Re: Vestia lycioides and the smelly foliage

Tim,

Your comments made me go out and crush a leaf to see
for myself, and all I can say is that it isn't
fragrant in a good way, but not nearly as obnoxious as
other foliage like Iochroma grandiflora (think wet dog
fur), or Plectranthus neochilus (definitely skunky or
marijuana, depending on your frame of reference).  I
thought it was just me growing the plant in too much
shade, that made it ummm, subtle, or Tim, as you
rightly called it, interesting.  The photos in Martin
and Rix make it look loaded with flowers...

On another note, as an aside, for people considering
seed trades between the states and overseas, all
incoming mail identified as containing plants or seed
is no longer permitted into the USA without a
phytosanitary permit, so if you are the sort to play
it legal when you mail things; w/o one, it will be
destroyed by the US Dept of Agriculture, and your
intended recipient will never know about it.

Regards,
David Feix



--- Tim Longville <tim.longville@BTinternet.com>
wrote:
> David's mention of this plant reminds me that while
> the soft yellow flowers and deep green foliage are
> indeed definite plus points, it also has one equally
> definite minus point: if crushed or even roughly
> handled, the leaves stink with a truly disgusting
> stench. I shan't even attempt a comparison. Best
> left to the imagination.
> 
> Here, though it survived most winters, and even when
> it didn't was very easy to propagate, either by seed
> or cuttings, I eventually gave up on it -
> combination of its lack of impact when out of flower
> together with its tendency to be largely defoliated
> by our winter gales.
> 
> 'Subtle' (David's choice of epithet) would be the
> optimist's adjective. 'Interesting' would be mine,
> and even tbat with a wry 'Though I can think of
> other descriptions' raising of an eyebrow...!
> 
> Tim
> on the Solway Coast in northern England, where we're
> in some strange un- or in-between season: bright
> sunny days interrupted by sudden flurries of snow.
> Which at least has allowed correas such as x mannii
> and 'Marian's Marvel' to show off appallingly,
> flashing out their red - or pink and yellow-green -
> flowers from under wee temporary white bonnets.
> 


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