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Western honeybee seeks out salvia. Flowers put out the welcome mat for pollinators not only with their bright colors but also their fragrance. Photo by Linda Geist.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fragrance gardening is an easy way to enhance the enjoyment of gardens, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Our sense of smell has the power to evoke deep emotions, Trinklein said. Fragrance is an extension of a plant’s charm, transcending its physical space.
Plants emit fragrance for various reasons, a primary one being to attract pollinators. A fragrant flower is declaring “open house” to any insect (and bats and hummingbirds in certain cases) in the area to visit. Many night-blooming plants are extremely fragrant since they cannot rely on visual attraction alone.
Not all floral fragrances are pleasant to humans. The flowers of the carrion plant (Stapelia gigantea) reek of rotten meat to draw blow flies and other insects that deposit eggs in decaying flesh.
In other cases, plants use fragrance to repel rather than attract; their leaves and stems produce pungent, spicy odors to ward off predators. The aroma of basil, while enticing to many humans, is an effective fly and mosquito repellent. “Indeed, basil has been suggested by some as a substitute for chemical insect repellents, if you don’t mind smelling like salsa,” said Trinklein.
Site and plant selection are important for the success of a fragrance garden. Many fragrant plants are sun lovers, so it is wise to pick a spot that gets at least four to six hours of sunlight daily. Try to select a location that is protected from the wind to allow fragrances to linger longer in the garden. Many fragrant plants are more aromatic at night, so you might want to locate a fragrance garden relatively close to the home where it can be enjoyed while relaxing on a patio or deck in the evening.
Nearly any plant with fragrant flowers or foliage is a candidate for a fragrance garden, but there are some things to keep in mind when selecting plants:
Select plants with similar requirements related to sun exposure, soil fertility and moisture.
Choose “good neighbors.” Overly aggressive plants such as mints can be held in check by planting them in a bottomless container.
If using perennials, choose plants with different blooming periods for season-long fragrance.
Think safety. Angel’s trumpets (Brugmansia spp. and Datura spp.) are some of the most fragrant flowers in the gardening world, but they are toxic and should be used with great care.
Plants with fragrant flowers
- Brugmansia
- Dianthus
- Garden phlox
- Heliotrope
- Lilies
- Nicotiana
- Pansy
- Peony
- Rose
- Stock
- Sweet alyssum
Plants with fragrant foliage
- Artemesia
- Basil
- Creeping thyme
- Lavender
- Lemon sage
- Mints
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Scented geraniums
Fragrant shrubs and trees
- Black locust
- Buddleia
- Clethra
- Lilac
- Linden
- Magnolia
- Mock orange
- Viburnum
- Witch hazel
- Yellow wood
Adapted from an article by the National Garden Bureau.
Photo
Western honeybee seeks out salvia. Flowers put out the welcome mat for pollinators not only with their bright colors but also their fragrance. Photo by Linda Geist.
