20 Pretty Plants That Will Make Your Garden Smell Great

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The scent of a flower can channelise you back in time to a beloved aunty ’s cottage garden , or perhaps remind you of a cherished sojourn to a land far away ; the scent of a bloom can truly be the scent of love . The salutary news is that you’re able to recreate those fond sensations in your own backyard .

All of the follow plants tender intoxicating fragrance for your garden . And while the biodiversity of the United States is pregnant , you ’ll find something for every garden , in every region , on this list , even if wintertime ’s pertinacity shortens the prison term to enjoy the stunner and aromas .

Quaint cottage garden with vintage white picket fence and colorful flowers

Photo: istockphoto.com

1. Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)

Ifpineapple sage ’s spiky red blooms do n’t catch your care , its sweet-flavored Ananas comosus scent sure enough will . This Mexican native is a perennial in USDA zones 8 to 11 , but can be grown as an yearbook in other parts of the country . Its tubular flowers draw bees , butterflies , and hummingbirds ; the minty - taste flowers are also used by human as an addition to salads or a garnish for afters . The leaf , too , are eatable and can be used to make tea and fix .

2. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

Thanks to its gratifying scent , gardenia is infuse in perfumes all over the world . Hardy in zones 8 through 11,gardeniashrubs can be grow both indoors and out , where their evergreen leaf and blanched bloom delightfully kick upstairs the landscape . Notoriously finicky , gardenias need ample and loamy soil that is acid ; they also like gamy humidity . They need a lot of dawn Dominicus , but some afternoon shade .

3. Jasmine Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)

While most mixed bag of nicotiana are fragrant , the scent of jasmine tobacco plant is particularly pronounced . The star - shaped flowers on this garden stunner areespecially impressive at dark , because their aroma grows strong after gloam . Hardy in zones 10a to 11b , jasmine tobaccomay be develop as an yearbook in other zone . It needs fertile , moist soil and it has no serious pestilence problems .

4. Stargazer Lily (Lilium orientalis ‘Stargazer’)

This splashy heyday ’s large , outward - facing blooms train toward the sky , thus the name “ stargazer . ” In addition to its pleasant scent , the lily ’s strong chaff and pink - spotted flowers bring sonorousness to gardens andcontainersalike . Thestargazer lilyis hardy in zone 4 through 9 and likes full sun . Keep the soil around the plant uniformly moist .

5. ‘Scentsation’ Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum ‘Scentsation’)

The tubular chickenhearted bloom ofScentsationhoneysucklebloom from mid - spring to belated summer , when they give way to bright red berries . The deciduous vine is sturdy in zone 4 to 9 , and it can grow to 10 feet tall . It will stand full sun but does n’t listen a act of afternoon shade . think adorning atrelliswith this fragrant works .

6. Four O’Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)

This bushy plant ’s name stanch from its propensity to bloom latterly in the afternoon . Four o’clockis hardy in zones 9 to 11 , but nurseryman in other areas can dig up the plant life ’s tubers and overwinter them in a place that stay above stop dead . Its lemony scent and vivacious color palette convey tropic vibration to anyporch , patio , or thousand .

7. German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

With daisy - similar flowers and an herbal scent , German chamomileadds a dainty element to any garden — and it provides a supply of homemade afternoon tea to iron heel . To ensure many steaming cuppa , grow the chamomile in well - draining soil with plenitude of sunshine , though it can tolerate a bit of ghost . This plant is fearless in zones 5 through 8 , but reseeds generously , so it might experience like a perennial in other zone .

8. ‘Baby Moon’ Daffodil (Narcissus ‘Baby Moon’)

Considered a miniature Narcissus pseudonarcissus because of its little size , Baby Moonis perhaps the most fragrant plant in the Narcissus pseudonarcissus kinfolk . The plant life is hardy in zone 4 to 9 and its golden - yellow flowers convey a sunny touch to any garden or container . notice that this plant life is toxic to people , sawbuck , and pets .

9. Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)

Grow this South American flush , and you ’ll enjoy a time of year of exotic fragrancy . The odour has been compared to everything from gardenias to vanilla extract to butter popcorn . Tuberoseis hardy in zona 7 through 10 , and gardener in other areas can dig up the rootstalk to overwinter them . Clusters of fragrant white flowers burst from husk as magniloquent as 4 feet .

10. Freesia (Freesia spp.)

Though freesia is uncommitted in multiple form and colors , every flower partake in a cheerily sweet aroma . That ’s why you ’ll findfreesia - fragrant soaps , perfumes , perfumed oils , and lotion . Native to southern Africa , the plant is audacious in zone 9 and 10 ; gardeners in other regions can establish the corms ( sort of like a bulb ) in early spring after danger of frost has run .

11. Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens)

Heliotrope ’s classifiable cherry and vanilla extract scent earned it the sobriquet “ cherry Proto-Indo European plant . ” Gardeners will bask the bush ’s attractive , dark - green foliage and large cluster of tiny white or purple - hued buds that bloom in the summer . The plant is sturdy in zones 9 to 11 ; gardeners in other areas often growheliotropeas an annual . Cherry Proto-Indo European plant is heat- and drought - kind , and deer do not nettle it .

12. Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata)

aboriginal to the southwest regions of the United States and to Mexico , this daisy - like prime ( also known as Lyreleaf Greeneyes ) radiates a intoxicating drinking chocolate sense of smell and is hardy as far north as zone 4 or 5 . You ’ll probably notice the aroma mid - morning , before the afternoonsunlightcauses the petals to shut up . The drouth - tolerantchocolate flowerplant can grow to be 2 feet magniloquent by 2 feet wide .

13. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

If you ’re look for a vigorous vine that scrambles quickly up fences and Wiley Post , considerstar jasmine . In springtime , this climber burst into flower , exhibit delicate , star - shaped white flowers that perfume the entire 1000 with an absolutely delicious , perfumed odour . This Formosan native is dauntless in zones 7b to 10 . It does good in full Dominicus , but will tolerate some good afternoon shade when the atmospheric condition is hot .

14. Texas Mountain Laurel (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum)

Do n’t fret if you ’re not from Texas . Texas great deal laureldoes well in zona 7b to 10b , so you might be in luck even outside the Lone Star State . This slow - grow bush / modest tree is evergreen with glossy , leathery , dour unripened leaves . In springtime , its cascading cluster of majestic bloom springiness into action , releasing a scent that some line as standardized to grape Kool - Aid . But the fragrance is actually deeper and more sophisticated than any process - nutrient smell . Texas mountain laurel is drought - large-minded once established and is n’t too especial about dirt .

15. Honey Perfume Rose (Rosa ‘Honey Perfume’)

Roses , of course , are among the garden ’s most legendary sweetness manufacturer . TheHoney Perfumecultivar is especially coveted for its warm aromas of cloves , cinnamon , allspice tree , and nutmeg . display clusters of orangish - yellowed rippled blooms , this plant will do well in zone 5 to 9 , though , like many of us , it does n’t like very red-hot conditions . Plant it in full sun , in slightly acidic , well - draining and prolific soil and look it to grow to at least 3 feet tall and broad .

16. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

This bushy perennial is beloved the world over for its floral perfume . There are many subtypes of lavender , but in generallavenderlikes full Sunday and well - draining soil . Some lavenders — the English types , which are actually from the Mediterranean — can take temperature as broken as those experienced in zone 5 . Other type , native to other parts of the world , can survive only as low as zone 7.Lavenderforms just clod as tall as 3 foot , bearing tenacious columns of dainty purpleness , lavender , or pinkish aromatic flowers . The works ’s gray - gullible foliage is strike and redolent , too .

17. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

The fragrance ofsweet peamight bring to mind old - fashioned cottage garden . Some potpourri of this inedible plant are vining , while others are shaggy-coated . The plant ’s blank , pinkish , or purple flowers offer up an acute aroma that has been account as having distinction of hyacinth and rose , and they make a wonderful improver to nosegay . Most sweet peas are yearly , dying off after reseeding , but some cultivars can be perennial . Sweet peas like sun but not too much heat , and they need well - drain filth . They are heavy feeders , so provide plenty of plant food throughout the growing season .

18. Dwarf Desertpeony (Acourtia nana)

Desert dwellers of the Southwest , this one ’s for you . An Arizona aborigine , midget desertpeony mature to just 8 inches tall with frilly efflorescence in purple , pink , or white that produce a olfactory property interchangeable to that of jasmine or reddish blue . It can bloom from early spring through November . Its leaves are leathery and shaped like holly allow with spines . Unsurprisingly , this perennial likes lots of sun and dry grunge .

19. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Run your fingers along the needle - same leaves of rosemary and you will be rewarded with the patent scent that characterizes this fragrant shrub and the many delicious food for thought that are flavour with it . In cosmopolitan , rosemary is hardy to zone 7 , though some stale - tolerant assortment may do well in other zones . Growing to 5 foot marvelous and equally full , rosemarylikes full sun and is drought - tolerant , stimulate it a nice evergreen addition to a rock garden . It is n’t fussy about soil , as long as it enfeeble well .

20. Giant Hyssop (Agastache)

With numerousagastachetypes from which to pick out , you may find one that befit your garden perfectly . calculate on the variety you plant , your reward will be a essence reminiscent of anise seed , mint , lavender , or a combining of those . Growing to as grandiloquent as 6 foot , works produce foresightful flower husk — blue , purple , white , orange , or pinkish — that attract butterfly , bees , and hummingbird . This sun - get it on , drought - tolerant perennial is hardy in zones 4 to 10 . plant life giant hyssop in well - draining grease that is n’t too productive in constitutional thing .

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - ground secret plan out back — and take the right plants for your soil and region .

close shot of hummingbird near pineapple sage plant with small red flowers