Some plant are so striking , so downright irresistible , that multitude ca n’t help themselves — even if it means sneak a snip from a public garden . It ’s not just polite ( or legal ) , but it unquestionably says something about the plant ’s appeal when folks are willing to risk a side - eye from a park ranger just to take a piece home .

These are the plant that seem to bestow out a little mischief in citizenry — maybe it ’s the strange color , the stark grain , or the way they enchant the sparkle at just the right slant . Whatever it is , they ’ve earn a bit of a reputation . And honestly , once you see them , it ’s easy to understand why .

Japanese Maple

With its vibrant red leafage and delicate social organisation , the Nipponese Maple is a show - stopple . It stands proudly in many public gardens , draw esteem from passersby . Yet , its sweetheart is its oath , often making it a target for plant thieves .

The refined branches and complex foliage shape make a hypnotise display , specially during fall . Garden partizan covet this tree diagram for its elegance and the stir of color it bring to landscapes .

Despite its fragile appearance , the Japanese Maple is surprisingly stalwart , thriving in various climates . It ’s a gardener ’s dream , but also , unfortunately , a thief ’s joy .

22 Plants People Steal from Public Gardens (Because They’re That Good)

Hellebore

Hellebores , with their glamour petal , often bloom in former spring , resist the common cold . Their elusive charm lie in their subdued colors , rate from soft pinks to creamy White .

These prime are not only sensational but also resilient , making them a favorite in public gardens . They thrive in shaded areas , adding a touch of elegance to otherwise overlooked spots .

woefully , their beauty and resilience are exactly why they are frequently steal . Gardeners treasure them for their other blooms and unique power to institute life to a garden ’s shadowy corner .

Japanese Maple

© Lowe’s

Orchid

orchidaceous plant are the epitome of exotic elegance , with their intricate blooms and captivating colors . They often embellish public gardens with their presence , adding an air of mundanity .

These flowers are a symbol of luxury and are extremely essay after by accumulator . Their rarity and diverseness make them select butt for larceny , as enthusiast seek to impart them to personal aggregation .

Despite their fragile appearance , orchids can be dauntless , provided they are given the right conditions . This balance of beauty and resilience makes them coveted by both gardener and stealer .

Japanese Maple

Peony

Peonies are the floral embodiment of romance , with their lush , fragrant flower . These blossom are a favorite for weddings and special occasions , cook them a essay - after addition to garden .

Their large , superimposed petals create a arresting visual showing , draw in both adorer and timeserving thieves . The allurement of peonies lie in their power to transubstantiate a garden with their vivacious colors and sweet scent .

However , their popularity is a two-fold - edge sword . While they enhance any garden they grace , they also become targets for those await to snap up a while of ravisher .

Hellebore

© Fast Growing Trees

Succulent

succulent are the darlings of modern gardening , with their varied shapes and gentle upkeep . Their popularity is skyrocketing , and for a just reason . These plants store piddle in their leaves , allowing them to thrive in arid conditions .

They ’re perfect for both novice gardeners and seasoned pros , making them a raw material in public gardens . Their unique visual aspect and low maintenance ingathering make them resistless .

regrettably , their trendiness also makes them a target for theft . Their versatility in blueprint and functionality means they ’re extremely seek after by those looking to enhance their own spaces .

Hellebore

Lavender

Lavender is more than just a pretty human face ; its console scent has made it a staple in garden worldwide . The rows of violet flower are not only visually likeable but also provide a calming aroma that thread visitors in .

This aromatic herb is cherish for its versatility . From culinary uses to aromatherapy , lavender suffice many purposes , making it extremely worthy .

However , its far-flung popularity means it ’s often pinched from public gardens . The combination of its beauty and hardheaded use make it an attractive aim for those count to benefit from its many character .

Orchid

© westerlayorchids

Bamboo

Bamboo stands tall and proud , often used as a natural privateness screenland in public gardens . Its rapid development and towering acme make it an impressive sight .

This plant life is not just about esthetics ; it ’s also incredibly practical . Bamboo is a renewable resource with unnumerable US , from construction to craft .

Its versatility and fast growth pace make it a live trade good , often leading to stealing . gardener and stealer likewise treasure bamboo for its forte and sustainability , name it a prized works in any mount .

Orchid

Rosemary

Rosemary is a culinary powerhouse , beloved for its typical perfume and flavour . Its front in a garden is both working and ornamental , adding greenery and fragrance .

This herbaceous plant is a kitchen staple , often clip for its leaves to enhance dish . Its popularity in cooking makes it a frequent target for those look to spice up their meal .

Besides its culinary economic consumption , rosemary is also apprize for its tough nature and ability to flourish in various conditions . Its dual - purpose appeal pass water it both a gardener ’s favorite and a target for opportunists .

Peony

© Britannica

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are the epitome of garden charm , with their with child flower cluster and vivacious hue . These George H.W. Bush transform gardens into ocular masterpiece , capturing the marrow of visitor .

The appeal of hydrangeas lies in their versatility . They can deepen color base on filth pH , offering a spectrum of shades from pinkish to blue . This unique trait makes them fascinating , yet also susceptible to theft .

Gardeners cherish hydrangea for their hardiness and ability to brighten any landscape painting , but their desirability means they often melt from public gardens .

Peony

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is more than just a pretty plant ; it ’s a instinctive healer . Known for its soothing gel , this plant is a favored in garden and homes alike .

The thick , unripe leaves of Aloe Vera are both ornamental and functional , offering a source of relief for minor burns and pelt irritations . Its medicinal place make it highly sought after .

However , the very qualities that make Aloe Vera desirable also lead to its thievery from garden . Its duple function as a decorative and healing plant makes it a valuable addition to any outer space .

Succulent

© Gold Leaf Botanicals

Fiddle Leaf Fig

The Fiddle Leaf Fig is the ducky of upcountry interior designer and plant partisan likewise . With its gravid , lustrous leaves , it ’s a striking improver to any garden .

This plant ’s popularity has soar , thanks to its power to complement present-day decor . However , its sex appeal has made it a frequent objective for larceny .

Gardeners apprize the Fiddle Leaf Fig for its bluff presence and ability to thrive indoors and outdoors . Its condition as a design ikon score it a must - have , but also a peril for public garden .

Succulent

Cactus

Cacti are the prototype of resilience , boom in the harsh stipulation . These works are not just stalwart ; they ’re also visually challenging , with unparalleled shapes and spines .

In public garden , cacti offer a skin senses of the alien , drawing the curiosity of visitors . Their ability to subsist with minimum body of water makes them a symbolisation of endurance .

However , their unparalleled appearance and low upkeep make them prime aim for theft . Cacti are often taken from garden by those looking to add a chip of desert charm to their own place .

Lavender

© White Flower Farm

Dahlia

Dahlias are a fit of color and complexity , with their superimposed petals and striking strain . These flowers are a gardener ’s dream , offering a variety of shapes and sizes .

Their vivacious colors are captivating , micturate them a focal item in any public garden . unluckily , their beauty also pull in them susceptible to theft .

Gardeners prize Dahlias for their ability to flower continuously , add up life and color throughout the time of year . Their stunning appearing and long - lasting blooms make them both a treasure and a enticement .

Lavender

Mint

Mint is a garden staple , bang for its invigorate scent and culinary versatility . This herb is well-to-do to grow , spreading cursorily and offer a premium of fragrant leave .

Its presence in public garden is both aromatic and practical , providing a fresh scent and a touch of super C . However , its desirableness for cooking and drink makes it a frequent target for thieving .

gardener love mint for its resiliency and rapid increment , but its popularity mean it ’s often taken by those looking to enhance their dishes or drink at nursing home .

Bamboo

© procosmet

Hosta

Hostas are the unsung torpedo of shady gardens , with their tumid , textured leaves add profoundness and interestingness to any landscape . These plant are admired for their lush foliage and power to flourish in miserable light .

In public garden , Hostas put up a jot of verdure that brightens up shaded corner . Their variety of leafage radiation diagram and colors make them a nurseryman ’s favorite .

unluckily , their popularity and versatility also make them targets for theft . Their ability to thrive in hard atmospheric condition means they are often taken to grace secret garden .

Bamboo

Wisteria

Wisteria is the epitome of romantic charm , with its cascading blooms and seraphic fragrance . This vine transforms any garden into a fag tarradiddle background .

The beauty of Wisteria lies in its power to drape elegantly over structures , creating a sensational visual presentation . unluckily , its allure makes it a butt for garden thief .

Gardeners treasure Wisteria for its enchanting blossom and the touch of magic it brings to garden . However , its sex appeal mean it often disappears from public spaces , leaving a vacuum where ravisher once thrive .

Rosemary

© Jackson & Perkins

Fern

Ferns are the quintessential shadiness lovers , thriving in the cool , damp corner of garden . Their lacy fronds bring an element of texture and apparent motion to any landscape .

In public garden , ferns provide a lush green background , enhancing the beauty of flowering plant . Their power to thrive in less - than - ideal conditions makes them a nurseryman ’s ally .

However , their adaptability and uncomplicated knockout also make them targets for theft . fern are often removed by those count to boost their own garden ’s verdure without much effort .

Hydrangea

© Real Simple

Camellia

Camellias are the queens of wintertime gardens , with their glossy leaves and promising blooms hold the cold . These shrubs are a favorite for their power to blossom when most others do not .

Their flowers , ranging from red to ping , bring a splash of semblance to winter landscapes , make them highly desirable . Unfortunately , their beauty also draw them a butt for thieves .

Gardeners award Camellias for their resiliency and winter blooms , but their popularity means they are often taken to bestow heat and color to private gardens when most needed .

Hydrangea

Magnolia

Magnolias are the image of southern charm , with their large , fragrant flowers and stately front . These Tree transform garden into place of elegance and tranquility .

The appeal of Magnolias lies in their sensational blooms , which fulfill the air with a sweet olfactory property . Their eye - catch beauty makes them a focal percentage point in any landscape .

Unfortunately , their sex appeal mean they are often steal , allow a void in public gardens . gardener cherish Magnolias for their beauty and fragrancy , but their allure makes them a risk in communal space .

Aloe Vera

© naturebymarcbeyrouthy

Hibiscus

Hibiscus plants are the essence of tropical beauty , with their large , bold flowers and lush foliage . These plants bring in a touch of the exotic to any garden .

In public gardens , Hibiscus blooms create a stunning optic show , captivating visitors with their vivacious colors . Unfortunately , their prayer makes them targets for theft .

Gardeners value Hibiscus for their power to thrive in warm climates , bring colour and life to gardens . However , their sex appeal means they often evaporate , leave behind bare spots where smasher once flourished .

Aloe Vera

Tulip

Tulips are the heralds of outpouring , with their bright , loving cup - forge heyday bringing sunniness to gardens . These bulbs are a symbolisation of renewal and beauty .

In public garden , tulips create a vibrant tapestry of color , take out visitant with their simple yet striking salad days . unluckily , their popularity makes them a frequent target for thieving .

Gardeners hold dear tulip for their wanton polish and the fusillade of coloration they bring . However , their allure signify they often vanish from public space , tear up by those want a piece of springiness ’s aureole .

Fiddle Leaf Fig

© Gardening4Joy

Lilac

Lilacs are the incarnation of spring ’s fragrance , with their sweet - sense clusters of flower . These shrubs are beloved for their power to fill up the atmosphere with a delightful scent .

In public gardens , lilacs add together both beauty and aroma , creating an inviting atmosphere for visitors . Unfortunately , their popularity and ravish fragrance make them fair game for theft .

gardener prize lilacs for their intrepid nature and the centripetal experience they leave . However , their desirability mean they often disappear from communal space , leaving a crack in both aroma and great deal .

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Cactus

© Rocket Farms

Dahlia

© White Flower Farm

Dahlia

Mint

© Bonnie Plants

Mint

Hosta

© Longfield Gardens

Hosta

Wisteria

© Sejahtera Seeds and Bulbs

Wisteria

Fern

© Easy To Grow Bulbs

Fern

Camellia

© Southern Living

Camellia

Magnolia

© FloraStore

Hibiscus

© Greenwood Creek Nursery

Tulip

© Tulip Store

Lilac

© University of Maryland Extension