18 fragrant flowers that will make your garden smell heavenly
A garden is not just about sight: there is great pleasure to be found in planting beautiful fragrant-rich flowers like lavender, roses, and climbing jasmine.
According to the RHS, scented plants are best grown in sheltered areas where the scent can be contained, such as at the front of raised flower beds, patio pots, or near windows where you can pick up their wafts in the breeze. Even on cloudy days, these varieties can bring a garden to life.
Other fragrant plants that will make your garden sing include honeysuckle, bearded Iris, and spring bulbs like hyacinths.
When choosing fragrant flowers, consider your personal fragrance preferences, such as sweet, citrusy and floral scents. Roses and lilies are classic examples of floral scents, while freesias have a fruity fragrance.
On that note, take a look at the best fragrant plants below, along with places to buy them:
Sweet Alyssum
Tiny blooms on this delicate annual beckon to pollinators. Sweet alyssum looks lovely cascading from containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets or tucked into a rock garden as a flowering ground cover.
Honeysuckle
This showy, vigorous perennial vine spills beautifully over a trellis or fence line, and pollinators love it. Look for the native or newer types, which are not invasive like Japanese honeysuckle.
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Rose
Every garden should have at least one rose bush. When selecting a plant, read the tags and look for those specifically stating that they're scented, as some types have been bred more for form than fragrance.
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Jasmine
Hardly and highly fragrant climbers, Jasmine blooms in summer or winter and produces clusters of beautiful flowers. Perfect for providing coverage on unsightly fences or brick walls.
Phlox
Phlox comes in shades of pink, white, salmon, purple, and red. Plant as part of a mixed border or in large swaths for impact. Many types self-seed, so they'll come back on their own next year. Give them plenty of air circulation so they won't get powdery mildew.
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Bearded Iris
The distinct flowers sit atop a tall stem and have an unmistakable bloom that looks like cascading petals. Each flower has a sweet and musk-like scent.
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Hyacinth
This pretty perennial plant is an excellent choice for beds, borders, or even potted indoors. The abundant, fragrant flowers bloom in spring and last for about two weeks, and because they are so large, they may require support to avoid flopping.
Lily
This pretty and fragrant blossom is also known by its botanical name — Lilium. The sweetly scented trumpet-like flowers with six petals is native to North America, Europe, and Asia and includes over 100 species.
Azalea
These classic ornamental flowers are prized for their dazzling blossoms. Available in both evergreen and deciduous varieties, they provide colourful flowers during spring and summer.
Flowering Crabapple
This spring-flowering tree boasts showy pink blossom, fragrant blooms, and stunning autumn foliage. It's an ideal choice for small gardens or those growing in pots.
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Lavender
Lavender blooms in a variety of pretty shades from deep violet to blue and white to pink hues that contrast with its green base. It's used to make potpourri, DIY crafts, and edible creations such as cookies and herbal tea.
"This hardy perennial thrives in various climates, tolerating both extreme cold and heat, making it ideal for any spring garden," says the team at British Garden Centers.
"With its fuss-free and fast-growing nature, lavender offers an easy-to-care-for option for gardeners, producing gorgeous displays that attract bees.
"Its resilience and stunning blooms make it perfect for any spring garden or container."
Peony
This shrubby perennial plant with glossy dark green foliage may require staking to keep its heavy blooms from drooping, but its lush, exuberant flowers are worth a bit of extra work. Don't plant too deep or they won't bloom.
Sweet Pea
A cottage garden classic, this annual climbing plant can grow up to eight feet with proper support on a trellis or wall. Its pretty pink and white heads are loved for their delicate floral and honey aroma.
Daffodils
If you're a fan of hardy perennials these cheery yellow flowers will put a smile on your face — year after year. There are at least 13 daffodil flower types and over 25,000 cultivars. Many of the flowers have a sweet floral scent.
Dianthus
Dianthus is a low-growing perennial with wonderfully fragrant blooms. It's often called "pinks" due to the fringed flower petals that appear to have been cut with pinking shears. Works well as edging or in containers.
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Matthiola (stocks)
This spicy and sweet-smelling annual in shades of pink, purple, and white thrives in cool temperatures, so plant it as soon as the weather breaks in spring. It makes beautiful bouquets, perfect for brightening your kitchen table.
Lilac
Lilac flowers are known for their sweetly scented blossoms and iconic pastel shades — ranging from purple to pink and white to cream. These hardy flowers grow best in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
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Koreanspice Viburnum
Viburnums are tough as nails, and these spring-blooming shrubs offer pretty pinkish-white flowers with a distinctive scent.
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