‘It smelled like garbage’: Unique plants to brighten up your home

We're looking at some unusual house plants you may not be familiar with if you're a plant parent at home.

There are many different ways to brighten up your home with plants for the summer and fall, and it doesn’t have to be with typical plants that you find at the greenhouse.

Emma Terrell, the founder of the Urban Botanist, dropped by CTV Morning Live with different types of plants you can find for your house.

The Corpse Plant

“There are no plants on the planet quite like the corpse plant,’ Terrell told CTV Morning Live’s Will Aiello.

“There is one giant, single leaf and it blooms the world’s largest flower.”

Terrell says the corpse plant will only flower once every seven years. It can reach heights of over 10 feet.

“It omits heat, actually the same temperature as the human body because it attracts different pollinators that are really attracted to the scent, to the heat and the flower. Where it gets its name from because it smells like a rotting corpse,” Terrell said.

“You maybe don’t want this in your living room when it flowers. But it is such a beautiful plant.”

The corpse plant only blooms from April to September.

“This is probably my most low maintenance plant,” Terrell said. “Come September, it actually dies down. I cut it down, I put this huge pot in my basement. It chills, it sleeps in the winter, and I bring it back out in the spring.”

Terrell says there was a corpse plant that bloomed at Carleton University in 2024.

“I kind of thought it smelled like garbage. I know that this is not the average plant that people at home are like, ‘I do not want that plant in my house,’” Terrell said.

“But, if you’re really interested in learning about or having a super unique species in your collection and watching the really fascinating life cycle of this plant, I think it’s a really cool one to add to your collection.”

According to Carleton University, the corpse flower originates from Tanzania and the giant flower “emits a putrid odour meant to mimic decomposition to attract pollinators like flies.”

Carnivorous Plant

Carnivorous plants are plants that derive nutrients from trapping and consuming insects.

Terrell says a carnivorous plant has sticky leaves that will capture and digest fruit flies.

“I feel like that’s actually a really good plant to have in your space this time of year. When the fruit flies are running rampant in your kitchen, the carnivorous plant literally attracts, captures and consumes fruit flies.”

On the Urban Botanist website, the carnivorous plant terrarium is described as a “functional, low maintenance habitat” that is also a “captivating conversation piece.”

Terrell recommends placing your carnivorous plant in a brightly lit spot and water deeply once a month.