What Bushes Give Off a Musty Smell?

Cultivated Shrubs

• Patchouli has a distinct, musty smell that might take getting used to. It is widely used for incense and perfumes by those who appreciate its strong, earthy odor. Essential oil is derived from the leaves and flowers of the patchouli shrub. Patchouli shrubs grow up to 3 feet high, exhibit many leaves and produce small pink- to white-colored blossoms. Some say that the odor of the oil improves with age and is an acquired taste.

Weeds

• Poison hemlock is a highly poisonous, shrublike plant that grows in the wild throughout the United States. Its green leaves, reaching 4 to 12 inches long, emit a musty odor. It is highly poisonous to both humans and animals. The plant can grow to 10 feet tall, producing hollow stalks. It can appear similar to wild carrots but is distinct in that its stems exhibit purple blotches. This plant thrives in moist environments and may appear in crop fields or on roadsides.

Berry Bushes

• Some berry bushes emit strange smells that have a musty odor. The highbush cranberry, a deciduous shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall, exhibits this trait. It grows in forests and near streams. This plant produces edible cranberries that smell musty when they are overripe and produce a strong aroma that can fill the nearby area.

  The nanny berry (Viburnum lentag), which is often grown as a landscape or border shrub, grows berries that also produce a musty smell when overripe. The smell is described as that of wet sheep wool, but the berries are edible and sweet.

Mold and Mildew

• A musty-smelling plant that does not normally emit such odors may be experiencing mold problems. Overly moist or poorly drained soil can develop mold or mildew and emit this smell. Musty odors are a symptom of root and stem rot, a fungal condition experienced by plants in such conditions. To combat these problems, cease watering until moisture levels are under control. Improve soil drainage by amending it with sandy components and opening drainage holes. Reduce the irrigation rate in future.