Top 50 Scented Plants
A selection of the most divinely scented flowers and aromatic herbs to create a horticultural feast for the senses
List Curated by Thomas McBride From research data collected and collated at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
NB: Butterflies and Moths are not studied at the NBGW so any data on nectar plants beneficial for them is taken from Butterfly Conservation Creating a Scented Garden Smells evoke more than words or pictures ever can in many instances, so creating a garden based around scent is a perfect way to encapsulate a specific mood or create a particular atmosphere. Scent is often found in plants that attract both dayflying and night-flying insects. It is used to attract pollinators without necessarily having to use bright colours; although many of the plants on this list are a feast for the eyes as well as smelling beautiful. This list includes a variety of scents from the highly perfumed flowers of honeysuckle and Daphne, to the sweet fragrance of roses and deeply aromatic leaves of lavender and curry plant. A scented garden will often have lots of shrubs and perhaps smaller borders than other garden styles so every plant is accessible as you walk around the garden. Traditional styles include those inspired by parterre gardens with small borders encased with box hedges; they themselves have a sweet smell. Other styles include archways with Wisteria or Laburnum hanging down, roses growing up and herbaceous planting below. There are endless possibilities so it is totally up to you! Choosing Plants for a Scented Garden It can be easy to go overboard when planting a lot of heady-scented flowers; resulting in a rather overpowering scent. If you have a large space, you may like to plan your garden as a journey through different scents. For a smaller garden, perhaps choose a handful of varying species, or, pick one theme of scent and try it throughout. Lemony, rose and sweet scents pair very well together and are often found blooming through the summer. Try Rosa gallica or Melissa officinalis together for this effect. Aromatic scents from herbs such as hyssop, rosemary and lavender also pair well for a more Mediterranean-scented garden. It is important to remember flowering season when choosing plants. Many spring flowers have a very light fragrance and so can be grown together for an overall effect. Try hyacinths, bluebells and lily-of-the-valley together for a burst of scent in mid-spring. In winter, daphne and witch-hazel are perfect to add a brightness to dull winter days – both in colour and in scent. In summer, many scented flowers are moth pollinated so will continue to release scent, or even increased in scent, during the evening and nighttime. If you have a patio and are likely to sit outside on a summer evening, try planting honeysuckle, evening primroses and jasmine. Pale coloured flowers such as these are often an indication of moth pollination For a more unique scented garden, some of the more unusual scents include clove pinks, bergamot, fennel and blackcurrant sage. There are far more scented plants than could be included in this list so always do further research before planting. Most highly scented flowers are good for pollinators so get planting! About the Author – characterising scents Hi, I’m Thomas, author of these pages and student here at the garden. I have synaesthesia which allows me to associate colours with words, letters, sounds and, most relevantly, scents or smells. It can sometimes be difficult to put into words just how a flower or plant smells, so, I find associating it with a spectrum of colour helps me to choose plants that work well together. Plants with the same colour smell pair well and certain colour combinations work well too. Hopefully this page might make some sense to you as well in how to select plants for your garden; some plants have multiple scent components and, therefore, multiple colours: Rosa sp. Chaenomeles sp. (Malus sp.) Helichrysum italicum Hedychium sp. Salvia microphylla Monarda sp. Lavandula sp. Paeonia sp. Pelargonium capitatum
(Eucalyptus sp.) Melissa officinalis (Pinus sp.) Ribes sanguineum (Aloysia citrodora) Syringa sp. (Prunus sp.) Buxus sp. Mentha spicata Dianthus sp. (Pelargonium tomentosum) Jasminum sp. Lonicera sp. Sambucus Thymus vulgaris Ribes odoratum Wisteria sp. nigra Rosmarinus officinalis Foeniculum vulgare Choisya sp. Laburnum sp. Rhododendron luteum Citrus x aurantium Elaeagnus sp. Hedera helix Origanum vulgare Artemisia sp. Hyacinthus orientalis Viburnum sp. Hamamelis sp. (Citrus x limon) Hyssopus officinalis Hyacinthoides non-scripta Daphne bholua Erica sp. Filipendula ulmaria Philadelphus sp. (Pelargonium citronellum) Anethum graveolens Convallaria majalis Deutzia gracilis (Calluna sp.) Chamaemelum nobile Map Maps depict the native area of the plant (in green) Guide to using these pages: They also show areas the plant is naturalised (in purple)
Latin Binomial All maps shown Name are derived from ‘Plants of the Common World Online’; English courtesy of Kew Name Gardens
Flowering Period Photograph (this is when it is good of the plant for pollinators!) in flower
Plant Family
Insect groups known to Growing habit favour the and mature size nectar of this of the plant plant
Useful knowledge or warnings about the plant RHS AGM cultivars of this species (or a related species occasionally) i Key to these Pages Warnings
Additional information on these garden plants
This plant would The flowers only be suitable for and/or leaves meadow-style have a Pleasant Plant tissue is highly planting scent toxic if ingested
The plant has edible parts that are Sap may cause irritation Plant is often used in commonly eaten or (Wash hands after touching traditional Herbal Remedies used in cooking or avoid touching)
ii Temperature RHS Hardiness Scale
Some of the plants listed in our Top 200 are not fully H1a - Above 15ºC hardy in all or some parts of the United Kingdom. H1b - Minimum 10ºC Plants without a thermometer symbol are fully hardy in the severest UK Winter; equating to H5 or hardier. H1c - Minimum 5ºC Plants with a coloured thermometer symbol are hardy to varying degrees as follows: H2 - Minimum 1ºC
H3 - Minimum -5ºC
H4 - Minimum -10ºC
H5 - Minimum -15ºC Almost Hardy Half-Hardy Not Frost Hardy Not Hardy (H4) (H3) (H2) (H1) iii Pollinators Our data on pollinators has been collected from studies spanning over a decade. Pollinator symbols appear when plants are proven to be good nectar (a) (b) plants for certain insects. It should be noted that all bee and hoverfly data is ours but lepidoptera data is taken from Butterfly Conservation.
Our data spans a wide range of different insect species. For simplicity, these species have been condensed into six easy icons to represent them: (c) (d) a) Honeybees c) Bumblebees e) Moths b) Hoverflies d) Butterflies f) Solitary Bees (Includes Moths)
(e) (f) iv Anethum graveolens Middle East Common Dill
‘Moulton’ Summer . ‘Annete’ ‘Hera’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
3ft Annual
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 1 Chaenomeles speciosa Chinese Quince
China
‘Geisha Girl’ Spring . ‘Moerloosei’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Stanze Bla 2 Chamaemelum nobile Mediterranean & The British Isles Common Camomile
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Melanie Shaw 3 Choisya x dewitteana Arizona Choisya arizonica Garden Mexican Orange Blossom Choisya arizonica x Choisya ternata
Choisya ternata Mexico
‘Aztec Pearl’ Late Spring & Early Autumn ‘White Dazzler’
Rutaceae Rue Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) D Brooker 4 Naturalised in the Citrus maxima Citrus x aurantium Mediterranean Bitter Orange, Seville Orange Citrus maxima x Citrus reticulata SE Asia East Asia
Citrus reticulata
None Late Spring - Midsummer
Rutaceae Rue Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) A Qiao * This plant should be kept under glass during the winter (cannot survive below -5’c night temperatures)5 Convallaria majalis Eurasia Lily-of-the-Valley
‘Fortin’s Giant’ Spring . -Species-
Asparagaceae Asparagus Family
1ft Bulbous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Todd Petit 6 Daphne bholua Nepalese Daphne
Asia
‘Gurkha’ Winter . ‘Jacqueline Postill’
Thymelaeaceae Daphne Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Timothy C E Paine 7 Deutzia gracilis Japanese Snow Flower
Japan
‘Nikko’ Mid Spring - Early Summer
Hydrangeaceae Hydrangea Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Dan Mullen 8 Dianthus caryophyllus Mediterranean Carnation, Clove Pink
Photograph of Cultivar from Flickr (CC) Lawrence Chernin
Many Cultivars Summer . Always Choose Single-flowering Cultivars
Caryophyllaceae Pink Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) H. Brisse 9 Elaeagnus angustifolia Eurasia Oleaster
‘Quicksilver’ Summer . (Not AGM)
Elaeagnaceae Oleaster Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andrey Zharkikh 10 Erica arborea Afro-Eurasia Tree Heather
*
var. alpina Spring . ‘Estrella Gold’
Ericaceae Heather Family
Medium Shrub
* This plant will not survive below -10’c night Photograph from Flickr (CC) Tim Waters temperatures, protect from very harsh winter11 nights Filipendula ulmaria Eurasia Meadowsweet
Related species: Filipendula rubra Midsummer ‘Venusta’ - Early Autumn
Rosaceae Rose Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph by Thomas McBride 12 Foeniculum vulgare Afro-Eurasia Common Fennel
‘Florence Fino’ Summer . ‘Florence Orion’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
5ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Katy Wrathall 13 Hamamelis mollis Chinese Witch-hazel
China
‘Jermyns Gold’ Mid Winter - Early Spring ‘Wisley Supreme’
Hamamelidaceae Witch-hazel Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Wendy Cutler 14 Hedera helix Europe European Ivy
Many AGM varieties Late Summer but none that flower - Late Autumn
Araliaceae Ivy Family
8ft Climber
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Stenzel 15 Hedychium x moorei Hedychium coccineum Hedychium gardnerianum Hardy Ginger-lily Hedychium coccineum x Hedychium gardnerianum (Probable)
SE Asia
‘Tara’ Late Summer - Mid Autumn
Zingiberaceae Ginger Family
6ft Perennial
* This plant will not survive below -10’c night temperatures, protect from very harsh winter nights Photograph from Flickr (CC) Esin Üstün 16 Helichrysum italicum Mediterranean Curry Plant
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
* Small Shrub
* Leaves may be used in cooking to impart flavour but, like bay leaves, should be discarded before consumption. Photograph from Flickr (CC) Keith Williamson 17 Hyacinthoides non-scripta Europe English Bluebell
None Spring .
Asparagaceae Asparagus Family
1ft Bulbous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter O’Connor 18 Hyacinthus orientalis Middle East Garden Hyacinth
* ‘Aida’‘Anna Marie’ Late Winter - Mid Spring ‘Gypsy Queen’
Asparagaceae Asparagus Family
1ft Bulbous
* This plant will not survive below -10’c night temperatures, protect bulbs from very harsh winter nights Photograph © Thomas McBride 19 Hyssopus officinalis Afro-Eurasia Herb Hyssop
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Subshrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Lotus Johnson 20 Jasminum officinale C. Asia Jasmine
‘Argentovariegatum’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Frojas’ ‘Inverleith’
Oleaceae Olive Family
10ft+ Climber
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Chupacabra Viranesque 21 Laburnum anagyroides Europe Golden Chain
L. anagyroides x L. alpinum Late Spring Laburnum x - Early Summer watereri ‘Vossii’
Fabaceae Legume Family
Medium Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 22 Lathyrus odoratus Italia Sweet Pea
‘Lipstick’ ‘Bristol’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Solway series’
Fabaceae Legume Family
6ft Climber Annual
Photograph by Thomas McBride * This plant, if sown early, should be sown inside during winter (cannot survive below -5’c night temperatures)23 Lavandula angustifolia Mediterranean English Lavender
‘Folgate’ ‘Hidcote’ Summer . ‘Miss Katherine’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Taylor 24 Lavandula stoechas Mediterranean French Lavender
‘Pretty Polly’ Late Spring - Late Summer ‘Willow Vale’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Robert Couse-Baker * This plant should be kept under glass during the winter (cannot survive below -5’c night temperatures)25 Lonicera etrusca Etruscan Honeysuckle
Mediterranean
‘Superba’ Early Summer - Early Autumn
Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family
10ft+ Climber
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Franz Xaver 26 Lonicera tragophylla Chinese Honeysuckle
China
- Species - Summer . Related Hybrid: ‘Mandarin’
Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family
10ft+ Climber
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Karl Nickless 27 Lupinus arboreus N. America Yellow Bush Lupin
- Species - Late Spring - Midsummer
Fabaceae Legume Family
Medium Shrub
* This plant will not survive below -10’c night temperatures, protect from very harsh winter nights Photograph from Flickr (CC) J. Maughn 28 Melissa officinalis Eurasia Lemon Balm
None Summer .
Lamiaceae Mint Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Gertjan van Noord 29 Mentha spicata Eurasia Spear Mint
None Early Summer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Radu Chibzii 30 Monarda didyma N. America Bergamot, Scarlet Bee Balm
‘Gardenview Scarlet’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Squaw’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Lotus Johnson 31 Oenothera biennis N. America Common Evening-Primrose
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Onagraceae Willowherb Family
5ft Biennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 32 Origanum majorana Anatolia Marjoram
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Subshrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Nick Wood 33 Paeonia lactiflora Chinese Paeony
East Asia
‘Bowl of Beauty’ Late Spring - Early Summer ‘Miss America’
Paeoniaceae Paeony Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 34 Paeonia officinalis Garden Paeony
Europe
‘Anemoniflora Rosea’ Late Spring - Early Summer ‘Coral Charm’ (Hybrid with P. peregrina) Paeoniaceae Paeony Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Mirek256 35 Pelargonium capitatum Rose Geranium
South Africa
‘Attar of Roses’ Summer .
Geraniaceae Cranesbill Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Arthur Chapman * This plant can only be grown outside during the summer (above 5’c night temperatures) 36 Philadelphus coronarius Anatolia Sweet Mock-orange
‘Aureus’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Variegatus’
Hydrangeaceae Hydrangea Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Stanze Bla 37 Rhododendron luteum Eurasia Yellow Azalea
- Species - Spring . (Possibly mildly invasive so AGM tentatively removed recently)
Ericaceae Heather Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Chrumps 38 Ribes odoratum N. America Scented Golden Currant
None Spring .
Grossulariaceae Currant Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph © Thomas McBride 39 Ribes sanguineum N. America Red-flowered Currant
‘Koja’ Mid Spring - Early Summer ‘Pokey’s Pink’
Grossulariaceae Currant Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andrew A Reding 40 Rosa x damascena Eurasia Persia Damask Rose Rosa gallica x Rosa moschata
Rosa Rosa gallica moschata
var. Summer . semperflorens
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) A Qiao 41 Rosa filipes Kiftsgate Rose
China
‘Kiftsgate’ Summer .
Rosaceae Rose Family
20ft+ Climber
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Pookerella 42 Rosa gallica Eurasia Rosa-mundi, French Rose
var. officinalis Summer . ‘Versicolor’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Tim Waters 43 Rosmarinus officinalis Mediterranean Rosemary Plant
‘Sissinghurst Blue’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Miss Jessop’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Amanda Slater 44 Salvia microphylla N. America Blackcurrant Sage
‘Cerro Potosi’ Midsummer - Mid Autumn ‘Hot Lips’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Linda de Volder 45 Sambucus nigra Eurasia Common Elder
f. laciniata Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Thundercloud’
Adoxaceae Moschatel Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 46 Syringa vulgaris Balkans Common Lilac Bush
‘Primrose’ ‘Vestale’ Mid Spring - Early Summer ‘Sensation’
Oleaceae Olive Family
Small Tree
Photograph © Thomas McBride 47 Thymus vulgaris Europe Common Thyme
‘Silver Queen’ Summer .
Lamiaceae Mint Family
1ft Trailing Subshrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) John Winder 48 C. Asia Viburnum East Asia Viburnum x bodnantense farreri Bodnant Viburnum Viburnum farreri x Viburnum grandiflorum
Viburnum grandiflorum
‘Charles Lamont’ Mid Autumn - Early Spring ‘Dawn’ ‘Deben’
Adoxaceae Moschatel Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Stenzel 49 Wisteria floribunda Japanese Wisteria
Japan
‘Domino’ ‘Rosea’ Summer . ‘Lawrence’
Fabaceae Legume Family
10ft+ Climber
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Forest & Kim Starr 50