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cimicifuga - what does it smell like

12 years ago

I notice that bugs don't like the smell of cimicifuga, so what does it smell like :-)? Just don't want to plant it in my in-laws yard and then get complaints.

Paul

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NHBabs z4b-5a NH

12 years ago

I have Cimicifuga 'Brunette' and I guess a really different sense of smell from everyone else who has posted. ;>) I love the plant, but I find the scent of the foliage when I brush against it unpleasant. I am not sure about the flower scent, since it's at the back of the garden and by the time I've climbed back there, I've brushed against some of the foliage and that's all I can smell. I have noticed that my flowers are loaded with insects, though, rather like my lavender.

I think you are safe as long as you don't plant it where your inlaws may brush against it. What a lovely gift for them!

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Comments (10)

buyorsell888
12 years ago
It smells like grape soda pop to me. Love it but it doesn't drift as far as I'd like.
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wieslaw59
12 years ago
You mean the flowers or the plant itself? The flowers of Cimicifuga simplex Atropurpurea smell of strong honey and attract millions of insects(especially hoverflies). Cimicifuga foetida is said to be ill-smelling.
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gardenweed_z6a
12 years ago
The bottle brush flowers on mine smell sweet and are covered with bumblebees right up until a killing frost. I have them planted at the back of my shade bed so I don't get a whiff of the fragrance when I pass by on the concrete walk.

I've never noticed any scent coming from the foliage.
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aachenelf z5 Mpls
12 years ago
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Carrie B
12 years ago
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terrene
12 years ago
I think it is a musky, semi-sweet fragrance. I like it. However, William Cullina says this about Cimicifuga racemosa in his native Wildflowers book: "It's one drawback is the odor of the blooms, which has the sour, musky smell I associate with overly territorial male cats, but which probably serves to attract pollinating beetles." So I guess fragrance is in the nose of the beholder, haha.

As others have mentioned, the bees really love these blooms. I've watched the bumblebees rolling all over them.
squirejohn zone4 VT
12 years ago
C racemosa smells pretty rank to me.
christinmk z5b eastern WA
12 years ago
I also think this plant (A. simplex 'Atropurpurea') smells terrible in bloom. To me it is like something rotting in the drain, lol!
CMK
K OBrien
3 years ago
I know this is an old post but I think this plant smells like sweet rotting something. It's sorta sweet and sorts putrid, but the bees love it so I leave it. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I thought I was crazy when reading how so many found it nice. Keep up the good work, everyone, and let's save those pollinators!
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