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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!

Aldom Fri 22-May-26 12:41:21

Bazza I suggest that your husband does some reading up on Red Robin.
He would find that it should be pruned twice a year.

dante656 Fri 22-May-26 12:28:25

You are not weird. Everyone has plants they dislike. For me, it is lavender. I know everyone loves it. Smells like old ladies and attracts too many bees. And bamboo. Invasive nightmare that takes over everything.

Red robin is photinia. It is popular because it grows fast and stays green. But the red new growth looks fake to me. Like plastic. Sedum is also called stonecrop. The fleshy leaves feel weird. I get it.

Basgetti Fri 22-May-26 12:18:58

Other than roses, really not keen on yellow or orange flowers either.

Witzend Fri 22-May-26 11:59:10

Yes! Our blasted Japanese anemones! They are so invasive, and are encroaching into the lawn. It’s not as if the flowers last very long, either. They are swamping everything else in an oval bed adjacent to the patio.
I was saying to dh just yesterday, come the autumn, we need to dig the whole lot up and plant something else.

Fallingstar Fri 22-May-26 11:47:02

Would highly recommend not planting this.

Fallingstar Fri 22-May-26 11:45:59

Our daughter and son in law bought a lovely house recently with a nice garden for the little one, and them of course 😆
But is a border style grass growing against one fence with really stiff long green leaves that they want to remove to plant fruit trees. Is all hell to get rid of, they have been trying everything and eventually our son in law ripped out the roots with a crow bar after breaking a spade and a fork.
Took the better part of 2 weeks.
Not sure if anyone knows what this bushy grassy plant is, is low lying with shaggy long sharp grass?

Peaseblossom Fri 22-May-26 11:32:05

I can't stand arum lilies or anything with a similar style flower, I do not like anything with a spathe, I find them very ugly. I don't like the small bedding begonias. I think they're totally boring and insignificant and I can't understand why anyone would buy them. Don't like flowering currant, because they smell like cats pee. Don't like viburnum tinus, not the look, but the fact that they smell like dirty wet dogs and poo bags, and for the same reason I don't like rowan trees and hawthorn, because they smell nasty too. Don't like African Marigolds because I think they're ugly. I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any at the moment.

Rosieroe Fri 22-May-26 11:01:36

I find it difficult to understand how anyone can dislike daffodils. I absolutely love to see them brightening the garden and the countryside after a dreary winter. And a bunch in a vase brings some sunshine into my home. We’re planning on planting even more at the bottom of our garden.

One plant that I don’t like is the small flowered begonia that is used as a bedding plant.

Allira Fri 10-Apr-26 22:49:07

Llamedos13

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

Yes, they are so appealing 😀

Arum lilies, as I mentioned previously.
The reason why we don't grow them is because, many years ago when we had our first house, there was nothing in the garden except some peonies which the previous owners must have missed when they dug everything up to take with them.
Someone gave me arum lilies. My much older neighbour peered over the fence and said "You know they mean death, don't you?". We dug them up and got rid of them.

As for the peonies, some of them have travelled around from garden to garden over the years and are still with us, growing up again this spring.

FranP Fri 10-Apr-26 22:22:17

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

Me too, cannot abide the smell.

Caleo Thu 09-Apr-26 10:12:55

Grammaretto

My father died when I was 5 . He was a keen gardener but mostly vegetables. His favourite flower was the bright red "geranium" which had grown in neat rows in his Oxford college quad.

On his birthday each year I buy a geranium. (Pelargonium) and think of him.

If I may say so, Grammaretto-----an original and appropriate ritual.

Magenta8 Wed 08-Apr-26 11:48:43

I have an irrational dislike of bright yellow tulips. They usually come out at the tail end of the daffodil flowering season. It seems to me that, as we have been awash with yellow flowers for about a month, we have had enough.

Allira Sun 05-Apr-26 10:43:13

Grammaretto

Here's my kitchen windowledge today

They're in better shape than mine, however mine are outside in a sheltered spot and did survive the winter.
They are flowering but need a good tidy up. Luckily they are under cover.

Grammaretto Sun 05-Apr-26 10:39:39

Here's my kitchen windowledge today

Grammaretto Sun 05-Apr-26 10:32:26

My father died when I was 5 . He was a keen gardener but mostly vegetables. His favourite flower was the bright red "geranium" which had grown in neat rows in his Oxford college quad.

On his birthday each year I buy a geranium. (Pelargonium) and think of him.

Retread Sat 04-Apr-26 22:18:21

I really dislike Euphorbia, straggly and with milky sap, yuk. Geums, all that deadheading of the ugly stalks once the petals drop off. Calendula took over our garden, and the neighbour’s one too and they didn’t speak to us after that! Purple Hollyhocks also give me the no feeling grin

Ziplok Sat 04-Apr-26 19:12:21

Lovetopaint037

Ivy. It’s invasive and a real nuisance.

Absolutely valuable for wildlife of all kinds, though.

Ziplok Sat 04-Apr-26 19:10:29

twiglet77

I hate plants that hurt, including roses.

You can get thornless roses.
Having said that, I love roses, even ones with thorns - but of course, it’s down to personal preference.

ClicketyClick Fri 03-Apr-26 17:03:31

Hate the smell of geraniums and striped petunias. They look so un-natural.

25Avalon Fri 03-Apr-26 11:49:33

We used to eat the leaves of Hawthorne as kids and called it bread and cheese. Few sweets in those days.

twiglet77 Fri 03-Apr-26 11:28:50

I hate plants that hurt, including roses.

Caleo Fri 03-Apr-26 11:05:17

Nanny27

Absolutely love hawthorn. As a child we had a huge hawthorn tree in our garden and my sister and I.had a swing hanging from its branches. Such happy memories.

Same here! For me. hawthorn is a happy happy plant.

Caleo Fri 03-Apr-26 11:04:24

I positively like dandelions and other plants usually classed as weeds. However one plant that really makes me feel bad is stinking iris.

JamesandJon33 Fri 03-Apr-26 10:54:43

Hawthorn smells lovely too. Sort of almondy .

Nanny27 Fri 03-Apr-26 10:38:34

Absolutely love hawthorn. As a child we had a huge hawthorn tree in our garden and my sister and I.had a swing hanging from its branches. Such happy memories.