Top 10 Fragrant Plants to Add to Your Garden

When planning your garden’s annual performance, you take note of color, texture or shape, but the most overlooked player might be fragrance. This oft-forgotten character adds an unseen, but much appreciated, layer of enjoyment to your outdoor space. Strategically placed flowers or herbs will give you a reason to pause and enjoy your garden. Place them near seating areas where you will rest or near windows to perfume the air in your home with every breeze. But be warned, you can go overboard here. Some plants -- such as evening primrose, moonflower vine, angel’s trumpet and August lily — will “awaken” in the moonlight, so keep that in mind. And I’ve heard some homeowners complain of flowers being too fragrant, especially when they’re trying to sleep. Generally speaking, deciding which fragrances you prefer is a very personal decision, so to start you on the journey, here are 10 of my favorite fragrant flowers and herbs for the garden.

ENGLISH LAVENDER

I always visualize this aromatic herb in large, romantic garden swaths, but in reality, it grows best for me in containers. There are several species of lavender, with the most popular being English, Spanish, French and the lavandins. In my humid, mid-south garden, I have had the most success with a lavandin called ‘Provence.’ Lavender prefers moist, cool winters and hot, dry summers. A soil mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 topsoil and 1/3 compost works well, and if you place a few pieces of broken terra cotta in the bottom of the container before you add the soil, it will further improve the drainage.

PEONIES

They may seem old-fashioned, but the faithful peony has earned its lasting reputation. Prized for their form, stunning range of colors, and exceptional hardiness, few other plants, once established, bloom so reliably year after year with such little care. Their large, glorious flowers and their intoxicating fragrance make them a wonderful cut flower.

LEMON BALM

This herb lives in the mint family and has a lemon flavor with a hint of mint. It’s a practical choice, as it’s delightful in teas, on salads or even in bouquets. Keep it contained, though, because like mint, this herb can get out of hand and quickly overrun your garden. Unlike mint, the roots are not the problem here. It’s the seeds. The best course of action to prevent lemon balm from taking over the garden is to remove its flowers as soon as you notice them.

LILAC

This beautiful and delicate flowering plant has fragrant lavender blooms. It blooms best when planted in full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil. Plants should be fertilized with a general fertilizer in early spring and then again after the bloom cycle. To encourage blooms, substitute the general fertilizer with super phosphate, or a fertilizer high in phosphorous, for your early spring feeding.

NOISETTE ROSES

You will find this historic variety throughout the rose garden at Moss Mountain Farm, as they were the first class of American roses. I plant the Champneys’ Pink Cluster, and the clusters of pale pink blossoms have an intoxicating fragrance. Champneys’ Pink Cluster can be trained to climb with the right support. Pruning will allow you to grow it as a shrub as well.

MOCK ORANGE

Growing citrus trees can be a hassle, so adding mock orange to your garden is one of my favorite ways to get that wonderful citrus fragrance without having to care for fruit trees. While the name suggests something deceiving – especially with the absence of color on the petals – the scent is real, light and enchanting. For the best results, plant mock orange in full sun or partial shade, make sure the soil is moist and place in a well-drained area of your garden or yard.

HYACINTH

With a little love and patience, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous, fragrant hyacinth blooms in the spring. Many people grow them indoors by forcing the bulbs. To grow outdoors, plant the bulbs in early fall in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Growing hyacinths in containers is another option, and it gives you more control over the soil conditions.

GARDENIA

A favorite among the older generation, very few plants can top the sweet smell of gardenias! And those gorgeous white blooms pop against the glossy, deep green foliage. Grow gardenias in a protected area that gets full sun to part shade. The plant thrives in consistently moist, well-drained soil. Feed the plant in the spring before new growth starts using an all-purpose fertilizer.

HONEYSUCKLE

Nothing says spring in the south like honeysuckle. Its sweet, bright scent is always welcome, and it thrives along fences and gazebos. It’s not too picky about growing conditions and is a perfect choice for attracting wildlife to the garden. Honeysuckle grows best in full sun but can take a bit of shade. Plant in welldrained soil amended with organic matter for best results.

PINEAPPLE SAGE

A magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, pineapple sage is named for the pineapple scent of its foliage. The bold red blooms make an appearance in late summer/early fall. Grow pineapple sage in a sunny spot that has a bit of afternoon shade. Soil should be well drained, but the plant needs moisture to support it as it grows quickly. Once established, pineapple sage is drought tolerant.