Blooms are great for adding visual interest to a landscape and attracting those all-important pollinators. When I’m planning my garden, I like to incorporate fragrant flowers and herbs. Not only are they beautiful, but they also entice us to spend more time in our outdoor spaces. I encourage you to place these fragrant plants in areas of the garden where you spend a lot of time, or grow them in containers on your deck, patio or porch. Here are 10 of my favorite varieties.
english lavender
This aromatic herb looks beautiful planted in a large swath, but it also grows well in containers. Lavender attracts butterflies and thrives in growing conditions with moist, cool winters and hot, dry summers. Well-drained soil and a full day’s sun also are essential for robust plants and plentiful blooms.
peonies
These are prized for their form, stunning range of colors and exceptional hardiness. Few other plants bloom so reliably year after year with such little care. Their large, glorious flowers add bright splashes of color, and their intoxicating fragrance makes them a wonderful cut flower—and they’re deer-resistant!
lemon balm
Part of the mint family, this herb has a lemon flavor that is great in teas and salads. Because of its seeds, it can quickly take over your garden if you’re not careful. To prevent that, remove the flowers as soon as you notice them.
lilac
This plant produces fragrant, lavender blooms. Lilacs bloom best when planted in full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil. Plants should be fed with a general fertilizer in early spring and again after the bloom cycle. To encourage blooms, substitute a general fertilizer with super phosphate, or one high in phosphorus, for early spring feeding.
champney’s pink cluster
A Noisette rose, the first class of American roses, its clusters of pale pink blossoms have an intoxicating scent. It can be trained to climb with the right support, and pruning will allow you to grow it as a shrub as well.
gardenia
Very few plants can top the sweet smell of gardenias! The gorgeous white blooms pop against their glossy, deep green foliage. Grow gardenias in a protected area that gets full sun to partial shade. The plant thrives in consistently moist, well-drained soil. Feed the plant with an all-purpose fertilizer in the spring before new growth starts.
honeysuckle
This will thrive in most conditions and is a perfect choice for attracting wildlife to the garden. It grows best in full sun but can take a bit of shade. Plant in well-drained soil amended with organic matter for best results.
tuberose
With good drainage and ample mulching, these Mexican exotics are prized for their tall sprays of pearly white, perfumed flowers. Plant them near a patio, deck or other living space to enjoy the spicy-sweet fragrance. Grow in organically rich, well-draining soil. Plant the rhizomes 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in spring after the threat of frost is past, and provide consistent moisture throughout the growing season.
catmint
At the peak of spring, these 30-inch tall plants are lush with gray-green, scented foliage and literally covered in spires of soft purple blooms. If you struggle with growing lavender in your garden, try Sixhills Giant as an alternative. Catmint does best in full sun, planted in soil that is moist but well-drained.
oriental lillies
These fragrant flowers are late summer bloomers that need to be planted in well-drained soil in full sun. Water moderately once they bloom. These lilies are super easy to care for, but a word of warning: Deer will love them too!
P. Allen Smith is an author, conservationist and TV host of Garden Home on PBS and Garden Style (check your local listings). He uses his Arkansas home, Moss Mountain Farm, to promote the local-food movement, organic gardening and the preservation of heritage poultry. For tours of the farm, visit pallensmith.com/tours.
