Names of all flowering trees with a strong aroma. What does the garden smell like? The most beautiful plants for shady flower beds

home Although many plants emit a strong and enchanting scent when they bloom, only a very few species act as natural perfumes that can be perceived from a distance. It is worth paying attention to this property because V fragrant garden

You can spend your time even more pleasantly. It has long been known that the smell of flowers affects well-being and health. A garden in which the amazing aromas of flowers and greenery mix together is a dream that can easily be realized. There is a certain group of plants that emit an intense aroma that captivates not only insects, but also people. It is worth using this and choosing fragrant plants, especially since such species are at the same time extremely attractive and easy to place in gardens various types

. The smell of flowers can also have a beneficial effect on health - it has an anti-stress effect and improves mood.

Fragrant plants - where to plant? Obviously, it should be understood that not every plant emits such a strong odor to please the sense of smell while walking around a large area of ​​the garden. That's why fragrant plants

• It is worth planting in certain places:
• near the house on the windows (then the aroma can be felt even while in the house);
• near benches and other architectural elements such as terraces or gazebos;
• on the balcony; in places where it no longer reigns nice smell
• , for example, near ;

trees and shrubs can be used as barriers from busy roads. In addition to the pleasant smell, the below-mentioned species can additionally form a dense wall, limiting pollution and noise to some extent.

What types should I use? Fragrant garden plants

Pleasant-smelling annuals and perennials One of the most famous fragrant aromatic plants is Levkoy

. Gives off an amazing, pleasant aroma, especially in the evening. In addition to this, several other species deserve attention. (Levkoy, or Mattiola)

lat. Matthiola Description

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night; Bloom

: from July to September; Application

: for any type of garden, on the balcony, on flower beds, under the window. (lat. Lathyrus odoratus)

lat. Matthiola: climbing annual, can grow up to 2 m in height, produces small elliptical leaves. The flowers are irregular, quintuple type, can have different colors - most often they bloom in white, pink and purple. It is grown for its fragrant aroma, which gives it its name.

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: from June to August;

: from July to September;: fence decoration, for all types of decorative trellises, can be planted in a flower bed.

Lakfiol or Cherry's jaundice (lat. Cheiranthus cheiri)

lat. Matthiola: biennial plant, as a rule, reaches 50-60 cm in height. A plant with large yellow, orange, purple, velvety brown and variegated cruciferous flowers;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: from April to June;

: from July to September;: on balconies, on flower beds, for cutting flowers.

(lat. Nicotiana alata)

lat. Matthiola: perennial plant, grows to 50-80 cm in height. The leaves are elongated, small, the flowers are collected in an inflorescence - a panicle, open at night and then smell most intensely. Their color can be white, pink, cream;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: abundant from June to October;

: from July to September;: flower beds, growing in containers, decorating fences.

Fragrant, aromatic bulbous and perennial plants

And perennials generally emit a pleasant aroma, but some species stand out from others. In the group below we couldn’t ignore such favorites as hyacinth, lily of the valley and lily.

Lily (lat. Lilium)

lat. Matthiola: depending on the variety, they can be of different heights, usually no more than 150 cm. The decoration is large, with bent tops, tubular or cup-shaped flowers various colors. emit a strong, almost suffocating odor;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: mostly in summer;

: from July to September;: for flower beds, for individual parts garden

Dittany (lat. Dictamnus albus)

lat. Matthiola: Can grow up to 120 cm in height. The leaves are large, odd-pinnate with serrated edges. The flowers are large, collected in racemes. The entire plant emits a lemon-like aroma. On hot sunny days, essential oils can ignite. On a short time A blue flame appears, which does not damage the plant.

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: June – July 40-45 days;

: from July to September;: for flower beds, planting in groups, for naturalistic and rustic gardens.

(lat. Hyacinthus)

lat. Matthiola: The plant reaches about 20-30 cm in height. The decoration is large flowers collected at the top of the stem in the form of a brush. Their color depends on the variety (most often they bloom in white, blue, purple, pink and red). emit an intense, slightly suffocating aroma;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: from March to May;

: from July to September;: for flower beds, for pots, for decorating apartments - on the windowsill.

May lily of the valley (lat. Convallaria majalis)

lat. Matthiola: This low plant, about 20 cm high. The decoration consists of both small, bell-shaped white flowers forming an inflorescence and large lanceolate leaves;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: from May to June;

: from July to September;: flower beds, ground cover, cut flower, for a rustic garden.

Peony (lat. Paeonia)

lat. Matthiola: depending on the species, it can reach 80-120 cm in height. Produces large, feathery leaves and attractive white, pink, red flowers. The flowers can be 15-20 cm in diameter. They are also loved for their pleasant aroma;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: May June;

: from July to September;: for single or group plantings, in high flower beds, for the park, for cutting flowers.

Fragrant trees and shrubs

Trees and bushes are probably the most large group abounding in beautifully and intensely fragrant species. Plants of this group should be used for shading the garden and dividing it into parts. Some of them, even planted separately, emit a smell on most garden

Mock orange crown (lat. Philadelphus coronarius)

lat. Matthiola: shrub up to 3 m in height. Produces elliptical leaves, with a pointed tip at the top. The inflorescences are large, racemose, white. They emit an intense, pleasant odor that can spread over considerable distances;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: May June;

: from July to September;: separately or in group plantings, unshaped (untrimmed) hedges, for country and English gardens, urban plantings.

English viburnum (lat. Viburnum carlcephalum)

lat. Matthiola: the bush reaches up to 3 m in height. The leaves are broadly ovate and shiny. White flowers are collected in spherical inflorescences and exude a pleasant, strong aroma;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: most often in May;

: from July to September;: single or group plantings, goes well with other shrubs, on unshaped hedges, for the park, for English and country gardens.

Coastal or fragrant grapes (lat. Vitis riparia)

lat. Matthiola: The vine can grow up to 10 m and grows vigorously (1-2 m per year). Produces ovoid, three-lobed, bright green leaves and small, inconspicuous but pleasantly scented flowers. This plant is dioecious. When planted side by side with male and female specimens, it produces fruits that are not very tasty, but visually attractive;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: from April to July;

: from July to September;: decoration of gazebos, balconies, for urban plantings - can cover large surfaces.

Lilac (lat. Syringa vulgaris)

lat. Matthiola: the bush reaches 5-8 m in height. The decoration consists of both wide ovate leaves and intensely fragrant flowers, forming large pyramidal 15-20 cm panicles of white, purple or pink color.

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: May;

: from July to September;: in naturalistic and rustic gardens, on unshaped hedges, highlighting individual elements of the garden, for cutting flowers.

Robinia pseudoacacia (lat. Robinia pseudoacácia)

lat. Matthiola: The tree can even grow up to 20-25 m in height. Produces attractive odd pinnate bright green leaves. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered raceme. They are characterized by White color and a rich, honey aroma. Robinia tolerates haircuts well.

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: May June;

: from July to September;: for gardens, for alleys, in single and group plantings, urban plantings, for strengthening slopes and slopes on the site.

Linden (lat. Tilia)

lat. Matthiola: a tree, depending on the species, can reach from 15 ( Crimean) up to 35 m ( broadleaf). Produces heart-shaped leaves and flowers, white or yellow color, with a strong honey smell;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: usually June – July (10-15 days);

: from July to September;: free-standing, in groups - to form an alley, in parks. Because of their size, linden trees are usually recommended to be planted in large gardens.

Roses

lat. Matthiola: roses may vary significantly appearance(cover, size and color of flowers). In particular, various climbing and park roses stand out, with big amount buds and large-flowered. Most of them emit a strong aroma, although the feature is specific;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: depends on the variety;

: from July to September;: flower beds, decoration of terraces, gazebos and pergolas (climbing), urban plantings (parks), for cutting flowers.

Lavender (lat. Lavandula)

lat. Matthiola: As a rule, it reaches a height of 50-90 cm, has lanceolate leaves directed upwards, silver-green in color. The flowers are small, purple, collected in inflorescences. Lavender gives off a strong scent, especially on sunny days;

: Usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, the flowers are small, white to mauve or yellow with four petals. They emit an intense odor especially in the evening and at night;: usually from July to August;

: from July to September;: flower beds, for growing in pots, for English, classical and Mediterranean gardens.

If you have something to add, please be sure to leave a comment.

The picture is not pleasant. Staying in such a creaking and swaying forest evokes a feeling of fear, and at the same time you are involuntarily surprised at the ability of the trees not to break, to withstand the combat with powerful gusts of wind. Usually only a few, older trees break during hurricane winds. And you are also amazed at the flexibility of young birch trees, whose thin tops are bent low by the wind, but they find the strength to rise again and straighten up. The special flexibility of young birch trees is well reflected in V. Vasnetsov’s painting “Before the Storm.” The flexibility of tree vines is especially surprising.

However, not all trees are able to withstand a storm and either withstand the onslaught of the wind with their power, or, by bending down, prevent the breakage of their trunks.

Let's remember the group of soft-leaved pine species and the group of pine species with very strong wood, let's remember the downy birch with soft, easily splitting wood and the "stone" types of birch - Erman and Daurian birch, as well as the "iron" Schmidt birch, let's remember the different types of eucalyptus, which some species have soft wood, while others have exceptionally strong wood. Isn’t it surprising that the wood of some species (and within a species even in individual forms) splits well, having uniform annual layers, while in other species and forms the annual layers are deposited extremely unevenly, the sinuous wood fibers make the wood viscous and difficult to split.

We became acquainted with wood, which is made up of dead cells. We learned that these cells consist only of cell walls, or cellulose, impregnated with lignin.

What is cellulose? It turns out that cellulose is a high-molecular carbohydrate.

However, living cells - parenchyma, or simply parenchyma - are also preserved in wood (sometimes 25% of the total volume of wood). Some parenchyma cells stretch along the axis of the trunk - this is heavy parenchyma, and there are parenchyma cells collected in horizontal stripes - medullary rays that run from the bark to the center of the trunk. Parenchyma cells also form resin ducts. The entire complex of living and dead cells, the features of their structure and functioning determine the diversity of the properties of wood, with its secrets already revealed and with features not yet fully understood.

How does wood participate in the metabolism occurring in the tree?

We learned about the structure of wood, found out what cells, what tissues it consists of, we also learned about what cellulose is - it is a complex organic substance. If all the complex substances that make up wood are decomposed into simpler ones, then it turns out that wood is built from such simple elements as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen - it is they that disappear when wood burns. In addition, wood contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, gold, copper and other elements. They are found in the ash remaining after burning wood.

This ability is possessed by a group of so-called “bottle trees” already known to us, growing in the dry tropics. And in New Zealand there is a tree - tall knitia, growing in the first tier sub tropical forests. Knitia is nicknamed the water tree because its wood burns very slowly. At the same time, there are woody species that can burn like matches. It is known that a whole group of tropical trees from different countries, having especially beautiful and well-processed wood, received the collective name “mahogany”. These include the thuja or giant thuja, also called red cedar, with wood that is light and extremely durable. The group of “red trees” also includes true cedars, boxwood, yew and a large group of species from tropical forests. For example, in the western tropical region of Africa, where equatorial evergreen forests grow, there are more than 40 species that have valuable wood, and among them are species with long-lasting pleasant smell. Such valuable trees also grow in the tropics of America and Asia. Unfortunately, many trees growing here have not yet been sufficiently studied.

Can you talk about interesting case, associated with another unsolved property of the wood of some tropical plants- special durability of their smell.

One day, a fan was brought from China made from sandalwood, famous for its scent. Everyone admired the elegance of the fan, but everyone was especially captivated by the amazing subtle scent it emitted. This smell is indescribably unique - a strong and at the same time delicate scent of rose with a hint of bitterness. Years passed, but the smell that amazed us did not disappear, and even after 20 years the fan emitted a slightly perceptible aroma of a tree that grew in distant China.

The forestry scientist who gave us the fan said that it was made from white Santalum wood from the Santalum family. This tree grows wild on the islands of the Malay Archipelago and is cultivated in China and India. Its wood is aromatic due to the content (up to 6%) of essential santhal oil, used in perfumery and medicine (it retards the growth of pathogens of certain diseases). The fruits are also consumed - valuable oil is extracted from them.

In India and China, white Santalum wood has been used since the 5th century BC and was even exported to Egypt and other countries. From this wood, known as “sandalwood” (or simply “sandalwood”), all kinds of carved products are made: figurines, fans, boxes, smoking sticks, cabinets and various souvenirs.

There are several other species in the Santalum genus that have aromatic wood similar to that of white Santalum. Wood of some species from other genera and even from other families is close in aroma to this wood, therefore “sandalwood” is a conditional, collective concept.

Trees with wood that is unusually aromatic and that lasts for many years can be found not only in China and India, but also in tropical forests Africa and America. Products made from sandalwood can be bought at bazaars in some African countries. When visiting a bazaar in one of the cities of Mozambique, Soviet specialists were able to purchase several products made from sandalwood. Purchased items could be easily identified among many other goods by the peculiar strong aroma emanating from the wood. This smell can be felt even at a distance of several meters. When examining the purchased products, everyone was surprised that the wood differed in texture and color. It turned out that the products were made of wood different types, including Bafia splendor from the legume family, which is called Angolan or African sandalwood.

The logwood tree growing in the area also has a wonderful smell of wood. South America, which is also called "sandalwood" or blue or black "sandalwood". This tree is also from the legume family, and its valuable heartwood, when cut, is initially bright red, then turns blue and finally becomes violet-black, and freshly cut wood smells like violet. This wood is highly valued as a furniture and parquet material and as a permanent dye, and wood extracts are used in medicine. Sandalwood is also called sandalwood from tropical forests. South-East Asia with beautiful, durable wood that is not worn down by termites.

So, a whole group of species - “sandalwood” trees growing in the tropics of different countries - has wood that has a wonderful and unique, and most importantly, very persistent aroma, which is still the mystery of sandalwood.

The smell lasts exceptionally long in some species of the cinnamon genus, for example, camphor cinnamon, or camphor laurel, from the laurel family. The smell emitted by camphor cinnamon, although pleasant, is very different from the smell of “sandalwood”.

Camphor cinnamon grows in Southern and Western China and Japan, lives up to 1000 years, sometimes reaching a height of 50 m and a trunk diameter of up to 5 m. Not only the wood, but also all parts of the tree containing aromatic substances have a strong odor. This cinnamon is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries for the production of camphor and camphor oil. Its wood, although with low physical and mechanical qualities, is beautiful and is famous for the fact that its smell persists for centuries. Camphor is a source of many aromatic and pharmaceutical products.

Many tropical and subtropical woody plants have fragrant wood. What a variety of smells this is! Wood can have a strong or weak odor, pleasant or disgusting, quickly evaporating or persistent, remaining, like white sandalwood and camphor cinnamon, for many years. The wood of tropical plants can be considered a natural unique chemical laboratory for the production of complex essential substances - a source of various odors.

However, fragrant wood is characteristic not only of plants in the tropics and subtropics. We know that conifers tree species, growing in European and Asian taiga forests (pine, spruce, larch), also have wood that releases aromatic substances. But in fir, aromatic resinous substances are concentrated not in the wood, but under the bark, in special resin storage nodules, and it is from this resin that wonderful camphor is obtained.

The smell of wood emanating from a New Year tree is familiar and pleasant to everyone. The smell of resinous Scots pine wood is very pleasant, which gradually disappears as the wood dries. The smell of pine is especially valued, since the released essential substances - phytoncides, contained not only in pine needles, but also in wood, have a detrimental effect on the causative agents of various diseases and pests.

Some plants have dangerous wood that emits substances harmful to people. When harvesting and processing yew - a “non-fucking tree” containing poisonous alkaloids (toxin and ephedrine) not only in the leaves and berries, but also in the wood - allergic diseases were observed, since yew wood is toxic for many people.

Cases have been described where even non-poisonous trees sometimes turned out to be toxic to those who processed them. For example, in France, while harvesting maple, some people's lungs were affected, and lumberjacks harvesting oak trees at the beginning of summer even developed skin inflammation - dermatitis. These mysterious phenomena scientists managed to figure it out. It turns out that toxic wood emissions are harmful products, formed during metabolism in wood tissues and accumulating in the central part of the trunk (in the core), which is usually more brightly colored. This is why lumberjack poisoning was observed in early summer, when intensive metabolism occurs in the plant. Toxic substances can accumulate in both resin and gum ducts (which secrete gum), and they consist mainly of tannides and some other substances. Accumulating metabolic products have a certain biological significance for wood, as they are toxic to fungi and bacteria and prevent wood decay. Usually their concentration is low, and the wood containing them is not poisonous, but sometimes their amount in the wood increases, and when processing such wood, a person may experience a reaction to harmful substances- allergies.

Regarding the various types contained in wood chemical substances much remains unknown. There are trees, like yew, that have clearly poisonous wood containing alkaloids or glucosides and other substances as yet unknown chemical composition. There are trees with poisonous leaves and bark, but with non-poisonous wood and vice versa.

Poisonous trees also include Colchian boxwood, which grows in our country and is found in Western Transcaucasia and the Northern Caucasus. All parts of its wood are poisonous and have an unpleasant odor that comes from the alkaloid buxin, which sometimes causes allergies in people. Wood containing an alkaloid similar to snake venom - curare - is especially dangerous. When processing such wood, there have been cases of severe poisoning and even death. The wood of teak, terminalia, and some trees belonging to the “mahogany” group is poisonous.

Acquaintance with aromatic and poisonous wood has shown that it produces very diverse, mainly ethereal substances, the composition of some of which has not yet been studied.

Other properties of wood, which have been mysterious for many years, have now been revealed. Such unraveled secrets of wood include the phenomenon of the attractive power of trees to lightning.

The garden is designed not only to please the eye, but also to delight with its fragrance. To achieve this, skilled gardeners have always tried to plant more fragrant plants in the garden. That is why in the old “grandmother’s” gardens there were so many fragrant flowers - heliotropes, mignonette, fragrant tobacco. They were not particularly beautiful, but they filled the garden with an exquisite aroma, creating a unique atmosphere for evening walks. And if you want to make your garden not only blooming, but also filled with notes of enchanting odors, a kind of fragrant kingdom, pay attention to the best fragrant shrubs and trees, many of which are also very original.

Among the trees and shrubs there are many fragrant plants that can decorate any garden. When choosing plants for a fragrant garden, you must take into account the timing of their flowering. After all, when many fragrant plants bloom at the same time, their aromas mix, losing their charm. And besides, the abundance of smells in the garden can cause dizziness for some hypersensitive people. With this in mind, we can advise you to choose several favorite plants whose smells you are especially partial to.

The first smells with a note of lilac, reminiscent of the approaching spring, will be brought by the wolfberry or wolf's bast blooming in April. And before it blooms, we will already be deafened by the intoxicating smells of spring: the light and sweet aromas of Japanese skimmia, bird cherry and corylopsis, the warm honey smell of willow and mahonia, or the delightful vanilla aroma of decorative viburnums of foreign origin. Bird cherry has a strong smell, even a little intoxicating. But he also has his fans. If you decide to plant bird cherry in your garden, keep in mind that it grows to the size of an impressive tree. So one plant for a standard plot will be quite enough.

June is the time of flowering of white acacia. The languid smell of its flowers reminds us of southern starry nights, and this memory alone makes our head spin sweetly. However, many people prefer the subtle scent of garden jasmine - mock orange - to spicy southern aromas. June is the time of his proud reign in our gardens. At this time, Russian gardens are filled with white foam of blooming jasmine. Different varieties and varieties of this shrub smell differently, but I personally especially like the subtlest shades, with an admixture of lemon aroma. By the way, non-double varieties of jasmine, as a rule, smell stronger, and some terry varieties have no smell at all. But they are amazingly beautiful.

Flowers or fruits are not always the source of smell. The foliage is also fragrant. Most often, it has a tart-spicy aroma, like boxwood, caryotheis, wintergreen and St. John's wort. The most striking of the smells will be offered to its owners by the charming scarlet plant, which is valued primarily for the unique changes in the bright color of the foliage. In autumn, this shrub is enveloped in a cloud of subtle aroma, reminiscent of a large pastry shop with the smell of fresh baked goods. How to choose for yourself suitable plants among this diversity? Selecting fragrant shrubs and trees so that they fill the garden with aromas all year round is quite simple. Of course, for this you should take into account individual intolerance to certain odors, your tastes, climatic conditions and the flowering time of each shrub. In order for the garden to always be filled with strong aromas, plants should be selected so that they bloom alternately, picking up each other’s aromas. Be sure to take into account the plants’ requirements for light and soil characteristics. When choosing a planting site, keep in mind that in order to fully enjoy their aroma, it is better to place fragrant crops near recreation areas, paths, terraces, and gazebos. But don’t place two next to each other fragrant plants: Their aromas, intertwined, will create a thick, heavy aroma. Be sure to plant one less fragrant plant for each fragrant plant.

Like other flowering crops, fragrant shrubs and trees reveal their aroma more fully not during the day, but in the early morning or late evening. It’s no coincidence that essential oils Jasmine petals or lavender are collected only in the pre-dawn hours. If you want to fully enjoy the aroma of the bushes, take a walk through the evening garden.

Each type of wood, in addition to its special properties, also has a unique individual smell. It can be very persistent and strong, or, on the contrary, subtle - but it is certainly present in any case. Experts are able to determine the identity of a wood material, focusing only on how it smells.

Perhaps some people are familiar with the smell of wood that reigns in a carpentry workshop - it is quite characteristic, reminiscent of turpentine. At the same time, however, if, for example, pine is being sawed at this moment, the pine aroma drowns out everything else. There are some other tree species with the same feature.

By the way, the property of preserving odor must be taken into account if you order furniture or other items made of natural wood. Sometimes it lasts for quite a long time. What determines whether the wood will smell intensely after cutting or not? As a rule, it’s all about the amount of resin and other substances (including tannins).

The heartwood of wood smells the strongest because it is there that the amount of odorous substances reaches its maximum concentration. A tree that has just been cut down has the strongest smell, but then the smell becomes weaker and may even change. Rosewood and buckout have, say, a vanilla scent. In practice, pleasant woody odors are taken into account when making containers for products, such as honey and butter.

Juniper and cypress, lemon tree, orange tree, and tulip tree smell pleasant. Thuja smells of bergamot, rosewood smells of roses, acacia smells of violets or raspberries, star anise smells of anise, peach smells of almonds, yellow tree- lemon or musk. Pleasant and also useful. Because they work as a natural antiseptic, purifying the air from harmful impurities and microorganisms. It is easy to breathe in rooms made of natural wood, which is beneficial for people and pets.

Teak smells like rubber, balsam poplar smells like tanned leather, and camphor laurel smells like camphor. Sterculia and paulownia have very unpleasant odors, as well as ginkgo, winged lophyra and some others. All these trees grow in other countries and even on other continents.

By the way, this is why you shouldn’t get too carried away with the exotic when decorating and purchasing interior items. At first, it would be useful to ask what kind of wood it is and where it comes from, to find out everything about it if it belongs to unfamiliar species.

Camphor wood, teak, and juniper retain the scent after drying. Disappears from the acacia tree, walnut, oak, alder.

If the smell of the wood has changed, this most likely indicates that the process of rotting has begun. Another case is juniper, which has long dried up in the forest and has been endlessly exposed to various precipitation, frost, etc. And, nevertheless, if you break off a branch from it, a strong aroma will be felt immediately. Moreover, if you wet the cut area, it will become even more intense. True, it also happens that mushrooms that have a destructive effect on wood give it a pleasant aroma. Let's say the pine needles have a vanilla smell.

Oak, cedar, and cherry also have wood that has a fairly persistent, unique odor. True, it is not so easy to describe it in words. The classification of odors according to their strength has not yet been sufficiently developed, but there is some data on this topic. They go in descending order:

• Pine (very strong odor, 2000 mg/l air)
• Juniper
• Pine resin
• Birch

By the way, in terms of intensity behind trees there are substances such as ethanol, vinegar, chloroform, musk. Compared to the plants listed above, their odor strength is rather weak.

It’s hard to imagine, but at the very beginning of the nineteenth century, this native of China, Japan and Australia was considered an enviable acquisition for any European botanical garden.

In 1809, ailanthus first appeared in Russian Empire. Since then, the tree began to conquer the southern lands so quickly that gardeners grabbed their heads: the plant multiplied with lightning speed by root shoots and seeds, occupying vast territories.

In its homeland, the tree is affectionately called the tree of paradise, God's tree. In our country, on the contrary, it bears a contemptuous, dissonant nickname - stink. I must say that crushed leaves really emit a very unpleasant odor.

People have been fighting against ailanthus for almost two centuries, however, without much success. But once upon a time, trees were brought to Russia with good intentions - the fact is that in India, Japan and China, silkworms feed on the leaves of this tree. When a generation of seedlings grew up in the Crimea and the Caucasus, experiments were carried out to obtain domestic silk thread. They say that the quality of the raw materials was not inferior to overseas samples. But then the business died out, and silk production was never established.

And the tree continued its triumphal march along southern lands. Although the age of Ailanthus is short (only forty to sixty years), it can rightfully be considered a champion in terms of rapid growth. A seed tree can grow three meters in a year, and the growth from a stump reaches one and a half meters in length in the same period! Tiny plants, rushing towards the sun, easily penetrate even a thick layer of asphalt. And in terms of the abundance of root shoots, it has no equal.

In the sixties of the last century, a heated discussion broke out on the pages of the Nature magazine, where opponents of the plant accused Ailanthus of being capable of causing dermatitis in humans and asthma attacks in asthmatics. True, there was no hard evidence for this. In defense of ailanthus, it can be said that it is difficult to imagine a more unpretentious and fast-growing tree. And the stinky one is very attractive in appearance.

So this alien lives side by side with man. As they say in one famous proverb, it is both impossible to be together and not to be apart.