When you walk into a garden, you can be awestruck by the sheer beauty - but close your eyes, listen to the sounds and take a deep breath.
We live in a world surrounded by visual stimuli, but scent can be intoxicating and take your enjoyment to a whole new level.
We expect roses to be both beautiful and fragrant; Carnations (Dianthus) have their wonderful clove scent; Oriental lilies have that intoxicating sweet perfume and Lilacs have a lovely fragrance that often recalls childhood memories - but there are always more pleasant surprises in the garden.
Most Iris are stunning to behold but few are fragrant. The Iris pallida ’Variegata’ (Zebra or Sweet Iris) (24”) has variegated foliage and is native to northern Italy and eastern Mediterranean. This tall bearded iris has gorgeous lavender-blue flowers that emit the sweetest perfume. Great for the perennial border or rock garden and loves full sun and good drainage. The hummingbirds are drawn to it but the rabbit and deer will leave it alone.
Most people know Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) for their vibrant colors and their charming blooms that resemble a roaring dragon’s mouth when squeezed, but do you know many varieties smell like bubblegum, especially varieties like ’Madame Butterfly and Rocket Mix‘. They also attract many pollinators and add an old fashioned charm to beds and borders.
The annual Stocks (Matthiola) smell like peppermint and are a great accent for containers for the early summer. A lesser known variety is Evening Scented Stock (Matthiola longipetala) which is an old fashioned annual that gives off a fragrance that is a mix of vanilla, rose and spice. The plant is not much to look at with thin leaves and small insignificant lilac flowers but the scent is outstanding, reaching its peak fragrance at twilight. Tuck it in containers and around the garden amongst other flowers and have everyone guessing where that perfume is coming from. (Zone 8)
The rare and unusual (Cosmos atrosanguineus) Chocolate Cosmos (18-24”) has lovely velvet-like maroon flowers that smell like dark chocolate. It is often considered a tender perennial at Zone 7-9, but can be wintered over or brought in: when the sun warms up the petals they smell like rich dark chocolate. A must for all you chocolate lovers!
For an annual climber, try Sweetpeas ‘Royal Family Mix’ on your trellis. It’s perfect as a cut flower, or as a privacy screen and the perfume is amazing.
(Mentha requiem) Coriscan mint (½ -1”) is a low growing, dense ground cover with tiny emerald green leaves that are mint scented. It’s perfect for in between paving stones or the rock garden. This native of Corsica is a vigorous grower that prefers partial shade and average well drained soil. It can handle light traffic and is perfect to walk on with bare feet or rub lightly with your fingers to release that clean fresh mint scent.
When planning your garden, don’t forget to include plants with fragrance. It brings a whole new level of enjoyment to your outdoor oasis. Happy Gardening!
