If you’re looking to add some fragrant plants to the garden, check-out these 7 in today’s post. As there are many more; for example, the spring blooming bulb, Freesia, comes to mind, as do fragrant roses, lilies, lilacs, jasmine, honeysuckle and unsung ones like say Pittosporum tobira (flowers smell like orange blossoms in spring bloom) or Pittosporum eugenioides.
There are so many fragrant plants. Sometimes the wafting scent is delicious in the air, especially on a hot day. Other times, it’s the subtle squeeze of the leaves to awaken the aroma. Rarely do I take a walk or hike without plucking a small pinch of a fragrant plant part to enjoy as I walk. Here we go…
Luculia
Luculia is an incredibly fragrant, small flowering tree or shrub native to the Himalayan Mountain Region. Not for all gardens, but good along the coast in San Francisco and Santa Barbara where mild winters and cool summers prevail! Luculia is winter hardy to between 20 -30 degrees F., and prefers cool sun to light shade. The size is great for the small garden. Size is 8-12′ tall x 4-6′ wide. This plant is very attractive with long leaves; however, it’s primarily grown for its 8-inch wide, fragrant, pink flower heads that bloom from fall to winter. It is a semi-evergreen to evergreen and in its native habitat has been spotted growing to 20 feet tall. In general, Luculia is a fairly easy to grow tree/shrub; though it’s important to have good drainage as Phytopththora root rot can take this plant down. To keep Luculia from getting leggy, prune out old, spent flowers.
1. Luculia fragrance fall to winter
Luculia gratissima – San Francisco Botanical Gardens
Luculia gratissima
Luculia pinceana var. Pinceana – San Francisco Botanical Gardens
2. Privet fragrance spring to summer
Yummy fragrant Privet shrub/hedge, flowering with roses in spring and summer
3. Rhododendron fragrance in spring
Rhododendron fragrantissimum – The Latin name says it all!
Me + Rhododendron fragrantissimum
4. Brugsmansia fragrance summer to fall
Brugsmansia ‘Charles Grimaldi’ – ‘Charles Grimaldi is one of the most fragrant of the Angel’s Trumpet. Caution when planting with kids and pets as all plant parts are poisonous.
5. Choisyia fragrance late winter to spring
Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ – Mock orange
6. Nemesia fragrance spring to fall
Nemesia fruticans ‘Aromance Pink’ – This fragrant ground cover perennial with soft lilac pink w/yellow grows 10-18″ tall x 12-18″ wide. Wants sun to part sun. Water: moderate-dry and needs good drainage. USDA Zone: 8.
7. Daphne fragrance in winter
Variegated daphne in bloom with rosy-pink flower buds that open to white, sweetly fragrant flowers in winter +early spring.
Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ – Winter Daphne –
Conclusion
Any adjectives come to mind when thinking about fragrant flowers/plants? Here are a few of mine: citrucy, vanilla-ish, spicy, sweet, peppery, musky. Hope you are delighting in wonderful fragrance this summer!