Best not to talk about the scent of this flower in polite company!
This is Photinia Red Robin (Photinia serrulata Lindl.). Over here in Belgium it’s a common garden flowering shrub that is often used to make hedges or screens. It has red leaves in the spring and clusters of delicate white flowers.
So far so boring. But this is far from a boring plant. In fact it’s quite a conversation stopper.
It’s to do with its scent.
Now, I’m a refined, reserved gentleman of good breeding, so I hesitate to bring this up in the polite company of WordPress bloggers. Especially when I don’t want to offend anyone’s sensitivities.
Just to say, this is not my own discovery. Google itself happily describes the scent in this way.
You see, the flowers of Photinia Red Robin smell like … human semen!
There, I’ve said it.
I never thought I’d use those two words on my nature blog! And I don’t really want to again!
As you can see, there’s quite a lot of it in the car park behind our apartment, so on a hot sunny day the scent can be quite overpowering!
Submitted for Cee’s Flower of the Day
Denzil Nature 
Beautiful, but with the scent I don’t know if I would want it. You were gutsy to use it 😀
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Well, some things have to be said. And then forgotten Cee!
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There are other plants with the same characteristic: what about sweet chestnut trees? It can be overpowering in places like public parks.
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I have never thought that sweet chestnut had the same “masculine” scent Margaret, although it can indeed by overpowering.
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Have a chat with Monsieur Google!
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Ha ha ha!
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Glad you see the funny side Ruth!
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😁
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I am amused 😮😂
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That’s good. Wouldn’t surprise me if my blog is now banned in Florida.
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😂😂
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😂😂😂 Indeed. There are hedges of this plant here in my area too and with millions of blossoms, the scent gets quite strong.
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I did not know this, Denzil, even though I have a photinia in my garden, variety unknown. Mine never gets to bloom because I keep it trimmed to an ice cream cone shape. I like the shrub for its bright red new leaves.
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Well that’s one way to avoid the scent Audrey, and its spring foliage is indeed very pretty.
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Now THAT INDEED is a conversation stopper, haha.
But for sure, there are some really unique floral scents. Some of them are quite surprising.
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Yes, something to remember when the conversation has dried up at a dinner party … or perhaps when you want the guests to go home!
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Oh yes, the worst one I had read about in my Botany lessons at school was Rafflesia! I don’t think I want to experience it ever!
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Had to look that up. Yuck! 🤯
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How can I ever forget, now?
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You’re scarred for life Derrick.
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🙂
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They are popular around our way, and this year seems to be a particularly good one for the blossoms. We even have one in our own garden – it looks pretty and screens us from an unpleasant neighbour! I know the scent is strong but I’d never have made that comparison and I still don’t quite get it. I suspect it may smell differently to different people???
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I guess so, maybe that’s the same with all scents. Here there’s a lot of it in a thick hedge, and it’s only a strong smell in the heat of a sunny day.
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Well, they grow here too and are commonly used as hedges. I can’t recall seeing them in flower but if I ever do I’ll be sure to stay well away.
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Fortunately I’ve not noticed this one before!
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And long may it stay that way!
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