Catching the fragrance of a well-placed plant on a sultry summer's eve is something to savour. And as the potency of flower scents can vary greatly, you might wish to consider the strength of a fragrance when deciding where to place a certain plant.
Think about placing plants with subtle fragrances close to your home and strongly perfumed varieties further away. For example you could place a patch of sweet peas nearby, but plant the heavily perfumed "star gazer" lily in a bed a distance away.
You should also be careful when planting more than one fragrant plant in the same area. Although many roses and shrubs have soft scents that mingle well, to be scent safe, plant different fragrances in separate areas. For instance, lilies and peonies would go on opposite sides of the house. At the same time, try to stagger bloom times so that each scent can be savoured individually and fragrance can be spread out throughout the season. It is also wise to take advantage of the prevailing wind pattern when setting out your plants.
The wonderful scents start in the early spring with hyacinths. The beautiful star magnolia introduces its scent just as hyacinths are departing the spring scene. Later in the spring the Korean spice viburnum begins blooming and shares its unique scent. As well as its spicy signature, it is lovely to look at late in the season, boasting red foliage and berries.
By late spring the lilies are blooming and shortly after they fade, peonies come into bloom. Peonies are such a treat because they come in so many colors and in scents that range from delicate to heavy. The blooms unfortunately are not long-lived, but when the show is over the foliage remains lush and attractive until late fall.
During the summer many of the fragrant, low-growing border plants like lavender and catmint emit refreshing aromas when you brush up against them. Roses and their nuances of fragrance are compatible so you might want to plant a shrub rose near a climber and enjoy double the flowers and fragrance. Don Juan, with its climbing habit, could fit the bill. Its deep red, repeating bloom has a classic rose scent. Or try some old-fashioned annual nicotiana with its distinctive fragrance and ability to sweeten up the summer air. And as the season progresses, butterfly bushes graciously offer us their lovely arching branches and subtle scent.
It is important to remember when dealing with fragrances that what appeals to one gardener is enough to send others running in the opposite direction. Our reactions to certain scents are based not simply on the chemicals involved but also on our memories and associations with those scents. You also might find that the scent someone else raves about may in fact be undetectable to your nose. And while some plants you can detect from a distance, others require you to get up close and personal before you recognize their fragrance.
Keep in mind when purchasing plants that when it comes to scents, herbs such as thyme, sage and lemon balm only release their scents in a strong fashion when you rub them or crush their leaves.
Garden Tip: Verbena (Verbena hybrida) is a lovely annual that comes in many wonderful colors. If you have some blank spots in the garden or need a touch of color, add some verbena. It requires very little care and blooms all summer long in sun or light shade.
