Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - July 12, 2012
From: Coral Gables, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Vines
Title: Plants that smell like chocolate from Coral Gables FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I am looking for plants that smell like chocolate. I live in south Florida. We are currently growing and testing Berlandiera lyrata. Do you know of other plants whose flowers smell like chocolate?ANSWER:
There turned out to be quite a list of these. We just searched the Internet on "plants that smell like chocolate." Two are native to North America and you can follow the links to our webpages on them. The rest are non-native, and we can't even vouch for whether starts of them can be obtained or if they will survive in Florida.
Native to North America:
Calycanthus floridus (Eastern sweetshrub). From About.com Carolina Allspice - Calycanthus floridus .
Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate daisy).
Non-native to North America:
From About.com Akenabia Quinata, Chocolate Vine. Also from Invasives.org Akenabia quinata. This plant originated in China, Japan and Korea. Several sources named it as extremely invasive, which you don't want going on in Florida.
From OMG Facts Cosmos atrosanguinus. SFGate Chocolate Cosmos: An Inedible Flower. Native to Mexico and possibly extinct in its home habitat.
AllExperts Calla Lily
University of California Master Gardeners Some Plants for the Chocolate Theme Garden
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Native shrub to replace non-native azaleas.
February 10, 2009 - I want to replace my two dozen azaleas this spring (I think they're unattractive once the flowers fall off). I like the multiseason characteristics of weigela (midnight wine, W&R), but want to go nat...
view the full question and answer
Drought resistant plants or flowering shrubs with pink flowers
September 15, 2006 - I need a hardy, drought resistant flower or flowering shrub for my renter, who likes pink flowers. She doesn't remember to water and most likely won't do any weeding. Area is Corinth, TX.
view the full question and answer
Fall flowering purple shrub for Bloomfield Hills MI
October 28, 2009 - Need a fall flowering shrub for my temperature zone, preferably purple.
view the full question and answer
Dwarf evergreen shrub for windowboxes in Staten Island , NY
April 03, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Could you recommend a dwarf evergreen shrub, not deciduous that also has pretty flowers that would thrive in a container in the northeast...area would have sun for about 4 -5...
view the full question and answer
Blooming of native swamp azalea in New York
July 04, 2006 - I have a native swamp azalea, very healthy, but it has never bloomed. Do you know why or how I could get it to bloom?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |