Scented flowering plants
10 scented choices for your garden |
Fragrant flowers add an extra dimension to any garden, making your outdoor space a feast for all the senses. Scent is one of the most savored and sought-after qualities in a garden plant, and many scented florals are also fantastic for cutting, allowing you to fill your home with their beautiful perfume, too.
Including fragrant flowers in your flower bed ideas will enhance your enjoyment of your garden. Aroma often draws you to a plant before you can even see it, and engaging with fragrant flowers and foliage is a key part of a sensory garden experience. With the right choice of plants, there’s no reason your outdoor space can’t be filled with wonderful, sweet smelling blooms all year round.
Fragrant flowers
(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton Photography)
To get the most out of your fragrant flowers, consider planting them around seating areas, paths and doorways where you can enjoy their scent to the full.
When choosing fragrant flowers to plant, it’s also worth thinking about when you spend the most time in the garden. Some flowers, such as if you're growing jasmine and nicotiana, intensify in fragrance in the evenings, so these are particularly good for planting as a patio idea, or in other spots where you might sit on a summer’s night. Whereas if you like to enjoy breakfast on a sunny terrace or courtyard, then fragrant roses scrambling up a nearby wall could fill the air with their aroma, and aromatic herbs can fill containers.
Include some of the best flowering shrubs, climbers, bulbs and annuals blooming throughout the seasons to fill your outdoor space with fragrant flowers all year round.
1. Mock orange – Philadelphus
(Image credit: Pixabay)
Known as mock orange for its gorgeous citrus blossom scent, this tall, deciduous shrub produces arching stems that become smothered in clusters of pure white flowers in late spring through early summer.
The blooms of this fast growing shrub are often four-petalled with contrasting yellow stamens, though double varieties are also available.
Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ combines elegant single blooms with eye-catching golden-green foliage, and the fragrance really does have to be smelt to be believed, so is a top choice for fragrant flowers to plant.
'Visitors often inquire about the scent and Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ and any other mock oranges are powerfully perfumed when their flowers appear in late spring says Eric Hsu, plant information coordinator at Chanticleer Garden , Pennsylvania.
USDA zones: 4-8
Flowers: May-June
Plant: in full sun or part shade, in moist but free-draining soil
Prune: straight after flowering, prune back all flowering stems to one third of their length to prevent the shrub from becoming leggy.
2. Roses
(Image credit: Rosa ‘Generous Gardener’ / David Austin Roses)
No scented garden is complete without a rose.
Some of the most fragrant flowers to plant are David Austin’s famous English roses, which have been bred to combine the best traits of modern rose varieties – including color range and repeat flowering – with the wonderful fragrances of old varieties.
There are many rose garden ideas for ways they can be incorporated into your yard. ‘All David Austin roses are fragrant, but there are five different fragrance profiles: Myrrh, Tea, Fruity, Musk and Old Rose,' explains Rebecca Koraytem of David Austin Roses . One of the top varieties for scent, says Rebecca, is ‘The Generous Gardener’, a rambling rose whose fragrance is a combination of Musk, Old Rose and Myrrh. She also recommends the climbing rose ‘Bathsheba’ for Myrrh, and ‘Desdemona’ for Old Rose, ‘Vanessa Bell’ for Tea, and ‘The Poet’s Wife’ for Fruity – all shrub varieties.
David Austin roses can be grown in a wide range of climatic zones, thriving in USDA zones 4-11. Rebecca has some top tips for successfully growing at these two extremes.
'In truly hot zones, plant roses where they get morning sun and protection from afternoon sun. To extend winter hardiness, choose an ‘own root rose’ – a rose grown from a cutting, rather than grafted onto a rootstock – and always plant deep so that the crown is at least 2 inches below the surface of the soil.”
USDA zones: 4-11
Flowers: May-November depending on variety
Plant: in full sun for best flowering, but a minimum of 4-6 hours direct sun per day, in fertile, humus-rich but well-drained soil
Prune: Some varieties need to be pruned in winter, and others straight after flowering. Learn how to prune roses for the best blooms year after year.
3. Sweet peas – Lathyrus odoratus
(Image credit: Future)
Most at home scrambling over obelisks and archways, sweet peas are a favorite among cottage garden plants, a hallmark of summer and a classic cut flower if you're planning a cut flower garden.
It is easy to learn how to grow sweet peas, and there are a huge number of varieties available of this popular annual climber, in myriad colors. Most are heavily scented, but perhaps the most fragrant flowers of all belong to ‘Matucana’, a historic heirloom variety boasting bicolored blooms in opulent shades of rich purple and velvety maroon. The secret to abundant flowering is to keep picking your sweet peas, so you can enjoy luxurious bunches all around the house, where they will fill the room with their sweet scent.
USDA zones: 2-11 (thrive 3-8)
Flowers: June-August
Plant: in full sun in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil or in pots
Prune: pick flowers continually to encourage more blooms to be produced and remove any seedpods that develop.
4. Tobacco flower – Nicotiana
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Flowers that release their scent in the evening are perfect for planting around patios, or as courtyard garden ideas for those who like to relax in the garden after getting home from work.
Nicotiana, or tobacco flowers, are great night-scented plants. Blooming from early summer right through to the first frosts, this popular bedding plant is perfect for filling gaps in borders and containers. They are usually grown as a half-hardy annual and are good for low maintenance border ideas and easy to grow. Although they look lovely all day, tobacco flowers really come into their own in the evening, when they release a heady fragrance to attract nocturnal pollinators.
Nicotiana alata is a great choice as its relatively small size means that pockets of it can be incorporated into pretty much any garden or container display. Nicotiana alata varieties come in a range of colors, from pure white to hot pink to vivid lime green. For something taller, try the equally fragrant Nicotiana sylvestris, which is ideal for woodland gardens.
USDA zones: grown as an annual in zones 6-9; may overwinter in zones 10-11
Flowers: June-October
Plant: in sun or part shade, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil
Prune: deadhead faded blooms to prolong flowering.
5. Lilacs – Syringa vulgaris
(Image credit: Olivia Drake)
Lilacs are the top recommendation for fragrant flowers to plant of Jim Sutton, display designer at Longwood Gardens , Pennsylvania. 'For scent, the lilacs – Syringa species – always come to mind. We have a nice collection of them at Longwood and our guests greatly enjoy their recognizable scent when in bloom. It is such an iconic shrub for its fragrance and is very easy to grow,' he says.
Native to the rocky hills of the Balkans, central Europe, this deciduous shrub is very hardy and in fact requires a chilly winter to successfully bloom. Heart-shaped leaves emerge in spring, followed by dense clouds of tiny but powerfully scented flowers in shades of lilac, purple or white, depending on variety. Lilacs are also great for cutting, making an opulent display in a vase where you can enjoy their fragrance to the full.
USDA zones: 3-7
Flowers: April-May
Plant: in full sun, in moist but free-draining, non-acidic soil
Prune: learn how to prune lilac to keep your plant looking its best.
Prune after flowering, removing spent flowerheads. Remove any dead, damaged or diseased material, and tidy the shape as required.
6. Wisteria – Wisteria sinensis
(Image credit: Olivia Drake)
There are few garden features more spectacular than a mature flowering wisteria. In spring, this enduringly popular climber becomes festooned with long tresses of pale lilac flowers, which appear before the leaves to create a stunning display. The attractive lobed foliage, when it emerges, is a beautiful fresh bronze in color before maturing to green.
It's worth learning how to grow wisteria as they can take on magnificent structures, developing beautiful twisted woody trunks with age. Not only all this, but they have beautifully fragrant flowers, too. To appreciate their fragrance to the full, train a wisteria up the wall near your doorway, or over an arbor above a seating area.
USDA zones: 5-9
Flowers: April-May
Plant: in full sun in fertile, free-draining soil, next to a south- or west-facing wall, fence or arbor up which it can be trained.
Prune: It is important to know how to prune wisteria to keep them under control. Prune according to the 2/7 rule: establish a main framework and prune side-shoots back to two buds in February (the 2nd month) and back to seven buds in July (the 7th month).
7. Dutch hyacinths – Hyacinthus orientalis
(Image credit: Olivia Drake)
This is a fragrant flower that you can also grow in the house. Everyone has a place for Dutch hyacinths, whether for container gardening ideas, window boxes, dotted through borders or even in a bowl indoors. Their large, intensely fragrant flowerheads come in all shades of blue, pink, purple and white.
'When planted en masse, the smell is unmistakable,' says Jim Sutton of Longwood Gardens. 'It is also an easy spring bulb to plant in almost any garden.'
Although hyacinths naturally bloom in March and April, you can also buy ‘prepared’ bulbs which have been heat treated to flower earlier. These are ideal for indoor growing and when planted up in a decorative pot, the sprouting bulbs make a lovely Christmas gift.
USDA zones: 4-8
Flowers: March-April
Plant: in full sun and free-draining soil in fall, or plant prepared bulbs in pots in September for Christmas flowering
Prune: remove faded flowerheads at the base but allow the foliage to remain for a few weeks to produce energy back into the bulb to feed next year’s flowers. Once it begins to die back it can be removed. Potted bulbs can then either be placed in a cool, dark place such as a shed or lifted and stored somewhere cool and dry.
8. Holly olive – Osmanthus heterophyllus
(Image credit: Clive Nichols / Getty Images)
Fall can be a more challenging season to find fragrant flowers to plant in your garden. However, one must-have plant for scent in fall is the holly olive or Osmanthus heterophyllus, which are also deer resistant plants.
'Osmanthus fragrans and Osmanthus heterophyllus may not have showy flowers, but their delightful citrus, stone fruit, and floral aroma more than compensates.
They are beautiful evergreen shrubs as well,' says Eric Hsu of Chanticleer.
Jim Sutton of Longwood Gardens agrees. 'Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Gulftide’ makes a nice hedge, although it has spiny leaf margins. It smells wonderful in the fall when it comes into bloom,' he says.
USDA zones: 6-9
Flowers: September-November
Plant: in sun or part shade, in fertile, moist but free-draining soil
Prune: little or none required; if desired, trim back long twigs to a pair of nodes to encourage a compact, bushy habit.
9. Winter box – Sarcococca confusa
(Image credit: Tom Meaker/Getty Images )
Coming into its own at a time when not much else is in flower, winter box is an essential for every garden or patio.
Highly versatile, the small evergreen is an ideal shrub for shade and works in pots, as informal privacy hedges or as punctuation points in borders to create year-round structure and interest.
Glossy, deep green spear-shaped leaves beautifully offset the delicate hanging clusters of tiny white fragrant flowers. Although small, the flowers are packed with an almost inconceivably powerful sweet scent, which will drift for yards on even the faintest breeze. The blooms are followed by shiny black berries. A compact and relatively slow-growing evergreen shrub, Sarcococca confusa is perfect for small gardens.
USDA zones: 7-9
Flowers: December-March
Plant: in shade or part shade, in humus-rich, moist but free-draining soil
Prune: none required, but the plant can be lightly trimmed after flowering to maintain the desired shape.
10. Daphne – Daphne bholua ‘Jaqueline Postill’
(Image credit: Olivia Drake)
During the darkest months of winter, the divine fragrance of Daphne bholua ‘Jaqueline Postil’ cuts through the air, lifting the spirits on even the coldest, dullest days and drawing in all who smell it.
Among the best winter flowers, the waxy four-petalled flowers in palest pink of daphnes are held in tight clusters, each with a ruff of slender semi-evergreen leaves. The masses of intensely fragrant flowers are followed by round purple berries. This daphne makes a wonderful specimen shrub and is best planted near to a path or doorway where its scent can be enjoyed to the full.
USDA zones: 7-10
Flowers: January-February
Plant: in sun or part shade, in fertile, humus-rich but free-draining soil
Prune: none required – unless removing dead, damaged or diseased wood.
Which flower has the strongest fragrance?
Many of the plants listed above have some of strongest fragrances. However, the scent of fragrant flowers can be intensified by heat, by humidity, and by being trapped within a confined space, explains Jim from Longwood Gardens.
'We force Oriental lilies into bloom in the conservatories during the winter months.
When you put a couple of hundred of them in an enclosed space, the scent is strong, unmistakable, and very floral,' he says.
'During summer, the humid, warm air intensifies the gardenia-like fragrance of Hosta plantaginea ‘Aphrodite’,' adds Eric from Chanticleer.
(Image credit: Oriental Lilies / Longwood Gardens)
What is a very fragrant flower?
There are many flowers that are very fragrant, but it’s important to remember that what one person finds a pleasant scent, another might not.
'Scent is a very personal preference,' says Jim. Not only is the pleasantness of scent subjective, but different people are wired to detect and perceive scents differently. Some may not even be able to smell certain scents at all. For this reason, when choosing fragrant flowers to plant in your garden, it’s important to try before you buy – go along to a botanic garden or a garden center, and have a good sniff.
(Image credit: Nahhan/GettyImages)
Which jasmine plant is the most fragrant?
'Most of the highly scented jasmines are the indoor species that we grow as houseplants in the UK,' explains Jane Lindsay, owner of specialist nursery Tynings Climbers , which holds the UK’s National Collection of jasmines.
'The most fragrant are Jasminum angulare, Jasminum grandiflorum ‘De Grasse’ – which is beautifully scented and used in the perfume industry – and Jasminum sambac, which is probably the most highly scented of all the indoor species.”
'For outdoor growing, the most strongly scented is the star jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides, especially in the evening.'
This fast-growing flowering vine is a popular all-round choice. 'It ticks all the boxes – it’s scented, and it’s an evergreen climber,' says Jane. This makes star jasmine perfect for growing up a trellis to screen off a seating area.
Another highly fragrant hardy jasmine is the deciduous Jasminum officinale f. affine. ;It’s quite happy to be container grown, so if you’re short of space, you can grow it on the patio scrambling up an obelisk,' suggests Jane.
Trachelospermum jasminoides thrives in USDA zones 8-10 and Jasminum officinale f.
affine in zones 7-10.
47 Most Fragrant Flowers According to Gardeners
If you are in love with the perfume of anything natural, then have a look at the
Most Fragrant Flowers According to Gardeners and grow one today!We love pleasant aromas, and flowers are the liveliest source of them. Here’s an all-inclusive list of the Most Fragrant Flowers According to Gardeners based on a small survey in more than 20 countries on major social media platforms.
Check out the most beautiful Orchids hereMost Fragrant Flowers According to Gardeners
1. Scented Primrose
shutterstock/wehaBotanical Name: Primula vulgaris
Grows widely in Europe, primrose comes in colorful flowers with beautiful foliage and a mild fruity aroma. They herald the arrival of spring, especially in the evening time when the breeze passes through them.
2.
Plumeriashutterstock/AgeAloysiusBotanical Name: Plumeria
Also called Frangipani, plumeria is a subtropical or tropical flower related to oleander. Its flowers are softly fragrant in the daytime and intensify at night.
3. Sweet Autumn Clematis
Botanical Name: Clematis terniflora
From late summer to autumn, its perfumed white flowers bloom in clusters. The sweet vanilla scent oozes out and spreads a soft coolness all around.
Here are the best varieties of Clematis4. Ylang-Ylang
flickrBotanical Name: Cananga odorata
It is native to the rainforests of Asia and Australia and is also called the perfume tree. The plant blooms profusely year-round, pouring a slightly fruity floral scent to the surroundings.
5. Nicotiana
Botanical Name: Nicotiana
Popular as a Tobacco flower, nicotiana is native to North and South America. Its small tubular flowers open in the noon and ooze out lily-like intense fragrance.
6. Lily of the Valley
Botanical Name: Convallaria majalis
Lily of the valley grows in USDA Zones 2-9 and blooms in spring. It has cute bell-like white or pale, pink flowers that spread their floral type fragrance in the whole area.
7. Viburnum
Botanical Name: Viburnum
With beautiful foliage, viburnums are excellent fragrant flowers, especially their ‘Korean spice’ variety blooming in clusters of white fluffy flowers in spring and summer with a sweet and spicy fragrance.
8. Tuberose
Botanical Name: Polianthes tuberosa
Rajnigandha is its local name in India. Its seductive odor captures the warmth of mid-summer. The tube-like blossoms appear in hot tropical spring and summer with a sweet scent.
9. Sweet Osmanthus
shutterstock/LiliStormstoutBotanical Name: Osmanthus fragrans
Native to China, Japan & Cambodia, orange osmanthus flowers carry a sweet apricot-like fragrance.
It’s also called Kinmokusei, grown popularly in patios and yards and sidewalks in Japan.
10. Mock Orange
Botanical Name: Philadelphus
It is a cold-weather plant that blooms in summer and emits a pleasant orange-like scent that is refreshing like mint. The plant is the best combination of beauty and fragrance!
11. Lilac
Botanical Name: Syringa
Blooms in spring and summer in Europe & America, lilacs are excellent cut flowers, with their arousing sweet-smelling fragrance. You can also grow this in containers as many hybrid varieties are now available.
12. Angel’s Trumpet
shutterstock/olcphotoBotanical Name: Brugmansia
Popular for its trumpet-like creamy-orange flowers that ooze a sweet and strong aroma at the onset of dusk.
13. Daphne
Botanical Name: Daphne
This flower is a favorite of the perfume industry with its alluring fragrance, thanks to its sweet and spicy fragrance.
Not many gardeners grow Daphne because of the care it needs.
14. Night Scented Stocks
shutterstock/avofertenBotanical Name: Matthiola longipetala
Stocks with their intoxicating perfume like lily are the best choice in fragrant gardens of cold climate. Its mild fragrance blends lightly in the surroundings in the evening.
15. Magnolia
flickrBotanical Name: Magnolia champaca
The beautiful cream-colored flowers give it a mix of deep grape and sweet banana-like fragrance like no other flowers. It’s native to the Himalayan ranges of South-East Asia, and blooms year-round in a tropical and subtropical climate.
16. Arabian Jasmine
Botanical Name: Jasminum sambac
It is the national flower of the Philippines and is also called Arabian Jasmine & mogra. Its strong fragrance is different than jasmine and is more like vanilla.
Check out the most beautiful Jasmine varietieshere17.
Stargazer LilyBotanical Name: Lilium ‘Stargazer’
All lilies are aromatic, but this hybrid variety is the most fragrant. Its sensual and slightly spicy scent is addictive to fall in love with!
Have a look at the most beautiful Lily pictures here18. Honeysuckle
Botanical Name: Lonicera periclymenum
A trendy flower among those who love fragrant plants. Its cluster of tiny flowers erupts, inviting fruity fragrances like vanilla & honey that are always noticed.
19. Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa
A fragrant plant list can never be complete without the inclusion of fragrant roses. Loveliest of all the flowers and popular, everyone should grow them! They give out a mild and pleasing scent.
Check out this brilliant hack for growing Roses here20. Freesia
Botanical Name: Freesia
Native to South Africa, many European gardeners voted for freesias.
Its charming and fruity fragrance is pleasing to the senses.
21. Hyacinth
Botanical Name: Hyacinthus
Coming in red, white, blue, and more, hyacinths are appealing to the eyes, and their fragrance resembles a combination of strawberry and honeysuckle.
22. Jasmine
Botanical Name: Jasminum
Whether it’s the queen of the night or the poet’s jasmine, they all are the most fragrant flowers in the world with a strong and sweet scent.
Check out some stunning Jasmine varieties here23. Night Blooming Jasmine
logeesBotanical Name: Cestrum nocturnum
The plant surely has the most powerful fragrance and what makes it different from the others is its nature to bloom at night, wafting the intoxicating aroma in the air.
24. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Botanical Name: Brunfelsia pauciflora
The reason this plant has a strange name is that it opens in purple (yesterday), gets a lavender hue (today), and finally takes a pure white shade (tomorrow).
It has a sweet fragrance.
25. Orange Jessamine
logeesBotanical Name: Murraya paniculata
If you love intense fragrance, then this should be your pick. The plant has beautiful waxy white flowers with a strong, orange-like smell. It stays bushy and compact, which makes it a top pick for small spaces.
26. Water Jasmine
Botanical Name: Wrightia religiosa
It is a very fragrant plant with a fruity scent. The best part about it is that it blooms all year round and grows quite fast.
27. Ginger Lily
plantogalleryBotanical Name: Hedychium coronarium
The stunning white flowers of this plant have a strong, lily-like fragrance with fruity undertones. Its scent is at its peak in the evening.
28. Spider Lily
Botanical Name: Hymenocallis littoralis
The flowers of this plant look like spiders crawling on leaves. It is one of the most fragrant flowers with a sweet and strong scent of vanilla!
29.
PuakenikeniBotanical Name: Fagraea berteroana
This Hawaiian beauty gets full of small cream-white flowers that take a yellow hue over time. It has a sweet fragrance that anyone will surely love.
30. Gardenia
Botanical Name: Gardenia jasminoides
The plant is quite easy to grow and flourishes everywhere, in the cold or the tropics. Its big milky white flowers look beautiful, and their magical fragrance is pleasing yet not as overpowering as jasmine.
Learn growing Gardenia in pots here31. Crepe Jasmine
Botanical Name: Tabernaemontana divaricata
This evergreen shrub is popular for its pinwheel-shaped flowers that give out a sweet and strong fragrance. It does best in full sun and looks stunning with its glossy green foliage.
32. Day Blooming Jasmine
Botanical Name: Cestrum diurnum
This tall plant is a great contender for pots and gives out a pleasing, sweet fragrance during the daytime from its clusters of tubular white flowers.
The plant is prevalent in Indian subcontinent countries.
33. Vanilla Spice
flora-toskanaBotanical Name: Clethra alnifolia
This dense shrub is quite popular for its sweetly fragrant white flowers. It is easy to maintain and also attracts bees and butterflies.
34. Spice Baby Viburnum
alexander.hoyleBotanical Name: Viburnum carlesii
Noted for its magnificent white blooms in clusters, the plant will wow you with its rich and spicy vanilla-like fragrance. It does well in full sun.
35. Paperwhite
Botanical Name: Narcissus papyraceus
The strong scented white flowers look beautiful on the tall, slender stalks. The upright nature of the plant makes them perfect for cut flowers and tabletop decors.
36. Sweet Violet
Botanical Name: Viola odorata
The tiny scented flowers bloom profusely in dappled sunlight under the shade of big trees. The fresh floral scent contributes to one of the most loved perfumes from around the world.
37. Gillyflower
Botanical Name: Matthiola incana
Gillyflower features tiny pink, purple, mauve, white, and violet flower spikes on gray-green foliage. The plant thrives in the well-draining medium under bright indirect sunlight.
38. Candle Flower
Botanical Name: Hoya carnosa
Clusters of waxy, star-shaped flowers adorn the deep-green vining foliage. The tiny pink or white fuzzy flowers emit a sweet fragrance at night.
39. Purple Panicle
Botanical Name: Wisteria sinensis
The hanging purple-blue flowers look dreamy on shiny oblong leaflets and exude a strong sweet smell that might seem overpowering to some.
40. Scented Selluka Ivy
Botanical Name: Vigra caracalla
The plant produces purple and white ornamental flowers on the ovate green foliage. The unique snail shell-like flowers smell like hyacinths and are a magnet for ants.
41. Snake Plant
Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata
Although the plant is a rare bloomer but will reward you with fragrant pale green flower stalks under suitable conditions that emit a strong vanilla-like scent at night.
Learn the secret of making a Snake Plant bloom here42. Chocolate Vine
Botanical Name: Akebia quinata
As the name suggests, the deciduous semi-evergreen plant blooms purplish-brown blooms that smell of chocolates. The plant needs sturdy support to vine beautifully across the garden.
43. Clary sage
Botanical Name: Salvia sclarea
The plant blooms pink, lavender, and white flowers during mid-late summer on wrinkled, serrated foliage. Clary sage mists the air with a sweet and mild tobacco-like scent.
44. Night Jasmine
Botanical Name: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Night Jasmine blooms in clusters that emit a sweet fragrance as the petals open at night.
The tiny white blooms with orange centers can be the point of attraction in any garden.
45. Garlic Creeper
Botanical Name: Mansoa alliacea
The plant produces funnel-shaped intensely fragrant blooms in purple and lavender that take a lighter hue as they age. The creeping vines look great on pergolas and fences. It grows best as a perennial in frost-free regions.
46. Yellow Jasmine
Botanical Name: Gelsemium sempervirens
The fragrant yellow blooms can be a great addition to outdoor gardens for their unmistakable sweet scent in the spring and fall months.
47. Rangoon creeper
Botanical Name: Combretum indicum
The star-shaped aromatic blooms are loaded with nectar that attracts a hoard of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plus, the warm and sweet scent intensifies with the evening.
Find out the most fragrant houseplants here10 flowers that will fill the garden with unique aromas.
Varieties, description, photos - Botanichka Often, when we see a beautiful flower, we instinctively bend over to feel its fragrance. All fragrant flowers can be divided into two large groups: nocturnal (pollinated by nocturnal butterflies) and diurnal, whose pollinators are mainly bees. Both groups of plants are important for the grower and designer, because we often walk in the garden during the day and relax in our favorite corners with the onset of the evening. We are never allowed the fragrance of our favorite flowers. In this article we will talk about the most fragrant flowers that will delight you with their smell, mainly during daylight hours.
10 flowers that will fill the garden with unique aromasRead also our article 5 annuals that are fragrant in the evening and at night.
As you know, the smell of a flower has a chemical nature, it appears as a result of the formation of essential oils in the petals of inflorescences, which, when evaporated, are felt at some distance.
Each flower has a unique aroma, because it is formed by a unique combination of various chemical elements. First of all, the smell serves to attract pollinating insects, which have a very subtle sense of smell. But this does not prevent us from enjoying their magnificent and unique fragrance.
Fragrant annuals
1. Petunia
The natural form of petunias has a very strong pleasant smell that intensifies in the evening, but it is also noticeable during the day. The fragrance of petunia is very similar to the aroma of its closest relative, fragrant tobacco.
Purple varieties have the strongest smell among terry petunias. © Lyudmila SvetlitskayaThe first varieties of petunias, close to wild species, had the same intense smell, but in the process of complex selection work on the selection of original colors in many hybrids, the pleasant aroma was partially lost, and sometimes even completely.
Purple hybrids tend to have the most fragrant flowers. But the inflorescences of non-traditional colors for petunias - red or yellow - usually do not smell at all.
And a similar pattern can be traced in both simple and terry varieties.
Recently, breeders have begun to make efforts not only to return the former aroma to petunias, but also to make it more original. The most remarkable aroma is distinguished by such novelties of recent years as petunia Easy Wave Silver - whose smell is very reminiscent of expensive perfumes with vanilla notes, and it is not at all like the usual "petunia". Hybrid "Amore Mio Orange" will fill the air with a fragrance reminiscent of the smell of jasmine. But the hybrid petunia "Evening Sensation" even won a prestigious award for a unique honey aroma with hints of hyacinth and rose.
Read more about the variety of petunias in the article How not to get confused in the varieties of petunias and choose the right one.
2. Sweet pea
The very name of this flower suggests the presence of a pleasant aroma, but not all varieties managed to keep it after the work of breeders to improve their appearance.
Modern sweet pea has very beautiful wavy inflorescences, reminiscent of exquisite ruffles. In color, they are often two-tone with a very interesting dark coating on lighter petals. However, the most fragrant should be sought among simple and medium-sized flowers.
When choosing a variety, also note that perennial sweet peas (peas) are odorless. One of the few modern varieties that, despite its unusual appearance, has managed to retain its aroma, is peas "Old Spice Senator" .
Sweet peas are mainly used for decorating vertical surfaces. But among modern varieties, you can also find compact bush options for flower beds and flowerpots. In addition, this plant is also often used as a floristic material, since the inflorescences can stand in bouquets for up to two weeks.
3. Alyssum
This undersized annual forms a mat covered with medium-sized inflorescences, which are most often pure white or represent various shades of lilac palette.
More recently, the color range of alyssum varieties has been supplemented with a new color - light pink with a peach tint Easter Bonnet Peach .
Modern varieties of alissum have not only unusual shades of petals, but also larger flowers, which are about twice as large as the usual "folk" alissum. However, the hybrid alyssum is inferior to the latter in terms of aroma, and many new varieties are not so intense, and some are completely odorless.
In particular, the hybrid Wonderland deep purple , with very expressive ink-colored buds, does not smell at all. Therefore, the very strong honey aroma that instantly immerses us in summer and attracts many insects is worth looking for in old varieties.
It has been noticed that the white alyssum exudes the strongest aroma, its smell can be felt even at a distance. Lilac varieties smell weaker, and there are tart notes in their aroma.
4. Fragrant mignonette
This flower has a very original, but completely inexpressive appearance - a loose inflorescence of yellowish-green flowers. The main advantage of mignonette is a unique pleasant aroma.
The main advantage of mignonette is its unique pleasant aroma. © Allan ArmitageThe smell of the plant is slightly violet-like, but has a slightly bitter note, like that of wormwood. Sometimes the fragrance of mignonette is compared with an expensive French perfume.
The smell of mignonette is not strong, and it is felt only if you are in close proximity to the inflorescences. But in many ways, this feature can be attributed to the pluses of the flower, since mignonette can be safely placed in the house, and even scented with a bouquet of flowers in the bedroom. Unlike such strong-smelling plants as lily or mock orange, this will not lead to any unpleasant consequences.
Mignonette is unpretentious in cultivation, and this annual can be used to break up too colorful flower beds, adding austerity and unusual aroma to them.
5. Heliotrope
This pretty annual is much loved by perfumers and is often used in perfumes, along with fragrance kings such as rose, jasmine and lily of the valley.
Heliotrope is much loved by perfumers and is often used to make perfumes. © Lyudmila SvetlitskayaBees and flocks of colorful butterflies will become obligatory visitors to the heliotrope curtain, so this bush will always be “alive” and interesting to observe.
Helitrope has dark purple corymbose inflorescences, consisting of medium-sized flowers, the main advantage of which is a strong honey-vanilla aroma.
This plant is unpretentious, and in temperate climates it is grown in seedlings as a heat-loving annual. For maximum effect, heliotrope is planted in groups. The landing site should be sunny or slightly shady. Heliotrope is also popular in container culture. In this case, it will be easy to bring it indoors for the winter, and with the onset of spring, propagate by cuttings.
Fragrant perennials
6.
Tuberose (Polyantes tuberosa) Today, not every flower grower is familiar with the name of this plant, but it was not always so. Previously, this exotic flower with a strong intoxicating aroma was incredibly popular in noble estates.
Due to its spectacular appearance and strong fragrance, tuberose is popular all over the world. © SZFSRBThe mention of tuberose can be found in the works of Gorky, Kuprin, as well as in the poems of poets of that time. In particular, in Zhukovsky we find the following lines: "There are pearly lilies of the valley, There are rose bushes, Tulip, fragrant narcissus And tuberose - a pure Emblem of beauty."
Due to its spectacular appearance and strong fragrance, tuberose is popular all over the world. For example, in many countries of the East, the local name of the flower is translated as "the queen of aromas." In ancient times, in some countries, there was a ban on walking unmarried girls in places where tuberose was planted, as it was believed that its smell causes attraction and erotic fantasies.
What is the smell of tuberose?
It is not easy to describe this fragrance, because it is very rich and multifaceted. You can catch notes of exotic fruits, ginger and oriental lilies in it, as well as creamy and honey notes in the aroma.
The smell of tuberose is very strong, tart and heady, and some may find it too intrusive. In this regard, tuberose has both ardent admirers and opponents. In any case, you can try to plant this plant in the garden and determine your attitude towards this controversial flower.
The most common planting material for sale is polyanthes The Pearl ( "Pearl" ), which is distinguished by double snow-white, waxy flowers, reaching a diameter of 5-6 centimeters.
In terms of agricultural technology, tuberose is a bit like gladiolus. Corms are planted for indoor sprouting around April. But for early flowering, you can plant much earlier. Corms germinate best in the dark. Plants are planted in open ground in mid-May.
Tuberose will grow in the sunniest spot in the garden. Special care, in addition to the standard, the plant will still require. Before the first autumn frosts, the polyanthes are dug up and stored in a room with a temperature of 10-15 degrees.
7. Lily
Depending on the class, lilies can have an incredibly strong fragrance or no fragrance at all. So, oriental , or oriental lilies are characterized by the strongest, sweet, dense and spicy aroma.
Lily "Bombini" - OT lily hybrids have a less intrusive and stuffy smell than oriental ones. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya Not everyone will like this specific smell, and it is often perceived as “stuffy” and intrusive. Longeflorums , or Longiflora lilies are also characterized by a pronounced fragrance that can be felt from tens of meters away. Tubular (Orleans) lilies smell not much weaker than Oriental and long-flowered, but have slightly different notes of fragrance.
Hybrids obtained with the participation of Oriental lilies have largely inherited the characteristics of the aroma and have a rather strong smell. LO-hybrids (the result of crossing longiflora and oriental lilies) exude a more delicate aroma compared to oriental varieties.
OT hybrids (a hybrid of oriental and tubular lilies) saturate the air with a moderately pronounced pleasant aroma. Asiatic Lilies are ideal for those who find the scent of a lily intrusive, as their buds are odorless. LA hybrids , which appeared as a result of crossing a type of long-flowered lilies with Asians, are distinguished by a subtle, delicate aroma.
A special group of lilies "Martagon" , or Curly lily has a perceptible smell, which is much inferior in intensity to oriental ones. In general, their aroma can be described as "sweet-tart", while, depending on the variety, Martagons can smell differently.
A lily in the garden and a bouquet of lilies indoors are completely different experiences. Even the most fragrant oriental lily, planted in the far corner of the garden, will not cause a feeling of stuffy cloying and intrusiveness. Therefore, if you are sensitive to smells, then too fragrant lilies should be planted in limited quantities and at a distance from places of rest.
Read more about growing lilies in the article Lilies - choosing a place and planting in the garden.
8. Rose
Rose is a godsend for a perfumer and one of the first plants that was used by humans to obtain essential oils. The most intense smell of roses becomes in the morning hours. Roses that are at full bloom smell the most, as the purpose of the plant is to attract pollinating insects.
The strongest fragrance of roses is felt in the morning hours. © Ludmila Svetlitskaya Rose fragrance can be described as sweetish, warm, delicate with a fruity note.
When we say that something smells like a rose, then everyone can clearly imagine what kind of smell it is.
Most types and varieties of roses have a fragrance, but it is not always the classic pink. Very often there are roses with an unusual aroma, for example, lemon, hyacinth, banana, musk, violet, vanilla, and so on. Some varieties combine several unusual notes in their aroma at once.
As a percentage, only 20% of the roses have a strong fragrance, and 25% of the varieties are practically odorless, the rest of the varieties have an aroma of medium intensity. Therefore, if it is important for you to enjoy the aroma of a rose, then it is better to refuse a spontaneous purchase, and first study the characteristics of the variety you like.
As a rule, on specialized sites there is detailed information about each variety, including a description of the intensity and shades of smell. At the same time, both strongly smelling and devoid of aroma varieties can be found in any group of roses (shrub, flower bed, climbing).
The exception is the increasingly popular roses of the English breeder David Austin, who were purposefully selected according to the principle of the presence of aroma, so there are no completely odorless varieties in this series. Among Austin roses, you can find truly amazing shades of aroma, such as wormwood, clove, the smell of good tea or expensive soap.
9. Lavender
This plant smells not only of flowers, but also of leaves. The aroma of lavender is associated with the presence of a large amount of essential oils in the aerial part of the plant, which in turn are rich in phytoncides that have a specific aroma.
Lavender angustifolia winters very well with us without additional shelter. © yearofcleanwaterPhytoncides were originally produced by plants to repel pests, but man has learned to benefit from these substances by using fragrant plants for his own purposes. In particular, the smell of lavender is perceived by most people as very pleasant.
Therefore, in the southern regions, this flower is grown literally on an industrial scale due to the high demand for raw materials in the perfume and cosmetic industry.
The smell of this plant is believed to improve mood, fight insomnia, eliminate fears and alleviate headaches. In addition to aromatherapy, lavender also has a purely practical use in the household, in particular, its aroma can repel mosquitoes and moths, and is used to disinfect rooms.
For a long time it was believed that lavender does not winter well in the middle lane. But it is not so. Lavender broadleaf is indeed a very heat-loving plant that can only be grown as an annual. But another type of lavender - narrow-leaved - winters very well without additional shelter.
Also used as an ornamental plant in gardens is a hybrid of two types of lavender called lavandin. This flower is more resistant to diseases and pests, and also has sufficient winter hardiness and winters well in our climate.
Open sunny places are suitable for lavender in the garden. This plant is drought-resistant and unpretentious. It is easy to grow from seeds or propagate by dividing the bush.
Lavender flowers continue throughout the summer.
How to grow lavender in the garden, read the article 7 simple rules for gorgeous lavender.
10. Iris
The well recognizable scent of iris is very pleasant, popular among perfumers and extremely loved by women. Meanwhile, in addition to the classic aroma characteristic of the most common "grandmother's" purple irises, this flower has a rich palette of aromas.
Most purple varieties have a classic iris aroma. © Lyudmila SvetlitskayaFor example, varieties with aromas of sweets are often found: vanilla, honey, caramel and even chocolate (grade Copatonic ). Some varieties are distinguished by a floral smell, in which at the same time a slight bitterness or tart citrus notes are clearly felt.
As a rule, the smell of iris has a very complex composition, combining several components at once, and then the aroma can be described as flower-caramel or honey with bitterness, and so on.
The smell of each varietal iris is unique, and it does not always correlate with the color of the flower. For example, grades Copatonic and Stopthe Music have a very similar red-brown color scheme. But in terms of smell, the first smells of chocolate, and the second is distinguished by a caramel-citrus smell.
However, it has also been observed that irises with a predominance of yellow shades of the petal most often have distinct lemon notes, and flowers with a dominant purple color smell classically, but there are also exceptions to this rule.
It is noteworthy that often the most interesting original notes appear in the aroma of iris in the first days after the opening of the bud, after which the smell can change to a classic iris.
In order for irises to please with their flowers with a magical aroma, they must be planted in sunny places, since the tuber roots must warm up well.
Other perennials with a strong pleasant aroma: lily of the valley, peony, carnation, phlox, violet, etc.
7 flowers that will create a unique fragrance in summer
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13.07.2011 23:05
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7 flowers that will create a unique fragrance
Anna Nadezhdina
Some flowers do not shine with special beauty, but the smell!
To enjoy the scent of flowers throughout the season, it is necessary to plant fragrant plants that bloom at different times.
1 Hyacinth. This is one of the earliest and most fragrant flowers. Do you remember who it is named after? In honor of one of the close associates of the ancient Greek Apollo, a young man of extraordinary beauty, who died tragically; the flower, as legends and myths say, was created by Apollo from his blood. Hyacinth has a delicate and very persistent smell, which is felt even at a distance. According to the timing of flowering, hyacinths are divided into early, middle and late.
Each of these species begins to bloom with a difference of about 10 days. The first hyacinths appear already in late April - early May. Blue varieties bloom first, then pink, white, red, lilac, and last - orange and yellow. Flowering time - from 7 to 25 days.
Hyacinths need well-drained soil and full sun. When the flowers depart and the leaves dry up, you need to dig up the bulbs, dry them and store them in a well-ventilated area until autumn planting.
2 Phlox. Blossom in May. Unpretentious, diverse in color, tolerate winter well. Phloxes are annual and perennial, tall and creeping, but all of them are united by one property - violent flowering.
If you plant varieties of perennial phloxes of different flowering periods in the garden, you can admire the plants all summer long.
Their aroma is perhaps too strong for indoors (if you put a bunch of phloxes in a vase in a poorly ventilated room, the smell will be thick and suffocating), but in the garden it acquires lightness and a peculiar charm.
In one place, phloxes can grow for quite a long time - 5 or more years. Abundant watering is one of the main requirements for the successful growth of these plants. Even in places with a close occurrence of groundwater during a long drought, phloxes suffer greatly from drying out. The second most important condition for growing different types of phlox is high soil fertility.
3 Lilies. Favorites among fragrant lilies are the famous Oriental hybrids - luxurious, fragrant and huge. Some varieties of these lilies have flowers up to 30 centimeters in diameter, others are not so huge - 23-25 centimeters, although they are the size of a large plate.
With a few tricks, they are easy to grow in the garden. Oriental hybrids do not do well in "tired" soils already used for other horticultural crops. They need fresh soil. An earthen mixture of approximately the following composition is well suited for lilies: 1 part fresh peat, 1 part sand, 1-2 parts coniferous litter.
It is possible to grow Oriental lily hybrids in one coniferous litter mixed with sand. The results will be amazing. By the way, keep in mind that these lilies do not tolerate the presence of ash.
Now the "heirs" of Eastern hybrids - OT-hybrids, accustomed to our climate, are gaining more and more popularity. Like phloxes, the smell of lilies is too strong for indoors. But in the garden it is a real pleasure.
4 Sweet peas. This plant is valued for touching flowers and delicate smell. The word "fragrant" was not in vain included in its name - "latyrus odoratus" (this is the name of peas in Latin) 300 years ago, a Sicilian monk was discovered walking along the walls of the monastery and stopped by an unusually strong aroma. As an annual plant, peas are almost ideal for those amateur gardeners who like frequent changes in the garden. A huge number of inflorescences are formed on one plant, and therefore peas are widely used to decorate fences, fences, terraces, walls of houses, arbors, etc.
Unlike many other annual vines, which, when planted in oily soil, grow "tops" and do not bloom, peas bloom beautifully in such soil. Prefers well-lit and wind-sheltered areas.
5 Mattiola. She grew up in the gardens of our grandmothers. And since then, it has been loved for the unusually pleasant aroma that fills the garden in the evening and at night. For this plant is also called the night violet.
This annual grows well in sunny places, does not tolerate waterlogging, but it does not like prolonged drought. Needs regular feeding. The soil for growing matthiola must be fertile.
Night violet blooms from June, about a month and a half. To increase the flowering period, the seeds are sown at different times. Since mattiola flowers are modest, it is advisable to sow this fragrant annual plant along with other annual plants that have more beautiful flowers, but are odorless.
6 Levkoy. This is the closest relative of matthiola.
It also has a very pleasant smell. Levkoi are simple and large-flowered with double flowers collected in racemose inflorescences. Terry levkoy are especially good.
Light-loving and cold-resistant, levkoy grow well in windless sunny areas. They require fertile neutral loamy soils, well seasoned with mineral and organic fertilizers, with the exception of fresh manure.
Levkoy is grown in flowerbeds, in flowerbeds, in group plantings. They are combined in height, color, and flowering time: early, middle and late
Levkoi grown by seedlings bloom in June. When sowing seeds in the ground in May, flowering begins only in August.
7 Chrysanthemum. Coming to us from the Far East, known to man since antiquity, it becomes the queen's garden at the end of summer, filling the air with a honey aroma. In fact, this is the last magnificent autumn flower, pleasing with a variety of colors - chrysanthemums are white, greenish, pink, raspberry, burgundy, yellow, red, copper - and spicy smells before the onset of winter.
Fragrant varieties of Korean small-flowered terry chrysanthemums are especially good in this regard. No wonder growing chrysanthemums of different colors and presenting them as a gift has become a real ritual in Korea and Japan.
Flowers tolerate transplanting well, are unpretentious, do not require special care, just do not forget to wrap them well for the winter period or dig them up and take them home to insulated loggias for wintering. In order for small-flowered chrysanthemums to decorate the garden for as long as possible, it is necessary to pinch the top of all shoots, only then will you get a well-formed dense abundantly flowering bush).
Green window sill
Pot spa
In summer, many indoor plants feel quite comfortable on the loggia or on the balcony, especially subtropical and desert species. They also need a vacation, and balcony conditions are close to open ground conditions.
If the balcony faces the sunny side, and the days are hot, you need to water the plants daily.
The wind also speeds up the evaporation of water, so in windy weather, watering should be even more frequent. For the same reason, flowers growing on the upper floors of the house are watered more often: an earthen ball on the seventh floor can sometimes dry out twice as fast as on the first floor, all other things being equal.
The upper floors of high-rise buildings (starting from the ninth and above) are not suitable for growing all flowers: as a rule, there is a stronger wind that can break too tender stems (for example, selaginella, tillandsia) and easily overdry the soil.
But asparagus, ivy, chlorophytum will feel great and at their best - both on a shady balcony and on a loggia. But it is undesirable to keep them on the south side of the house, they do not like direct sunlight. If you want to send such views to the balcony, be sure to arrange shading for them.
For balconies located on the south, southwest and southeast sides, you need to select sun-loving, drought-resistant plants.
