Plants for Fragrance
A famous Roman poet once remarked to his friend that the perfume of his beloved was so fragrant it would make his friend wish that he was all nose. I often think of this when I walk through my garden on a warm summer day or in the evening when the fragrance of some plants is at its height. Planting a garden for fragrance is fun and rewarding. You don’t have to start a new garden, in fact, it is better if you don’t; what you really want to do is introduce fragrant plants through out your garden so the fragrances don’t compete or cover one another. Additionally, since bloom times vary, you may want to plan you garden so that you provide fragrant blossoms throughout the year.
Here is a list of my favorite fragrant plants. The list begins with fragrant flowers listed roughly by bloom time in zone 7. Next comes a list of plants that have fragrant foliage and therefore have an extended period of fragrance.
SPRING
Bulbs
Iris reticulata
Narcissus ‘Thalia’, ‘Actea’, ‘Hawera’, ‘Ice Wing’
Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis
Lilies of the Valley Convallaria major
Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima
Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus
Shrub
Lilac Syringa vulgaris
Broom Cytisus x dallimorei ‘Lena’ (Broom)
Peony Peonia sp. ‘Festiva Maxima’ (white), ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (pink)
Roses Rosa spp. Roses vary significantly in fragrance, thorniness, and amount of extend of bloom time so look for roses that are fragrant, have no or few thorns and are “repeat” or “continuous” bloomers.
Tree
Citrus Citrus species (not hardy inmost zones but worth growing in pots and over wintering inside)
SUMMER
Bulbs
Oriental lilies such as Star Gazer and Casablanca
Annuals
Nicotiana sylvestris
Four o’clock Mirabilis jalapa
Wallflower Ersimum asperum, E. perofskianum
Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
Perennials
Day lily Hemerocallis sp. ‘Hyperion’
Plantain lily Hosta plantaginea ‘Honeybells’, ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Royal Standard’
Phlox paniculata ‘David’
Bouncing Bet Saponaria officinalis
Lavender Lavendula sp.
Vines
Moonvine Ipomoea alba (continues into fall)
Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
Jasmine Jasminum officinale (zones 7-10)
Shrubs
Mock orange Philadelphus coronaries
Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii (continues into fall if deadheaded)
Gardenia Garden jasminoides
Abelia x grandiflora ‘Compacta’
Tree
Mt. Etna broom Genista aetnensis
FALL
Perennial
Autumn snakeroot Cimicifuga simplex
Vine
Sweet autumn clematis Clematis terniflora
WINTER
Shrub
Daphne odora
Tree (small)
Witch hazels Hamamelis mollis, H. vernalis and hybrids
Some plants, including many herbs, have fragrant foliage if they are touched or lightly bruised and provide many months of fragrance. Place these at the front of the border so that you can easily touch the plants. These include:
Chamomile Anthemis tinctoria
Creeping Thyme Thymus serpyllum
Woolly Thyme Thymus praecox
Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Mint Mentha sp. (many cultivars)
Lemon balm Melissa officinalis
Basil Ocimum basilicum (many cultivars)
Lavender Lavendula sp
Lemon verbena Aloysia triphylla
Rosmary Rosmarinus officinalis
Scented geraniums Pelargonium spp.
And don’t forget the wonderful smell of a freshly cut lawn!
Let Us Know:
What other plants have you found especially fragrant?
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