Sweet Summer Scents

Scented plants are such a bonus in the garden, with the added benefit that they are attractive to bees and butterflies. Although foliage is the most important factor in maintaining the colour throughout the summer months, nothing can take the place of the sweet scent of summer flowers.

Enhance your outdoor space by including a few of these plants, known for their wonderfully scented blooms. And remember, the surest way to find the best-smelling flowers you can grow in your garden, is to follow your nose!

1. TRACHELOSPERMUM JASMINOIDES (STAR JASMINE)

Trachelospermum jasminoides is a neat evergreen climber that loves being trained against walls and over arches. The jasmine-like flowers start out white and fade to cream, with glossy, dark green foliage that blushes bronze and red in the colder months. Despite being similar to jasmine in appearance and name, it has a very different fragrance – rich, sweet, and similar to vanilla. They release their scent prolifically in the evening.

2. DOUBLE DELIGHT ROSE

Double the pleasure, double the fragrance! The large, strongly fragrant red and white/cream flowers have a high-centered bloom form and appear continuously throughout the season. As a double, they have a diameter of more than 10 cm and up to 30 petals. The flowers have a strong, sweet scent. It is ideal for a front yard along the fence, where people can stop and quite literally 'smell the roses'.

3. PRINCESS CHARLENE DE MONACO ROSE

The scent and colour of this rose is enough to melt your heart. The Princess Charlene de Monaco Rose has ruffled petals that are an apricot to shell-pink colour and produce an exquisite sweet perfume smell, making it well-deserving of it's 'Princess' title. Opening from large buds, they are closely packed with 66-71 petals and exude a lovely sweet and fruity fragrance.

Cape Jasmine

4. ROSMARINUS GINGER (GINGER ROSEMARY)

Rosemary is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. The leaves of the Rosemary plant are extremely aromatic and can be finely chopped and used to flavour a variety of dishes. A distinctive ginger taste and smell makes it an exciting taste for the cook, and a cup of ginger Rosemary tea is becoming a favourite refresher for those hot busy days.

5. GARDENIA JASMINOIDES (CAPE JASMINE)

Gardenias, or Gardenia jasminoides, are a tropical evergreen that grow thick, lustrous, dark green leaves and beautiful white-petaled flowers. Each flower puts off a wonderful scent. They are capable of changing scents throughout the day. During an evening stroll through a Gardenia-filled garden, you will get a spicy, zesty scent with green undertones. Overall, the Gardenia flower also gives off a creaminess reminiscent of coconut and even a fuzzy peach skin.

With these suggestions, you will soon have a garden that pleases all senses and rewards the gardener like never before.

Malanseuns

www.malanseuns.co.za

@malanseuns