Scented garden

23/05/2008 Plant Sense 2010

0510May is such a wonderful time in the garden, not just for the freshness of new leaves and the liberal splashes of blossom but the intensity of wonderful smells that hover thanks to the mild, still, moist air.

Creating a fragrant garden is a gift that keeps giving if you get your timing right and choose a selection of plants that offer a fragrant feast all year round.

Placed scented specimens in shelter spots like courtyards, against walls, in woodland glades so their fragrance can accumulate. Doorways, windows, patios, arbours work well too.

Classics scents: pinks (Dianthus spp.), sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), lilac (Syringa vulgaris), our native common violet (Viola odorata); Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis), lilies (Lilium spp.), and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)

Old fashion roses: Tea, China, Damask and Bourbon roses are generally strongly scented:

Rosa ‘Cornelia’ – hybrid musk rose with apricot-pink flowers

  • Rosa ‘Crimson Glory’ – hybrid tea with deep crimson ageing to purplish
  • Rosa ‘Fragrant Cloud’ – hybrid tea with orange-red flowers
  • Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ – disease resistant rose with pink flowers
  • Rosa ‘Graham Thomas’ – a repeating flowering rose with yellow flowers

Shrubs and climbers for scent:

  • Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) – a vigorous semi-evergreen climber with attractive bright green leaves composed of five leaflets. Racemes of delicate maroon-brown flowers smell of vanilla reminiscent of chocolate.
  • Pineapple broom (Cytisus battandieri) – sun-loving shrub liking well-drained soils.
  • Broom (Cytisus x praecox) – enjoys the same growing conditions as the pineapple broom; both loved by nectar seeking wildlife.
  • Lonicera purpusii – semi-evergreen shrub with the cream tubular honeysuckle flowers. It can get a bit unruly but all is forgiven when its scented flowers lift your spirit in the darkest winter months.
  • Mahonia – hard working evergreen shrub with wonderful winter scent and architectural leaves that is great for dry, shaded difficult corners.
  • Osmanthus delavayi and x burkwoodii – another early flower gem with small-jasmine like flowers on classy, evergreen foliage.
  • Sweet box (Sarcoccoa confusa) – a sweetly, powerfully scented woodland gem that flourishes in semi-shade.

For evening perfume:

Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis); common white jasmine (Jasminum offinale); honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) evening stock (Mattiola longipetala) ; jasmine tobacco (Nicotiana alata); Night phlox (Zaluzianskya capensis).

Published in ‘at Home’ a supplement of the Scotland on Sunday on 23 May 2008