I need a stinky plant

[psyc1210]

I want to invest in a plant that smells terrible. That will survive in zone 6. I have people hanging out on the sidewalk next to my house, which was fine, til someone decided to graffiti the sidewalk with a gang symbol. So I thought planting some foul smelling plants would deter them from hanging out near the sidewalk. Anyone have any ideas for plants that'll stink the place up? I found skunk cabbage, but that says it needs to be crushed in order to stink. I also found a very large plant, but that only stinks when it flowers, and can't survive zone 6. Any ideas would be very much appreciated.

[digitalgate]

most of the smelly plant(that i know) , grow in the tropics. Rafflesia arnoldii (under cities
protection). Rotten egg is so easy to make. Having bone meal in one big pot in front of the
house, let other people think you are using it for fertilizer. Hope this help.

[made4engineering]

They would probably just destroy the plant. Maybe you should get the police to come shake them down and scare them away. They are probably selling drugs.

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by made4engineering

They would probably just destroy the plant. Maybe you should get the police to come shake them down and scare them away. They are probably selling drugs.

Unfortunately the city police in this city really don't want to do their jobs.

[digitalgate]

Or, they afraid? They are also people too.

[psyc1210]

The police that I have dealt with after having my glass door shattered by a next door neighbor, unfortunately have made excuses to try and get out of questioning or coming over to look at it.

[norris]

I don't know about the Skunk Cabbage , they might think it is pot, and break into your place! When I was on vacation in Wahsington and Canada a few months ago, the Skunk Cabbage was flowering, and I thought someone was 'smoking' nearby ;-) The pic is the Western type.

[brookn]

Well, my neighbors have these bushes that I think smell like cat pee! I think they are called eunonymous? I think they are so pretty, but the smell kills me. I had one that a friend got me that didn't smell, but it died. I know that you can get them at WM. People doing this is another reason why I have Great Danes. No one loiters in my sidestreet like they used to years ago, I also had a lot of stuff stolen back then (I had a pit bull at the time you think that would have worked). I wish I lived close, I would just come over with Rance and visit lol. It sounds like a bad situation, I hope you figure something out.

[solay]

That's horrible that you need to do all that just to protect your property. Does your place have good lighting. We put a sensor spot light in the driveway so the whole front of the house lights up whenever there is movement. Also we put a video camera aimed out the front window to prevent dog owners from letting their pets do their business on the front lawn and not pick it up. This may also help since the thugs will know they my be caught on camera.
Hope you figure something out too. Soon!

[made4engineering]

People sometimes sprinkle Butyric acid on the ground or floor (if in a building) to make people vacate an area. IT STINKS.

[tom499]

The plants your after are given the general name 'carrion flowers'. Plants which emit foul odours to attract pollinators.

The main four are:
Amorphophallus
Rafflesia
Stapelia
Smilax or Nemexia

Amorphophallus range from small bushes to almost tree size. They are bulbous plants which grow in spring, and die back in winter, at least in our cooler climates. They produce tree like foliage in spring through summer. Once the bulb fattens up they will produce a spadix flower in early spring, then when it dies off they produce the foliage. Large, very stinky flowers.

Rafflesia are tropical South East Asian plants, though I believe they are parasitic and are not photosynthetic. They have only be documented of in the wild as cultivation is impossible of the larger species.

Stapelia are an easy choice, I grow several which have yet to flower. Primarily South American succulents, they produce stinky flowers ranging from 1cm across to something the size of an open hand depending on species. Fairly easy to care for, should be treated like regular succulents.

Smilax, sometimes put into the Genus Nemexia are North American vines which produce small green smelly flowers. Depending where you live these may be perfect for you in garden.

Other than them, I recommend a few Stapeliads as they are easy low water growers as well as Amorphophallus Konjac, which I grow. Its a fairly easy species and produces nice foliage and a good size flower, though mine is not big enough yet.

[janet_a]

where are you in z6? i'm in 6b, and have 2 dutchmen's pipes (austrolochia) elegans in pots on the front steps. they are going nuts in this weather. reek to high heaven when they bloom. have to come in over the winter though.

how about big serious floodlights on motion detectors on the side of your house?

[bkim]

This "flower" does quite well at deterring intruders

[kid a]

lol, that's a cute picture!

[LouisW]

try dracunculus...oh i am spacing the species name but it has a real cool flower too. strong carrion flower that can be found in bulb form in some nurserys. ill try to think of the species name.

[Kauaiguy]

My wife bought this stuff thinking it was soil, but it's really a stinky fertilizer.
I put it on around some trees, and it took a while before I could go near the trees. LOL

Or you could try some Fish Emulsion. That stuff stinks pretty bad as well.

[articuno75]

LOL I always liked the "Super Soaker" method myself Fill it with veggie oil and juices from canned Mackeral. Kids stir up crap, tell them to leave. If they don't, come running out and give them a blast with the nasty goo.

Trust me, it stinks and very hard to come off, LOL

[evagentry]

This isn't stinky, but I read that there are devices to plug in that emit a very high frequency, they are for getting rid of cockroaches, well some store owners have found out that teens can also hear these sounds and won't stay around them.

[patticake]

Originally Posted by brookn

Well, my neighbors have these bushes that I think smell like cat pee! I think they are called eunonymous? I think they are so pretty, but the smell kills me. I had one that a friend got me that didn't smell, but it died. I know that you can get them at WM. People doing this is another reason why I have Great Danes. No one loiters in my sidestreet like they used to years ago, I also had a lot of stuff stolen back then (I had a pit bull at the time you think that would have worked). I wish I lived close, I would just come over with Rance and visit lol. It sounds like a bad situation, I hope you figure something out.

Brookn- You're too funny! I have a euonomous (sp?) but it doesn't smell. Maybe the cats in your neighborhood have been spraying it! When I lived in the city, the stray cats sprayed my front porch all the time. Ewww! No-one hung out in front of my house, though! (It was a bad neighborhood, too!)

[Orchidementia]

Originally Posted by LouisW

try dracunculus...oh i am spacing the species name but it has a real cool flower too. strong carrion flower that can be found in bulb form in some nurserys. ill try to think of the species name.

Dragon Lily, or Dracunculus vulgaris. Here's a page about them:

Paghat's Garden: Dracunculus vulgaris

[Greenhouse Gal]

Have I got the plant for you. It is Clerodendrun ugandense, Blue Butterfly Flower.
Digital Flora of Texas Vascular Plant Image Library query results: Clerodendrum ugandense
Very pretty flowers, smells like cat pee when even lightly brushed against. Where I worked two summers ago we had them and sold very few. The flowers are very pretty and it might even come back from the ground for you. Plant it where "they" would brush into it and you can admire it from afar.