stuff. It’s invasive and is spreading rapidly in our countryside, especially along railway lines. It pushes out our native plants on which our insects depend. Some countries have already banned it. Yes butterflies love it and that’s why it’s popular but people need to realise what a pest it is.

winterwhite Wed 01-Apr-26 21:35:45

Forsythia. I find it garish, likewise yellow daffodils. Gladioli, sedum, begonias, achilleas

Allira Wed 01-Apr-26 22:11:14

There is a splash of forsythia in our hedge. Not much, but it looks cheerful even on a dull day.

Buddleia. Hideous stuff.
I think it's fine and yes, butterflies and bees do love it so it is n essential plant for the survival of wildlife.
Far better than Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Russian vine which really are hugely invasive and destroy our habitats, causing huge problems, even growing up through the foundations of houses.

Wyllow3 Wed 01-Apr-26 22:20:34

I like "cottage" rather than "showy" flowers, in my garden, and perennials, but in show gardens, or our local lovely botanical gardens, well, I like nearly everything as I don't have to tend them, and they all have something going for them.

Ivy is a curse!!!!! during the winter, its invaded some of my much loved bushes choking them 😡. Yes it can be nice to cover a bit of blank fence but...

Greyduster Wed 01-Apr-26 22:26:22

Perennial geranium. It’s such a thug and despite all my attempt to remove it, is slowly taking over large parts of my garden. Ok, the flowers are pretty, but I wish it would go and be pretty somewhere else!

Llamedos13 Wed 01-Apr-26 22:30:22

MT62, How can you say that about pansies!Look at these beautifull little faces.

Lovemylife Wed 01-Apr-26 22:48:18

Ivy of course, and nasturtiums.

Basgetti Wed 01-Apr-26 22:58:38

Can’t stand “elephant ears”. Ugly things.

Gwyllt Wed 01-Apr-26 22:59:09

Another vote for Buddleia. Yes I agree it attracts butterflies but when he have a lot of space it just gets in and seeds and when you chop it back it seems to come back even stronger and can grow 8 foot a a year

Allira Wed 01-Apr-26 23:01:05

Gwyllt

Another vote for Buddleia. Yes I agree it attracts butterflies but when he have a lot of space it just gets in and seeds and when you chop it back it seems to come back even stronger and can grow 8 foot a a year

My buddleia is a dark red one and doesn't seem to take over. I must get out to attend to it because the ivy has come over the fence and is strangling it.

Gwyllt Wed 01-Apr-26 23:03:58

I wish I could grow lily of the valley so well as to call it invasive. It always struggles for me

Farmor15 Wed 01-Apr-26 23:40:39

I don't really like roses- horrible thorns and the flowers drop their petals so quickly. They only look good for about a day! I'm not that keen on their scent- too sickly sweet.

nanna8 Wed 01-Apr-26 23:50:21

I’m really going off wild violets because they take over everywhere and swamp everything in their path . Those and the dreaded tradescantia ( wandering Jew but Im not sure it should be called that now) . Also ivy. All of those are really weeds.

Greyduster Thu 02-Apr-26 07:20:20

Gran22boys I’m always fascinated by what thrives next to railway lines and yes, always buddleia, and foxgloves, but also vast banks of lupins gone wild in some places. Sadly, I’ve never been able to grow them in any garden I’ve had. They just won’t take.

Sago Thu 02-Apr-26 08:12:59

I don't like any yellow flowers.

grannysyb Thu 02-Apr-26 08:26:22

Can’t bear red hot pokers, kniphofia, never grow lilies as I don’t like the scent. Currently trying to get rid of the creeping campanula, made the mistake of planting the one with larger leaves, I believe that the smaller leafed one just stays in neat little clumps. Also trying to get rid of japanese anemones, another thug!

Bazza Thu 02-Apr-26 09:07:26

We had a pink wisteria in our previous garden and while pretty when it flowered it was an absolute triffid and had to be trimmed weekly in the summer. I passed it the other day, the new owners haven’t touched it and I noticed it was under the roof tiles which I imagine will cause problems. Glad it’s not ours any more!

SpinDriftCoastal Thu 02-Apr-26 09:19:05

Not woody or thorny. I like plants that need gentle care but are hardy.

mae13 Thu 02-Apr-26 09:23:02

Certainly: the spikey pot plant labelled "Mother-in-Laws Tongue." It's not very lovely and the name is even worse.

Not in this day and age, please.

shysal Thu 02-Apr-26 10:10:01

I hate Pampas Grass, and not because it is supposed to indicate that 'swinging' goes on at the address!