Gardening is a hobby that can bring joy to the senses in many ways. The sights of flowers can activate different aspects of our colour psychology, while the (literal) fruits of edible labour can be experienced on our taste buds. Then, of course, there are the smells. Choosing fragrant plants for your garden is a great way to activate your sense of smell throughout the year.
This article will offer guidance on how to shop for fragrant plants for your garden, touching on seasonal considerations and offering practical tips for placement and looking beyond typical flowers.
Choosing plants with scents for the seasons
Planning for seasonal continuity is one of the best ways to maximise your exposure to great-smelling plants throughout the year. Consider choosing a selection of aromatic flowering bushes that bloom across 12 months, so you always have something to enjoy.
Spring plants
Spring is arguably the most important month to find your scent anchors, as it’s peak bloom season.
- Daphne (Daphne odora / Daphne bholua). This small evergreen shrub has an intensely sweet, spicy fragrance that appears in late winter and lasts through mid-spring.
- Wallflowers (Erysimum). These pink and purple delights are perfect for bedding pots and bedding edges, filling gardens with a warm smell, reminiscent of honey and cloves.
- Lilac. The British cottage garden wouldn’t be complete without some lilac. It’s nostalgic; perfume shows up in May blooms and lasts for a few months.
Summer plants
Summer is a season when scented plants are in full swing.
- English climbing roses. The romantic climbing rose is a classic for a reason, with the ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ variety an especially suitable choice for summer smells.
- English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Lavender is an essential for a sunny border or pathway edge, releasing unmistakable, calming aromatic oils whenever brushed past.
- Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). This evergreen climber features glossy leaves and starry white flowers, offering a glorious perfume of vanilla and, of course, jasmine.
Autumn plants
The leaves might be falling and changing colour, but there’s no reason you can’t find fragrant, flowering shrubs that keep their delightful scents in Autumn.
- Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’). This plant (late-flowering varieties) has a sweet, nectar-rich scent that attracts pollinators throughout Autumn.
- Sweet Box (Sarcococca confusa). This plant begins blooming in late autumn and early winter, with small white flowers that emit a honey-like scent.
Winter plants
Even in the winter, fragrant plants can make your garden a sensory wonderland.
- Witch Hazel (Hamamelis × intermedia). This winter-blossoming plant takes a spidery form, with citrusy scents to match its yellow/orange flowers.
- Winter Daphne (Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’). One of the most prized winter-scented shrubs for UK gardeners, ideal for a sheltered border.
Foliage-focused choices
Flowering plants are the most obvious choices, but some plants have scented leaves that release aromas when touched.
Some options for foliage include:
- Scented pelargoniums
- Rosemary
- Creeping thyme
- Sage
Some of these herbs can also be used in cooking, adding to their aromatic value.
Choosing plants for their evening scents
It’s not just about the plants you enjoy while gardening. There’s also an art to choosing fragrant plants that work well in the evenings for patio seating and outdoor hang-outs.
- Night-scented stock (Matthiola longipetala). Might seem run-of-the-mill in the daytime, but at night its perfume truly shines.
- Nicotiana (Nicotiana alata / sylvestris). It might sound a little wild, but flowering tobacco plants have a great scent when the sun goes down, perfect for nighttime relaxation.
Follow this shopping guide and fill your garden with the scents and colours (and even tastes in some cases) that bring your mind to a place of inspiration, peace and everything in between.
