Fragrant Flowers and Herbs For A Garden That Smells Good

By Ashleigh Smith

Around this time of year, you have likely planted most of your vegetable garden and flower beds. The good news is, that most people still have room to add a plant or two. Today we wanted to help you elevate your garden with the power of scent. Scent is a key part of designing an amazing garden, but it is often ignored. Gardens are meant to appease all five senses: sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste.

Visually you create a balance of colors, textures, shapes, etc. Sound is created from the rustling of leaves and the songs of birds. Touch is satisfied by the ability to feel a plant's texture and the temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight experienced while in the garden. Taste can be a fun experience as you include edible plants throughout your design to nibble on as you enjoy your creations. Scent is something you have to plan for. An aroma will be there no matter what, but you can actually plan for the scent to be a showstopper alongside the sight of your garden.

Beautiful Plants For a Show Stopping Aroma:

• Hyacinth
• Magnolia
• Gardenia
• Wisteria
• Freesia
• Sweet Alyssum
• Honeysuckle
• Rose
• Phlox
• Butterfly Bush
• Flowering Crabapple
• Peony
• Dianthus
• Stock
• Korean spice Viburnum
• Jasmine
• Plumeria
• Flowering Tobacco
• Mock Orange
• Sweet Pea
• Bearded Iris
• Moonflower

Herbs For An Attractive Smell and Fewer Pests:

• Lavender
• Mint
• German Chamomile
• Cat Mint
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Thyme
• Lemon Thyme
• Bee Balm
• Sweet Marjoram
• Sage
• Lemon grass

Fragrant plants are not only for your smelling pleasure, they can actually help control pests throughout your garden as well. The plants that should be used for your garden will depend on the garden layout and how your space is used.

Walkways will lend themselves well to low, creeping plants that emit a pleasant aroma when stepped on. Other areas that are used as social spaces will be better suited for flowers or herbs. You will also want to pay attention to areas that experience pest problems.

Many pests dislike the aroma of smelly plants. Using this habit to your advantage you can reduce pest issues and insecticide use throughout your garden. Oftentimes shady areas are prone to see problems with pests attacking your plants. In these areas focus on adding herbs as many of them tend to do well in partial light areas.