There are many plants to choose from to add fragrance to your garden. Some have fragrant flowers, others aromatic foliage, or both. Fragrance adds an important dimension to the garden and should not be overlooked when selecting plants for your garden.
Designing a perfumed garden
Planning is the key to success when planting a perfumed garden. Planting too many strongly scented plants close together and all flowering at the same time would be overwhelming, so it is important to know when each plant will be in flower. It may be wise to intersperse strongly scented plants with non – scented plants, or select plants so that the flowering season is staggered all year round.
Positioning plants
When planning the garden, position the most strongly scented plants so that the scent may be enjoyed. For example, plant near entrances, windows and around outdoor entertaining areas. Placing scented plants in pots is an easy way to shift plants in flower to these areas. Some flowers smell strongest at night, so these are best planted near windows or doors, where the fragrance may be enjoyed.
Intensity of Perfume
Some plants may have a pleasant, but more subtle fragrance. These should be planted together en masse to gain the benefit of their perfume. However, strongly perfumed plants are best planted singly, for example many of the Jasmines. Keep in mind that some strongly scented plants may smell good to some people and not to others.
Foliage fragrance tends to be subtler than many of the scented flowers. Usually, foliage gives off scent when crushed or brushed against. Edging paths with fragrant foliage plants is an ideal way to take advantage of this.
Many herbs have strongly aromatic foliage, which may be picked and dried to bring the fragrance inside the house. Pruning therefore has an added advantage of providing material for cooking and other crafts.
Some Planting Ideas
 Important note about plant availability.There are hundreds of factsheets on our website provided for your information. Not all plants will be available at all times throughout the year. To confirm availability please call (03) 8850 3030 and ask for the nursery. |
A Fragrant Rose Garden |
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Plant |
Colour |
Habit |
Design Use / Fragrance |
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Rose ‘Lamarque’ |
White |
Climber |
On Walls |
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Rosa ‘Crepuscule’ |
Orange |
Climber |
On walls, over pergolas |
|
Rosa ‘Dublin Bay’ |
Red |
Climber |
Over arches, pillars |
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Rosa ‘Freesia’ |
Yellow |
Floribunda |
Bush Rose |
|
Rosa ‘Charles de Gaulle’ |
Mauve |
Hybrid Tea |
Bush Rose |
|
Rosa ‘Fiona’s Wish’ |
Pink |
Hybrid Tea |
Bush Rose |
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Rosa ‘Abraham Darby’ |
Apricot |
David Austin |
Bush Rose |
|
Lavender |
Purple / Mauve |
Small Shrub |
Interspersed with bush roses |
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Heliotrope |
Purple |
Small Shrub |
Interspersed with bush roses, Vanilla scented flowers |
|
Mintia (Hesperozygis) |
Pink / Blue / Purple |
Small Shrub |
As a border or edging plant, Mint foliage fragrance |
| Important note about plant availability. There are hundreds of factsheets on our website provided for your information. Not all plants will be available at all times throughout the year. To confirm availability please call (03) 8850 3030 and ask for the nursery. |
Colour and Fragrance All Year |
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Plant |
Season |
Habit |
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Chimonanthus praecox |
Winter |
Medium Shrub, flowers on bare stems |
|
Philadelphus mexicanus |
Spring |
Medium Shrub |
|
Murraya paniculata |
Summer |
Medium Shrub |
|
Choisya ternata |
Summer |
Medium Shrub |
|
Chocolate Cosmos |
Summer |
Perennial |
|
Prostanthera ovalifolia, or P. rotundifolia |
All year |
Medium Shrub |
|
Sweet Pea |
Spring |
Annual |
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Osmanthus ‘Heaven Scent’ |
Early Spring |
Medium Shrub |
|
Jasminum spp. |
Spring, Summer, Autumn |
Climber |
|
Jonquil |
Spring |
Bulb |
|
Tuberose |
Summer |
Bulb |
|
Hyacinth |
Spring |
Bulb |
|
Boronia |
Late Winter, Spring |
Small Shrub |
|
Oriental Lilium |
Summer |
Bulb |
| Important note about plant availability. There are hundreds of factsheets on our website provided for your information. Not all plants will be available at all times throughout the year. To confirm availability please call (03) 8850 3030 and ask for the nursery. |
A Perfumed Shade Garden |
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Plant |
Habit |
Position |
Season |
|
Daphne odora |
Small Shrub |
Plant in different areas to take advantage of the winter fragrance |
Winter |
|
Bouvardia humboltii |
Small Shrub |
Best in pots to take advantage of the fragrance |
Summer |
|
Gardenias |
Small to medium shrubs |
May be used as a hedge, massed, or in pots. Light Shade only. |
Summer |
|
Lily of the Valley |
Perennial |
Plant under trees |
Summer |
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Trachelospermum jasminoides |
Climber |
Walls and pergolas |
Summer, Autumn |
|
Luculia gratissima, or L. grandiflora |
Large Shrub |
Background shrub |
Winter |
|
Cyclamen |
Bulb |
Adds a splash or colour to the garden, or in pots |
Autumn, Winter |
|
Saracocca confusa |
Small Shrub |
Excellent hedging plant |
Spring |
|
Hedychium gardnerianum |
Perennial |
Background planting, or in narrow beds where height is required |
Summer |
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Viola odorata |
Groundcover |
Excellent groundcover under trees |
Spring, Summer, Autumn |
| Important note about plant availability. There are hundreds of factsheets on our website provided for your information. Not all plants will be available at all times throughout the year. To confirm availability please call (03) 8850 3030 and ask for the nursery. |
A fragrant kitchen garden |
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Plant |
Habit |
Use |
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Citrus |
Small Tree |
Culinary |
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Pineapple Sage |
Perennial |
Culinary, Fragrance |
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Rosemary |
Small Shrub |
Culinary, hedging |
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Thyme |
Groundcover |
Culinary, Fragrance |
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Bergamot |
Perennial |
Fragrance, Flavouring |
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Scented Pelargoniums |
Perennial |
Fragrance, Companion Planting |
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Sage officionalis |
Small Shrub |
Fragrant foliage, Culinary |
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Mint |
Groundcover |
Fragrant foliage, Culinary |
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Oregano |
Groundcover |
Culinary |