The Scented Garden

No doubt you’re envisioning azaleas in the humid climates of the southeastern United States, but the Southwest is full of its own special scents...

Agastache rupestris
Item # 11825 		Agastache rupestris
Licorice Mint or Sunset Hyssop

each $8.29
3 to 6 $7.99
7 or more $7.79
Berlandiera lyrata
Item # 25390 		Berlandiera lyrata
Chocolate Flower

each $5.79
3 to 6 $5.59
7 or more $5.29
Phlox paniculata 'Laura'
Item # 77548 		Phlox paniculata 'Laura'
Laura Garden Phlox

Each $5.29
3 to 6 $4.99
7 or more $4.79
  • Topic: Fragrant Gardens
  • Author: Katherine O'Brien
  • Keywords: fragrant, fragrance, scented, Southwest, Perennials, gardens
  • Date: July 2005

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The scented garden. No doubt you’re envisioning azaleas in the warm humid climates of southeastern United States. Or masses of roses and lilies in the temperate Mediterranean climes. But Southwest is full of its own special scents. Besides the warm, pungent aroma of Sagebrush interspersed with the sweet smell of Pinon or Ponderosa Pine all kinds of perennials can add to the fragrance of a garden.

Large pots can also be planted for instant fragrance. Be sure to position flowers so they’ll absorb the day’s heat, which builds up fragrance which is then released come nightfall.

Perennials

Many perennial flowers known for their scents are:

  • Chocolate Flower, Lilies, Soapwort, Creeping Phlox
  • Garden Phlox, Hostas, Dianthus, Sweet Violets, Peonies
  • Candytuft, Wallflower, Four O’Clocks, Evening Primrose
  • Dame’s Violet, Forget-Me-Nots, Passion Flower, Bee Balm, Lupine

Annuals

Annual flowers that are particularly fragrant are:

  • Sweet Peas, Stock, Petunias, Dahlberg Daisies, Nicotiana
  • English Primrose, Dianthus, Miniature Carnations, Sweet Alyssum

Bulbs

Also, bulbs can be planted throughout the landscape for fragrance.

Some wonderfully scented bulbs include:

  • Narcissus, Hyacinths, Crocus, Snowdrops, Daylilies, Tulips, Iris

Fragrant Foliage

Many plants have foliage that greatly add significant fragrance to any garden. Some are:

  • Lavenders, Catmint, Rosemary, Russian Sage, Artemesias,
  • Santolina, Salvia, Lemon Verbena, scented Geraniums.

Groundcovers

Thyme makes a wonderful fragrant groundcover, and all culinary herbs are fragrant, especially upon being touched. Herbs planted in shrubs and flowerbeds become useful, hardy, and fragrant groundcovers.

Fragrant Trees

Catalpa and Linden trees, both reaching 40 feet, have intensely fragrant flowers that can permeate a whole garden. Other fragrant trees are the Amur Maple, Golden Chain Tree, and Purple Robe Locust and the lesser known, Yellowwood. The flowering crabapples and cherries also abound with fragrance. Fruit trees are usually not planted for their fragrance, but the light fragrance of their blooms herald the coming of spring like no other event

Fragrant shrubs

  • Winter Jasmine, Shrub Honeysuckle, Mock Orange, Currants
  • Western Sand Cherry, Witch Hazel, Curry Plant, Butterfly Bush

Lilacs

For guaranteed fragrance in the garden all summer long plant English Roses. Their inventor, David Austin, bred the line of roses with fragrance in mind, using old roses for fragrance and hybrid roses for their ever-blooming quality. The wonderful result is old fashioned, fragrant flowers that bloom all season. Another major rose breeder who valued fragrance was Griffith Buck, as indicated by the large number of his hardy shrub roses that are quite fragrant.

Roses

Also, many hybrid roses have wonderful fragrance:

  • Mister Lincoln, Double Delight, Angel Face, Iceberg
  • Chrysler Imperial, George Burns, Scentimental

Vines

  • Wisteria, Akebia, Chocolate Vine, Goldflame Honeysuckle, Clematis montana

Fragrance adds another dimension to the landscape. A garden may be pleasing to the eye, but an unexpected fragrance will enhance its value. Special fans of fragrant landscapes are people with limited eyesight and young children, with their wonder of all things natural.