In our recent newsletter we referred to the appeal of fragrant plants. Not only do they produce beautiful blossoms but those blossoms can fill the garden with a powerful aroma. We detailed six of our favorite shrubs:
- Korean Spice Viburnum
- Carol Mackie Daphne
- Miss Kim Lilac
- Mock Orange
- Pink Spires Summersweet
- Witchhazel
This was just a a start, there are many fragrant trees, perennials, vines and annuals. Here is a list of some more favorites.
Trees
- Lindens – sweetly scented flowers in spring, beautiful foliage through the growing season
- Yellowwood – pendulous white flower panicles in spring
- Fringetree – clusters of thin, pure white, highly fragrant flowers
- Southern Magnolia – spectacular, dinner-plate size flowers that are powerfully fragrant up close
- Star, Sweetbay and Saucer Magnolia – all produce visually striking flowers that have mild, but wonderful scents
Perennials
- Lavender – Most fragrant when lightly crushed and left in a bowl or dish in the house – powerful, classic fragrance
- Butterfly Bush – all are fragrant and attract butterflies but certain varieties like Black Knight are particularly fragrant
- Garden Phlox – spectacular in bloom with a light, sweet fragrance
- Dianthus – both annual and perennial Dianthus are fragrant
- Peonies – many varieties are subtly fragrant
Vines
- Honeysuckle – powerfully fragrant even from a distance
Sweet pea – exquisite fragrance, makes a good cut flower, annual vine – will not come back year to year - Wisteria – the classic pendulous blooms are also surprisingly fragrant
Annuals
- Nicotiana – in the tobacco family but a surprisingly sweet fragrance
- Sweet Alyssum – profuse white, rose, purple or lavender flowers with a sweet fragrance
- Heliotrope – wonderful clusters of purple or white flowers, which are intensely fragrant with a deep, grapey smell
Some of these plants require close contact before the fragrance is fully apparent, others you can smell from across the yard. A few tips will help you get the most our of your fragrant garden.
Wind carries the fragrance of these plants so they should be planted down wind of areas you most frequent. Spring winds come directly from northwest and then the west, summer winds tend to come more from the southwest. Keep this in mind when locating your plants.
Plant fragrant plants close to areas you frequent like the patio, poolside, near the garage or mailbox.
Nothing beats a courtyard or area enclosed on 2 or 3 sides for trapping the fragrance.
Many of these plants make nice cut flowers so don’t be afraid to try and bring a stem indoors to fill a room with the aroma.
Happy fragrant gardening!!
