Plants you dislike

What plant would you not want in your garden - even if you have the space?

Here's two.

First: firs. Despite the fact I desperately need screening plants I would never resort to a fir.

With one exception: hypocrite that I am I planted a Nordmann Fir:


But then that was our Christmas tree. So it kind of became part of the family. But in general, I think they're just boring. The dislike probably extends to all coniferous trees even though I can admire a cedar. Scots pines, larch and cyprusses can look magnificent but they're too unchanging, they kill the undergrowth and they don't have the leafy softness I associate with gardens I grew up with in the south.

Second pet hate:
Rhododendrums and hydrangeas.

Why? I dunno. Unreasoning prejudice? I associate them with dull colours: mauve and grey-blue flowers. Rhododendrums are bad for woodlands. Is it their shape? Too Chinese? Do I fear their toxicity? Or the horrible dead flowers you too often see on them?

I'm tempted by these azaleas:

But....no, not really. Aren't they just bulbous, inelegent municipal space fillers that grannies like? I don't know why I dislike them.

Anyway. What other plant prejudice is there out there?

 

Roses. I totally detest roses.

 

I honestly can't think of a plant /shrub/tree i don't like....and i have all of the above....But there must be one i don't like ...i'll keep thinking.....

 

I've heard that before from other people. Do you know why? I don't like unpruned roses that attack you as you're walking down the path and I hate rose plants planted as isolated specimins.

 

I wonder if it's because they're so physically awkward to get close to. The lower parts get in the way of your feet when you bend over them.

 

Most deciduous plants, Buddlejas especially. Firs and stuff like that.

Cacadores, not all Rhododendrons are invasive, but the ones that are are native to Europe (Rhododendron ponticum).. these were bound to have invaded sooner as they are actually not far outside the native range of the UK, the climate is perfect for them as they are a cool laurel forest specimen.

So I think we should give up trying to eradicate them, as they will be here forever now, there is little or no chance of extinguishing this species here.

The problem is of course, given our climate is milder than our native flora would suggest, evergreen shrubs/trees will most likely become more invasive as the climate warms (if the climate continues to remain/keeps warming), as that is natural succession in a fringe climate.

It's worth noting historically, Rhododendron was a native plant to the British Isles during the Gortian IG period.

 

I've just dug up a type of Mahonia....(and loads of it's seedlings and saplings!) it wasn't bad to look at but the leaves continually fell and they're lethally prickly! Hated it in the end!

 

Hubby hates Nasturtiums, no idea why. I hate anything prickly.

 

Interesting.
Have you noticed that since 'East Anglia-gate' they don't call it 'global warming' any more but 'climate change', because they've discovered the Earth has been cooling this century! Anyway - maybe they'll discover some rhododenrun killer - science must have an answer!

Did you really mean you dislike 'most deciduous plants' and 'firs'? That only leaves broad-leaved evergreens and pines doesn't it? You're a hedge fan?

 

I agree with FC, wouldn't have either of these two.

Val

 

I don't like most deciduous plants and avoid them like the plague ... but, then again, I am in a different climate and only go for evergreens.

But I do so dislike spiky plants, Agaves, etc (except Aloe Vera and the tiny Agave, is it filifera, I brought from the UK) and I absolutely dislike palms as they are so ragged and ungainly looking in their natural habitat.

My Musa Cavandish and my BoPs (both regina and nicolai) are all tatty looking ... t'other half keeps asking me Why?

 

don't like the weird smell of himalayan balsam (impatiens glandulifera), which seems to spread everywhere in the countryside. They don't look so bad though and a I would rather have them than nettles on riverbanks for instance. bees like them too. all things have two sides. Same with conifers and firs, which some didn't like here in the thread - in the right place and having the space they need (not abused as hedges etc) they can look look that good.
Also there is always the choice of different varieties and cultivars, like with hydrangeas: I find the usual ones like in the picture above not exactly exciting, but the ones with the bracts at the outside only and the real flowers at the inside are nice. Same with roses, there are quite a few boring ones in my opinion and on the other hand some which I dearly love..(old shrub roses)

 

On the positive side, I LOVE Rhodos and Azaleas and Camelias and but it is a struggle here. And I adore Hydrangeas and I had a curly purple one last year (put pics up) and it just didn't like either me or the climate ...