Fragrance in the garden seems like a superfluous topic, every garden is
fragrant. However, much like color, texture or shape one can use the
element of fragrance to enhance a garden. Strategically placed flowers
and herbs with sweet scents give reason to pause and enjoy.
Consider Placement
Plant sweet smelling flowers in areas where you can enjoy them.
For example, if you have a spot where you like to entertain or dine
outside, place hanging baskets and containers filled with aromatic
plants close by so the fragrance will be appreciated. Fragrant
shrubs such as gardenias or lilacs planted near windows will
perfume the air in your home with every breeze. Just remember
that some flowers can be very heady. I heard people complain
of a plant being too fragrant, especially at night when it’s
time to go the sleep.
Herbs Add Fragrance Too
Herbs have aromatic leaves that will fill your garden with fragrance,
especially in the late morning when the sun begins to heat up.
Lavender, pineapple sage, and basil are exceptionally fragrant.
Night Scented Flowers
If you enjoy the garden by moonlight, be sure to include evening
primrose, flowering tobacco, moonflower vine, angel’s trumpet, night
scented stock, four o’clocks and August lily (Hosta plantaginea).
All are more fragrant in the evening than during the day. Also,
watering the garden just before sunset intensifies the fragrance
of many night-scented blooms.
Fragrant Plants
With a little planning you can ensure your garden will be perfumed
from early spring through fall. Here is a very short list of
shrubs, perennials, annuals and herbs to consider.
Shrubs
- Roses (Rosa spp.)
- Lilac (Syringa spp.)
- Gardenia (Gardenia florida)
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.)
- Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)
- Tea Olive (Osmanthus spp.)
- Silverberry (Elaeagnus pungens)
- Mock Orange (Philadelphus virginalis)
- Winter Daphne (Daphne odora)
- Summer Sweet (Clethora spp.)
Perennials
- Daffodils (Narcissus)
- Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
- Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
- Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis)
- Pinks (Dianthus plumarius)
- Oriental Lily (Lilium)
- Daylily (Hemerocallis)
- Summer Hyacinth (Galtonia candicans)
- Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)
- Iris (Iris spp.)
Annuals
- Petunias
- Marigolds (Tagetes erecta)
- Moonflower Vine (Ipomoea alba)
- Stock (Matthiola incana)
- Nemesia
- Four O’Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
- Flowering Tobacco (Nicotianna alata)
- Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia)
- Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
- Angel’s Trumpets (Brugmansia)
Herbs
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Wormwood (Artemisia vulgaris)
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
- Sweet Marjoram (Origanum Majorana)
- Catmint (Nepeta)
- Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
- Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
- Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)