Learn about 10 of my favorite fragrant plants for the garden. This list includes shrubs and perennials. All are easy to grow and you'll love being able to bring these lovely fragrant flowers into your home.
It's planting time and when I go to the nursery I love to buy beautiful plants but also love it when they are fragrant too. So today I'm sharing some wonderful shrubs and perennials that are growing in my garden that are not only beautiful but produce fragrant flowers as well.
I'll tell you a little bit about why I like them, and some basic facts about their cold hardiness zone, size, and bloom time so that you can see if they are some that you will want for yourself.
This list is only shrubs and perennials because they are the workhorse plants that come back every year. However, if you want a fragrant container on your porch a few annuals may be needed. A few good choices for scented annual plants are Sweet Alyssum, Flowering Tobacco, Heliotrope, and Gardenia.
10 Scented Plants for the Garden
Fragrant Shrubs
Koreanspice Viburnum
Zone: 4 - 7
Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade
Size: 4 - 6 ft tall --- 4 to 7 ft wide
Blooms: March - April
This beautiful viburnum was here when we bought this house 13 years ago. I believe it was probably planted by the builder in the mid-'80s when the house was built, because it is huge, running right into a large magnolia tree. The blooms on this one are so fragrant that you can smell them from quite a distance. Beware, a large bouquet brought into the home might be a little too much.
Mock Orange
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade
Size: 4 - 6 ft tall --- 4 to 6 ft wide
Blooms May - June
I adore the smell of this mock orange. I planted it a few years ago and admit that I have had some trouble getting a lot of blooms every year, but when it does watch out. The scent is heavenly.
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Fothergilla
Zone: 4 - 8
Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade
Size: 6 - 10 ft tall --- 5 to 9 ft wide
Blooms: April - May
This pretty shrub has a subtle honey-like scent. I like the different texture it gives the landscape and the leaves have beautiful fall color. Fothergilla major is also on my top 5 easy to grow shrubs list.
Lilac
Zone 3 - 7
Full Sun
8 - 15 ft tall --- 6 to 12 ft wide
Blooms April - May
The lilac needs no introduction, however, I had to add it to the list because, for me, there is nothing like the scent of lilacs in spring. Roses smell wonderful, but you can purchase rose essential oil. Lilac oil can only be made synthetically, making their original fragrance more special.
Abelia
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade
Size: 3 - 6 ft tall --- 3 to 6 ft wide
Blooms: May
This is another beautiful shrub that I planted several years ago. Suggested by a trusted nursery owner, Abelia has clusters of blossoms with a nice honeysuckle aroma without the invasive nature of the honeysuckle vine. It can get a little rangy and needs to be pruned every year to keep it looking nice and promote flowering. Abelia blooms on new growth so it is a good idea to get out and prune it back in late winter before new growth begins.
Fragrant Perennials
Peony - 'Dr. Alexander Fleming'
Zone: 3 - 8
Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade
Size: 2 - 3 ft tall - 2 to 3 ft wide
Blooms: May - June
Peonies are another plant known for their fragrance. Not all of them are fragrant, however, this variety, Dr. Alexander Fleming, is almost as fragrant as it is beautiful. They don't bloom for a long time, usually late spring through early summer. However, did you know that you can pick some of the flowers in bud, and keep them in the refrigerator for an upcoming event? See more about peonies and how to extend their blooms in the article Praiseworthy Peony.
Lily of the Valley
Zone: 3 - 8
Sun: Part Shade - Full Shade
Size: .5 - 1 ft. tall - .5 - 1 ft wide
Blooms: April
Convallaria majalis the scientific name for Lily of the Valley produces white flowers that are so dainty and cute. The fragrance, like the lilac, is an original that is hard to extract. Though it can be invasive, I look forward to seeing these little beauties every spring. The sweet scent of one little sprig will fill the entire room.
Daylily
Zone: 3 - 9
Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade
Size: 2 ft tall - 2 ft wide
Blooms: June
Like peonies, some daylilies are fragrant, though not all. This one is scented and so pretty I had to add it to the list. It was either given to me, or I purchased it without a tag, so I can only guess at the variety. The variety 'Rose Katherine,' comes close in the description. Other favorite scented daylilies include 'Hyperion,' 'Wineberry Candy,' and 'Hudson Valley.'
Bee Balm - 'Blue Stocking'
Zone: 4 - 8
Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade
Size: 2 - 3 ft tall - 1 - 1.5 ft wide
Blooms: July - August
Monarda commonly known as bee balm (a favorite of bees,) has pretty flowers and very fragrant citrus-like foliage. Also, known as bergamot, because the scent is similar to the bergamot orange. Bergamot oil (a favorite of mine) is also used to scent Earl Grey tea. Beebalm is not only loved by bees, but also by butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
Lavender - 'Hidcote'
Zone: 5 - 8
Sun: Full Sun
Size: 2 ft tall - 2 ft wide
Blooms: June - August
Last but not least is lavender. Scented plants like lavender are not only wonderful for their perfume fragrance, but also for their ease of growth, and long-blooming nature. When many of my other fragrant plants are gone, I can rely on lavender to bloom all season long. Lavender is also one of the best deer-resistant plants to grow in the garden.
Scented plants are a wonderful addition to the garden. Whether you're walking in the garden, sitting outside, or admiring a bouquet indoors; the added benefit of fragrance makes your beautiful flowers even more special.
Linda Johnston
Good morning Patti. When our rose bushes bloom by our gate on the way out, nothing smells better! Lilac is both fragrant and beautiful in the back yard. Hyacinths and the delicate lily of the valley scents are amazing!
Patti Estep
Your landscape sounds lovely. Of course, many roses are the best scented flowers. I used to have a huge Rugosa rose bush that smelled great and produced lovely hips in the fall at another house we lived in. Maybe it's time to add a scented rose bush to my wishlist this year.
Donna Dupnik
Enjoyed your post on fragrant flowers, especially the zone , blooming and size of plants. Thanks
Patti Estep
Hi Donna,
I'm so glad you liked it and thank you for leaving such a sweet comment!
Patti
Michelle Marine
I have no lilacs and it's a crying shame. I love them! You really have so many great blooms on this list, Patti. I need to get to work and add some more to my home!
Patti Estep
Hi Michelle,
Oh you know how it is. When you love flowers and really any plants, you can never have enough. 😉
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
Patti
Angie Rose
I just started growing Viburnum, so my shrubs are young. I can’t wait until they get large enough where I can smell the blooms from far away! Thank you for introducing me to mock orange. Definitely adding that to my must-buy list. I LOVE Fothergilla! I tried planting some three years back. I was all excited, and a storm came and ruined my small plants. I’m not giving up though, definitely going to try again. The week the lilac bushes bloom here is my favorite week in spring. They smell heavenly! Who doesn’t love the classic peony and Lily of the Valley. Such a great list Patti! I seriously adore everything you featured. My list is now jam packed with things to buy!
Jenny
Where can I get this viburnum?
Thanks.
Patti Estep
Hi Jenny,
Korean Spice Viburnum is pretty common so you should be able to find it at many nurseries. Monrovia is a good grower that ships to your local nursery free so you could try them online as well as a number of other online sources. Here's a link to Korean Spice Viburnum at Monrovia. http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2198/korean-spice-viburnum/
Hope that helps,
Patti
Jill
You choose such lovely plants. I just adopted a Lab puppy and most of the plants I know and love are poisonous-azaleas, rhododendrons, nandinas, hydrangeas ..... even tomatoes! I live in Zone 7A or 7B. Any thoughts because Lab puppies eat everything as soon as you turn around! Thanks for pondering! I
Patti Estep
Hi Jill,
First let me say that I've never personally owned a dog. I found this website from the ASPCA which lists toxic and non-toxic plants for dogs. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
I was very surprised to see poison ivy, oak and sumac on the safe list?? Also, on the safe list is daylilies and many of them are fragrant. A pretty non-fragrant plant on the list that should do well in your zone is crepe myrtle. There were tons of them in Tennessee when we lived there on all kinds of pretty colors. I don't think they are fragrant though. Roses made the list, though I'd think the thorns would keep the puppy at bay.
I hope this helps and best to the new addition in your family,
Patti
Shelly
We had a star gazing lily that smelled so good. I hated to leave it behind at our old house. I would love to grow lilacs. They were my grandma's favorite. We are in zone 8 and many gardeners in our area grow them. I'm not sure I have enough sun though, but I might give one a try.
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage
I'm loving that viburnum - the way the buds are light pink before opening is so sweet. And smelling great, too? Maybe a must-plant for my next garden!
Carole
This is an awesome list Patti and it includes some of my favorites. There's is one though that I really want to plant next year and that's the Lily of the Valley -I love it.. Just a few nothing over the top but it's one of those vintage beauties that just tells a story every year it blooms.
Diane Williams
Some of my very favorites are on this list. Yet I don't have your fragrance varieties in many of mine at home, like the peony you recommend. I'm going to hunt some of these up. I have a new area of my yard I'm putting into plants. Time to get shopping 🙂