Foul-smelling ginkgo seeds wreak havoc after city plants female tree in error

When the borough of Saint-Léonard planted a ginkgo tree on Dino Delisi's lawn, he liked the distinctive, fan-shaped leaves and its bright yellow colour in the fall.

But his early admiration for the tree is long gone.

About five years ago, he noticed what looked like gumball-sized fruit growing on the branches and each season, the crop has increased.

Turns out, the borough planted a female tree by mistake.

In the fall, the seeds, which resemble yellow cherries, fall to the ground and the fleshy exterior turns into a mushy, putrid ooze. The smell can be overpowering, described by some as akin to rancid butter, but for Delisi, he says, "it's more vomit and rotten fruit mixed together."

If he's cutting the lawn or raking the seeds up, Delisi finds it hard not to gag from the stink.

"Whenever I finish raking, I have to come in, take my shoes off, go downstairs and wash them with a brush or else that smell just stays on the shoe," he said.

Delisi has watched people cross the street to avoid the smelly, slippery mush on the sidewalk in front of his home. He's also warned people with dogs to steer clear, because the seed contains a toxin that can make them sick.

The seeds eat away at his lawn, creating tiny craters of dead grass if he doesn't remove them quickly. He estimates he's spent about $2,000 to repair the damage.

When it's cold, Delisi rakes the seeds onto the sidewalk. A few years ago, the borough sent a front-end loader to scoop them up, but Delisi says they haven't been back since.

"I told the city guy, look at my age, I'm retired. I'm not going to rake fruits every day. I'm not a farmer. If I wanted to buy a farm, I would have bought a farm," said Delisi, 68. "He says, 'Yeah, but our workers are not allowed to go on your lawn.'"

He's repeatedly pleaded with authorities to replace the ginkgo with another tree, but the city won't budge because the tree is healthy.

Native to China, the tree's seeds or nuts are enjoyed as a seasonal treat in many Asian cultures.

An extract from the tree's leaves is also used in several medicinal products.