Thursday, April 3, 2014

Best Scents Under the Sun

No, this post isn't about perfume, although I do love scent in a bottle.

But I also love fragrant flowers. I mean, that's half the enjoyment of growing them, isn't it?

That doesn't mean every plant I introduce into my landscape must have a wonderful scent, but it's close to the truth.

Some plants were chosen for their form and structures -- trees and shrubbery; the bones of the garden. I also add a few non fragrant flowers for summer color or novelty.

But I'm mostly interested in flowers that smell good, really good. Here are some, in no particular order, that I consider to be winners in fragrance. 

Lily of the Valley

Daffodils
This is only one variety I have.
Oops, think I captured one of the dogs in the background!

An old-fashioned variety of daffodil - one of my favorites.

Oriental Lilies


Night Blooming Cereus
Read more here

Moonflower
Read more here

Roses
Read the story about my New Dawn Rose (pictured above) here

New Dawn cluster


Datura

Magnolia

Gardenia


Carolina Jessamine
Read more here



Winter Honeysuckle
More here

I'm sure I've left some out, but these are very fragrant plants, worthy of your time if you are interested in planting a Fragrant Garden.

What have I missed? What would you add to the above list?







20 comments:

  1. I really love to see pictures of all your lovely white flowers Sanda, and can only imagine the scent. Since my first actual sighting of lily-of-the-valley last year, they are my favourites. The pink roses are to die for. Thank you for sharing the beauty.

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    1. White flowers are a big favorite. The lily-of-the-valley is so perfect in form and the scent is so nice. I've heard it is poisonous. The pink New Dawn has a subtle fragrance -- no as strong as some roses -- but I love its sweet scent.

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  2. I'd add pink jasmine to the list. It grows prolifically here throughout the year and I love the scent. If I could choose one plant from the ones you show it would be gardenia. They don't seem to do well in our yard.

    Darla

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    1. Ah, jasmines are among the most fragrant plants so thanks for adding it to my list. Gardenias are a big favorite of mine as well. The cold winter was devastating to mine. All leaves are dead but the experts say they may put out yet, but I'm still waiting......

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  3. thx for the pictures! beautiful! i have so little room i can't grow much. i use herbs in pots for scent on the patio, and that works well.

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    1. Very nice scents with the herbs indeed, plus the added bonus of having them to cook with.

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  4. Two others with scents are,Viburnum Bodnantense 'dawn',and the Balsam popular which smells heavenly after a rain fall,used these two in a garden for the blind.
    Sanda, you never fail to offer us interesting posts,sincerely meant.Off to catch up on the rest.

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    1. Most of the viburnums are intensely fragrant and I'm sorry I forgot to add it to my list. I have a Korean Spice viburnum and love, love it. In fact, it's blooming right now. I've read about fragrant gardens created for the blind. How nice is that?

      Thanks for your kind words, Judith!

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  5. Hello Sanda

    The gardinia warms my heart just the very sight of it has my heart fluttering.
    I have planted two trees and am praying for good blossoms.
    I love this post and your selection
    Helen xx

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    1. Helen, thanks. Wishing you good luck with your gardenias! Their scent is among the best! They take some babying at times but are so worth it. Thanks for stopping by during your busy days.

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  6. Can't say I've never smelled a daffodil before...it's generally too wet to smell anything over here! I do love roses but lilies are sometimes too strong - Bill won't have them in the house. I enjoyed allysum (white) several years in my front garden; several people mentioned how lovely it smelled as they approached my front door.

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    1. The scent of daffodils is subtle, and not all daffodils are equally fragrant. I suppose I love their scent so much because they are among the earliest bloomers where I live. It's funny about allysum and me: I don't seem to have good luck growing it. I usually buy a few each year but they seem to wither away.

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  7. I just love the scent of Lily of the Valley - can't think of any flowers you've missed. Orange Blossoms are pretty nice too.

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    1. I once walked near an orange tree orchard while the trees were in bloom and the scent was divine. I used to have a few ornamental orange trees in pots in the conservatory and when they bloomed in late winter the scent was great.

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  8. Heh, we too have Lily of the Valleys. The scent is sweet, but used in perfume, not at all.
    Liking all the white flowers myself too!

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    1. Yes, I know that you, too, are fond of white flowers. I think Lily of the Valley is so perfectly formed.

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  9. Think I would add mock orange. What a wonderful scent. And flowerirng box. And scented geranium... oh, so many really!

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    1. That is a nice addition. So fresh and clean smelling to me. Now I'm not sure I'm at all familiar with flowering box, but I do like the scent of the American Boxwood and English Boxwood shrubs; not a sweet scent, hard to describe, but nice. Perhaps flowing box is similar?

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  10. Love all the ones you mentioned and the pix are great. Korean spice is wonderful but a shame it doesn't last longer. As much as we needed the rain, it destroyed mine but a few blooms remain and smell it every time I go outside. Scents are one of the good things in life.....As well as bad

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    Replies
    1. The spring air abounds with the small of spring right now. My carolina jessamine is coming into bloom and its a real pleasure to stick my head outside, even in the rain!

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