Saturday, January 31, 2015

Top 10 Scented Plants for Your Garden

A palette of perfumed plants can transform even the smallest of gardens into a sensory delight

Scent adds an extra dimension to a garden, turning it into a place where you linger, indulging your senses rather than rushing through to the front door or garden shed. Use plants that flower in different seasons to turn your garden into a perfumed paradise all year round. Plant heat-loving shrubs like lavender against north-facing walls and surround them with brick pavers or stone pebbles to draw out their perfume. And position night-scented plants near your outdoor living spaces or windows so that you can savor their scent while relaxing in the evening.



1. Wisteria.

The spectacular scented flowers of wisteria appear in spring on the bare vines, with leaves following soon afterward. Train this climber along pergolas or fences, or keep it trimmed as a shrub. Wisteria will tolerate frost but prefers a sunny spot.



2. Plumeria.

If your idea of heaven is a beach in Fiji, you must plant a plumeria. The exquisite scent of this tropical shrub more than compensates for its lack of leaves in winter. You need a warm, sunny spot for plumeria; pots are best for those in colder areas so that plants can be moved to shelter in winter.


3. Daphne.

Winter-flowering daphne has an unmistakable old-fashioned scent. Partial shade is best for these shrubs, with a free-draining, cool and slightly acidic soil. The flowers range in color from white to pinkish red and lilac.



4. Citrus.

Citrus flowers are sweetly scented, plus there’s the bonus of delicious fruit. Citrus need plenty of moisture and food, particularly from spring until autumn. Most are vulnerable to frost, so plant in pots in cooler regions. The main flowering period is summer, but some citrus varieties, such as Meyer lemon, will flower and fruit virtually all year.



5. Star jasmine.

The hardy, low -maintenance climber star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is well behaved. It has glossy dark green leaves and, from midspring to late summer, is covered in deliciously scented white flowers. Star jasmine is tolerant of light to medium frost.



6. Gardenia.

This is a shrub that needs plenty of TLC, but its divine fragrance is well worth the effort. Gardenias prefer fertile, acidic soil, lots of moisture and partial shade. Plenty of compost or other organic matter in the soil is also essential, as is shelter from frost in winter.



7. Lilac.

The sweet, old-fashioned perfume of lilac is rarely found in modern gardens, particularly in warmer areas. But lilacs are still common in traditional gardens in cooler regions. These frost-hardy trees can vary in fragrance, so choose plants when in flower. Lilac prefers a moist soil and will flower well after a hard frost.



8. Spring bulbs.

The sweet scent of freesias (seen here), narcissus and hyacinth reminds us that spring is on its way even when trees are still bare. Freesia grows best in warmer regions, while narcissus and hyacinth are frost tolerant. In small gardens, spring bulbs are best in pots so they can be moved out of sight while the foliage dies back (an essential process to ensure good flowering the following season).



9. Roses.

The scent of a rose is pure joy. However, not all of them suit warmer areas, and many modern hybrids lack fragrance, so select your varieties carefully. English or David Austin roses usually have a good perfume, as do old-fashioned damask roses.



10. Lilies.

Of the many, many lilies you can grow in the garden, hybrids of L. regale and L. longiflorum produce the most beautiful scent. Some of the newer hybrids are less fragrant but easier to grow. You need a rich, well-drained soil and plenty of moisture to grow lilies well, ideally with cool shade around the roots and sun on the flowers. Grow them in pots if your garden doesn’t suit their needs.

Tell us: What are your favorite scented plants? Share your suggestions and pictures in the Comments!

source: houzz

32 comments:

  1. I love the spring bulbs, it works beautifully by grouping them together as an accents with other plants and giving that perfect shades and easily manage.

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  2. I knew some of these flowers and truly beautiful as ornamental plants, but with scent. Luckily before, I have in my garden at the province.

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  3. I love roses :) its scent really brings joy to me. I don't know why but it is my favorite

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  4. These are all base scents that can really soothe our senses. It would be nice to have this in the garden.

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  5. I am very familiar with Plumeria because I lived half my life in Papua New Guinea which is in the Pacific and this plant is very common there. Though I'm familiar with most of these plants, I haven't seen most of them in person yet.

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  6. citrus! and yung freesias look sp beautiful. someday pag nagka-garden kami yan ang itatanim ko

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  7. Those roses really got my attention but with regards to the smell I want around me , I would love to have that citrus scent.

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  8. Gardenia, Lilac and Spring bulbs are my choices, oh how I wish I have green-thumb

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  9. does roses really have nice smell? the rose bouquets i've previously received hardly had any scents. but plumeria! i've had a diffuser in plumeria scent before, really nice!

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  10. Plumeria is kalachuchi, right? I have seen Wisteria, and they are really beautiful plants.

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  11. These flowers/ plants are not only nice in terms of scent, but also looks. I like having small flower plants in front of the foor, it feels very british and cottage-y! haha, not sure if that make sense!

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  12. Well, I knew some plants here but for others I don't know. These plants are good in the garden and near the house.

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  13. I seriously need these around the house, not only for the wonderful scent but for their beauty as well. I think they can be good centerpieces.

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  14. thanks for the tips! These are really beautiful plants <3

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  15. thanks for the tips! These are really beautiful plants <3

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  16. I spent years playing in our little house garden when I was a kid. I wish I've seen a Daphne back then, it looks so pretty, but I don't think I'll enjoy its scent.

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  17. What a lovely post! Roses are beautifully scented and I had a lovely surprise when I walked in my garden earlier around my plants - so many scents it was wonderful!

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  18. I'm partial to Daphne and Lilacs, they look the prettiest to me. Unfortunately, the flowers we have at home are not scented. I've been asking hubby to plant roses since a few of our neighbors have them and they just look absolutely gorgeous especially if you see them in different colors.

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  19. lillies and lilacs are some of my favourite flowers. i would definitely be planting them when i get my own house

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  20. I have seen Plumeria in Singapore. The fragrance is pleasant!

    However, the picture of freesia on your post is my favourite! I love such blooms especially when they grow and surround furniture. Looks like a secret garden!

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  21. Among all these, Wisteria is my favorite. I love the color and I love how it spreads and make your garden look so full.

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  22. I think I would go for lilies. Aside from their scent, they look so pure and fresh.

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  23. My neighbor has lilies but I had no idea they were scented. I think I might have to plant a few of these for next spring.

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  24. a question: do scented plants tend to attract more insects? that's usually a top concern here, as we only have a balcony to play with.. and i really am wary of getting too many of them creepy crawlies in!

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  25. I miss having flowers on my small garden. I dont have a green thumb so i let my house helper do all the gardening for me. From plants to veggies

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  26. Wow thanks for all these introduction.I love the citrus and star jasmine.

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  27. Lilacs and gardenias are my top picks! The citrus plant's a good idea as well.

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  28. I don't have green fingers. But the next time I need ideas for indoor plants at the balcony, I may just consider the Plumeria as they look so pretty besides bringing scent to the home :)

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  29. I like the citrus. This makes me wanna go back to gardening. Planting. Makes me remember my childhood days when I keep visiting my garden and talk to my plants an monitor their growth and progress. One of the things I missed. Ah, I so want to do planting right now.

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  30. All these flowers are beautiful and I'm familiar with some of them. We have the star jasmine in our garden.

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  31. I have a lilies in my yard and their scent just makes me want to stay outdoor, lilac too they are just amazing scent that would bring smile to anyone who smells them.

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  32. Lilac is so beautiful among the flowers that I liked from the list.

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