Fragrant Plants at Suncrest Nurseries Most gardeners are already accustomed to a long list of fringe benefits offered by the plants they grow, many of them learned only through close acquaintance. Things like blazing fall leaf color, a long flowering season, and attractiveness to butterflies and other wildlife may be barely mentioned on plant labels or in other commercial sources of information. Fragrance, whether of flowers, foliage or even stems and roots, is often a welcome bonus in plants grown for some other purpose, like filling a perennial border or covering a bank. Fragrance connects a plant to its surroundings in many different ways, often not those we perceive as gardeners. Floral fragrances, above all, attract pollinators and thus promote reproduction. Aromatic fruits invite animals to a meal, giving the seeds they contain a ride to some other location. The smells we find attractive in leaves and stems, however, quite often have the opposite effect on browsing animals, convincing them to look for a meal elsewhere and protecting the main body of the plant. Types of Fragrances We humans have a wonderful ability to discriminate among different smells, and often to remember them long afterward. The problem comes in trying to describe an interesting smell to someone else. Here we may find that our language lacks the richness of our own perception. We have tried, in the plant descriptions that follow, to describe each fragrance using a few simple, key words. "Sweet" is simple enough, but many flowers (and some leaves) have much more complex elements. Those we have described as "heavy" are best typefied by the gardenia–a rich, perhaps slightly musky fragrance that permeates the air. "Bitter" should be familiar to everyone, and plants like the artemisias with this feature also tend to taste even more bitter than they smell. "Spicy" brings in familiar elements like cinnamon, cloves and ginger. For "herbal", think of thyme and oregano. We often use "sagey", with the kitchen sage in mind, but many sages (Salvia) also have several other elements, pleasant and otherwise. Sometimes we have simply thrown up our hands and retreated to a catch-all phrase, "complex". Fragrances of all descriptions may be faint or strong, and those described below as "pungent" have a piercing quality that can be almost overwhelming at close range. However we try to describe plant fragrances with words, the actual experience of living with, touching and sniffing fragrant plants in the garden is thoroughly delightful. Growing Fragrant Plants This group encompasses an impossibly broad range of geographical origins and habitats, from the wet tropics to temperate plains and even desert mountains, forest understory to bare rock scree. Thus it is futile to try to offer any general comments on culture for the group as a whole. Simply choose them according to both fragrance and other plant features you want for your garden, and let the climatic tolerances, soil requirements and irrigation needs shown below provide a rough guide to the kinds you can actually grow. Fragrant Plants at Suncrest The Suncrest horticultural staff only occasionally pursues a plant specifically for its fragrance, yet the presence of fragrant plants around the nursery makes life much more enjoyable for all of us who work here. We are pleased to share this experience with gardeners around the state. The entries that follow give a capsule description of the ornamental features of each plant, specify the fragrant plant parts and attempt to describe their particular fragrance. You will also find cultural requirements and tolerances and estimated hardiness for each plant. We hope that you enjoy the special charms of each plant as we have. A Palette of Fragrance Acorus gramineus 'Licorice' Sweet flag Evergreen perennial Size: 6" Fragrance: Mild Licorice Fragrant Parts: Leaves Most soils Moderate watering Sun/shade Hardy to 0 deg. or less Clumps of green shiny leaves are sweetly aromatic. Makes a great, durable groundcover for shady spots. Adenandra fragrans Evergreen shrub Size: 3' Fragrance: Sweet, Mild Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 25-30 deg.F. Charming South African carries bright starry pink flowers in spring and summer, as well as scattered bloom at other times. Protect from hard frost. Agastache aurantiaca Orange hummingbird mint Evergreen perennial Size: 2' Fragrance: Sim. Pennyroyal, Spicy Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 10 deg. or less Aromatic leaves stay low; spikes of bright soft orange flowers appear in spring and summer. Attracts hummingbirds. Moderate water brings repeat bloom. Agastache 'Blue Fortune' Anise hyssop Deciduous perennial Size: 2' Fragrance: Anise Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 0 deg. or less Erect stems to 2', new growth flushed purple. Tight terminal heads of lavender blue flowers in summer. Agastache 'Burning Bright' Deciduous perennial Size: 2-3' Fragrance: Spicy Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. Slender stems carry clusters of bright red orange flowers in spring and summer. Attractive to hummingbirds. A. rupestris hybrid/SCN intro. Agastache cana Mosquito plant Evergreen perennial Size: To 2' Fragrance: Sweet, Fruity Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. To 2', branching flowering stems. Clusters of 1" very dark pink flowers bloom summer-fall. Aromatic minty fragrance to leaves. Agastache 'Electra' PPAF Evergreen perennial Size: 2' Fragrance: Spicy, sim. Pennyroyal Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. Green, spicy scented leaves stay low; masses of vivid orange flowers appear on erect spikes in spring and summer. Attractive to hummingbirds. Agastache mexicana 'Sangria' Evergreen perennial Size: 4'+ Fragrance: Spicy Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15 deg. or less Tall stems bear clusters of bright rose pink flowers in summer and fall. Long bloom with moderate watering. Attractive to hummingbirds. Agastache 'Rose Flash' Evergreen perennial Size: 3-4'+ Fragrance: Spicy Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. Tall wandlike stems bear cerise flowers in clusters in summer. Aromatic leaves. Attractive to hummingbirds and sphinx moths. Agastache 'Rosy Giant' Evergreen perennial Size: 5'+ Fragrance: Spicy/Lemony Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. Aromatic leaves stay low; strong stems to 5'+ carry full clusters of rosy pink flowers that are orange in bud. Attractive to hummingbirds. Agastache 'Ruby Spires' TM Hummingbird mint Deciduous perennial Size: 3-4'+ Fragrance: Spicy/Lemony Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. Rich carmine flowers emerge from ruby red buds on this summer blooming perennial. Spicy leaf fragrance. Agastache cana hybrid intro from Suncrest. Agastache rugosa 'Golden Jubilee' Anise hyssop Deciduous perennial Size: To 2'+ Fragrance: Anise, Medicinal Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 10 deg. or less Erect stems with aromatic golden leaves produce dense spires of blue purple flowers in summer. Agastache rugosa 'Heronswood Mist' Anise hyssop Deciduous perennial Size: To 3' Fragrance: Anise, Medicinal Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 10 deg. or less Dark green aromatic leaves have purple flush; growth is stiffly erect. Dense spikes of vivid blue purple flowers appear all summer. Agastache 'Salmon Sparkle' Evergreen perennial Size: 2' Fragrance: Spicy Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. Soft orange flowers appear in profusion on this agastache selection. Flowers in summer, attractive to hummingbirds. Agastache 'Shimmering Clouds' Evergreen perennial Size: 2' Fragrance: Spicy, Odd Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15-20 deg.F. Bushy, to 2'; fragrant leaves. Erect stems carry masses of copper buds that open to deep pink fls. Attractive to hummingbirds. Agastache 'Summer Sparkle' Hummingbird mint Evergreen perennial Size: 4-5' Fragrance: Spicy/Hint of Licorice Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15 deg. or less Bright rose pink flowers over aromatic leaves in summer. Flowers attract hummingbirds. Agastache 'Vivid' Hummingbird mint Evergreen perennial Size: 3' Fragrance: Spicy Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15 deg. or less Low aromatic leaves are dark green; rose purple flowers on 3' stems are bright and abundant. Attractive to hummingbirds. Agastache 'Wildfire' Evergreen perennial Size: 2-3' Fragrance: Sagey/Spicy Fragrant Parts: Leaves Well-drained soil Moderate watering Full sun Hardy to 15 deg. or less Mint-scented leaves stay low; flower stems rise to 3' and carry many bright coral red flowers in summer. Akebia quinata 'Alba' Five-leaf akebia V i n e Size: To 10'+ Fragrance: Sweet, Rich Fragrant Parts: Flowers Most soils Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 0 deg. or less Semi-evergreen vine. 5-parted leaves, fragrant white flowers in late spring. Dainty appearance. Akebia quinata 'Rosea' Five-leaf akebia V i n e Size: 10' + Fragrance: Sweet, Rich Fragrant Parts: Flowers Most soils Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 0 deg. or less Dainty appearing pink flowers in clusters, bloom in spring with emerging new leaves. Like Wisteria, growing to great age and making thick ropy stems. Albuca humilis Bulbous perennial Size: 18" Fragrance: Spicy-sweet Fragrant Parts: Flowers Well-drained soil Moderate watering Sun or light shade Hardy to 20-25 deg.F. Shiny green leaves on clumping perennial; quite fragrant, upfacing white bells striped green appear on short spikes in summer.