Fragrance is an essential part of any garden and all really good landscape designs will incorporate this element in some way. It is a scientific fact that smell is the factor most tied to our memories. We all remember the smell of bread baking in Grandma’s kitchen or the smell of peonies on a spring morning or the smell of the fireplace in winter time. Sometimes it takes only a scent to transport us back in time to another place or to trigger a memory we had long ago forgotten….
With this in mind, why not think about doing a fragrance garden this year? It need not be an entire section of your yard, a fragrance garden can be as simple as one good sized container or as elaborate as a whole section of your border!
When planning a scented garden, think about fragrances you love. Do you love the smell of baking? Then why not plant some Dianthus? Many of them have spicy cinnamon or clove scented blossoms. Do you love to visit the tropics? Maybe you need some jasmine to carry you away to exotic, far away destinations…Or maybe you just like the smell of lilacs for no reason at all- that’s certainly reason enough to plant one!
Location is very important for a fragrance garden. Although a scented garden can be done in the shade, you will have a wider selection of plants to choose from in a sunny area. Think about a place where you like to sit, or maybe planting fragrant flowers underneath a window that is frequently open. Remember also that many plant fragrances are stronger at night, so a place on the patio can also be a good choice.
When it comes to choosing fragrant plants, the choices are endless! There is an excellent selection of trees, shrubs, annuals, herbs, perennials, and bulbs to choose from! Remember also that scent is not limited to flowers- many plants have highly aromatic foliage. Plants such as bee balm, mint, and cranesbill all have lovely scented leaves and they should be planted in places where it is convenient to brush or rub against them. Roses, mock orange, lilacs, oriental lilies, peonies, four o clocks, nicotiana, evening scented stocks, daphne, and jasmine are among my favorite scented flowers and all are readily available at garden centers. As for fragrant foliage, I would never be without lemon verbena, mint, or agastache! What you place in a fragrant garden is entirely at your discretion…there isn’t really a right or wrong way to do it- as long as you are growing things that make you happy! Try to keep it simple, and try not to have too many fragrant things in bloom at one time. Too many fragrances at once can be disconcerting and hard for the nose to figure out, so try not to be too extravagant. Also keep in mind that a scent you love might not be loved by someone else! (For example, I dislike the scent of lavender and many people love it! Also note that women are more sensitive to fragrance then men. Known fact!) It’s also important to plant in moderation. While I love the scent of Datura blossoms in the evening, one year I planted several more then I needed and found the scent overpowering. A fragrance you like outdoors (such as ‘Stargazer’ lilies orhybrid tea roses) might be very potent as a cutflower! So be careful and use discretion when bringing fragrant flowers indoors. Avoid bringing very scented flowers to work or to hospitals- people who are sensitive to scent or allergic to flowers will thank you for your consideration!
In all, fragrant gardens are intriguing and can be both beautiful to the eyes and the nose. Along with proper site selection, simplicity and personal scent preference are the main factors when selecting which planting combination you will showcase in your “scented” room. Gardening has never been so much fun!
