Beautiful Gardens

Gardening appeals to all our senses. Textured foliage is pleasingly tactile, while water and nature provide the soundtrack. But scent can completely transform the experience of being outdoors. Plants with a distinctive scent help to attract beneficial insects, while fragrance can also boost your mood and support wellbeing. Many scientific studies have shown that scent enhances human emotion more than any other sense, and fragrance can be a powerful memory trigger. This is because scents are processed in an area of the brain which is also linked to emotion and memory. Fragrance usually comes from flowers – on shrubs, climbers, herbaceous perennials and even annuals – or the leaves of aromatic Mediterranean herbs. For most people, scents such as rose and lavender are very relaxing, while more heady fragrances, such as jasmine, cloves or mint, can feel exciting or energising. So, if you want your garden or patio to truly make you feel good, grow plenty of scented plants that flower in different seasons.

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Clusters of tiny pink flowers produce an intoxicating scent in early spring.

Prefers dappled shade.

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Compact and highly scented, this dwarf rhododendron is happy in sun or shade where its gleaming white flowers herald the start of spring.

A compact azalea with pretty two-tone flowers, colourful autumn foliage and a very powerful scent.

A petite variety of the classic English lavender, with scented leaves and aromatic flower spikes.

H: 50cm;

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With the feathery ‘ruffles’ typical of French lavender, the familiar fragrance from the flowers and leaves can help you relax or sleep

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Clusters of deliciously scented peachy-pink flowers make this relatively compact azalea a lovely addition to a mixed border in dappled shade.

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June

The dainty snow-white flowers bloom all summer long, releasing a clove-like fragrance when planted in a sunny pot or border.

H: 30cm; Jun-Sept

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Trachelospermum jasminoides (AGM*)

Although the flowers look similar to jasmine, this climber keeps its glossy leaves all year round and has an intoxicating scent.

H: 8-12m; Jun-Sept

Lonicera

A vigorous honeysuckle, with an exceptional fragrance, creamy-yellow summer blooms, and small red berries in autumn.

H: 4-8m; Jun-Sept

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Rose ‘The Countess of Wessex’

A modern shrub rose from expert grower Peter Beales, the elegant layered blooms are highly scented. Ideal for pots or borders

H: 1.2m; Jun-Nov