Incorporating fragrance into a landscape combines the knowledge of a master gardener with the “nose” of a master perfumer. While it can be as simple as starting with a single or several carefully chosen old roses, lilies, lilacs, gardenias, or other delightfully scented flowers, the real fun and challenge comes when creating a complex bouquet that goes from spicy spring herbs to heavier aromas for a lush, warm summer night.
A good place to start is with one’s favorite scents, including those that evoke strong memories, feelings of happiness, or relaxation. While many plants emit a pleasing fragrance to attract pollinators, other scents, such as mints, are used to repel pests, meaning these fragrances will do double duty by lessening dependence on pesticides. Color should be taken into account as well and be in keeping with the overall garden theme. Placement matters, too, and may be the most critical aspect of all, as out-of-way or downwind selections are often wasted. At the other end of the design spectrum, fragrance “pockets” can be used to significantly heighten the sensory delight.
Modest Plantings, Lavish Ambience
A properly designed aromatherapy garden starts by taking a critical look around the property—the front, back, and side yards, no matter how narrow they may be. Placing plants near the home’s windows will bring the fragrance inside on temperate days. In fact, a window box filled with violas, sweet Williams, sweet peas, lilies, fragrant petunias, and so on is easy, straightforward, and very low maintenance. Just be sure to secure it properly for the combined weight of the box, plants, soil, and water.Another simple choice is a scented herb garden, which should be placed close to the house for easy harvesting. Peppermint, rosemary, and lemon balm are invigorating choices. Lavender, chamomile, bergamot, and hyssop are calming. Basil, coriander, dill, oregano, sage, and thyme are mouthwatering. Bee balm, chamomile, peppermint, rose, lemongrass, and holy basil (tulsi) combine to form a tea garden. Depending on the growing zone, consider adding some fragrant shade with a cinnamon, sandalwood, or bay rum tree.
Fragrant Orchestration
Few things say “welcome home” like a scented path leading to the front door. In fact, walkways out front or throughout the garden can be enhanced by planting low-lying plants such as creeping thyme, sweet violet, lily of the valley, sweet woodruff, and roman chamomile that release additional scent when stepped on (in the case of creeping thyme) or brushed against (for the rest).Planting around a patio or creating a new seating area—even something as simple as a judiciously placed bench—creates an oasis in which to kick back, relax, and breathe in the bounty of annuals such as dianthus, gardenia, heliotrope, lantana, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, and tiny yet powerful blooms of sweet alyssum.
Perennial options (depending on one’s growing zone) include phlox, hosta, hyacinth, lily, lily of the valley, rose, sage, and sweet violet. Backing these aromatic plants with evergreens helps create fragrance “pockets” that are more concentrated, as they aren’t disbursed by the wind. Also, keep in mind that lightly scented plants should be located near nonfragrant plants to ensure their subtle fragrances stand alone.
Trees, shrubs, and vines have their place as well. Top choices include American allspice, black locust, butterfly bush, clethra, flowering crabapple, lilac, magnolia, mock orange, sweet autumn clematis, viburnum, and witch hazel (yes, the same stuff as in the bottle, but the plant smells much nicer).
Species that give off their scent at night, such as night-blooming jasmine, moonflower, large flower cactus, angel’s trumpet, evening primrose, gardenia augusta, Japanese wisteria, tuberose, night phlox, nicotiana, four-o’clocks, and datura, to name a few, should be located where evening activities are enjoyed.
Seasonal Considerations
The final secret to a scented garden is to choose flowers that bloom at different times of the year. This is also an opportunity to add some additional species without overcrowding the garden with clashing scents simultaneously.Some spring bloomers to consider are hyacinths, camellias, rhododendrons, viburnums, narcissus, crocus, peonies, and magnolia “moonglow.” Follow these with summer-blooming gardenia, hostas, lilies, magnolia “little gem,” Asiatic jasmine, and “eternal fragrance” daphne, which blooms through the fall. Camellias, nicotiana, sweet autumn clematis, and fragrant angel coneflower will also add color and, more importantly, aroma to the brisk scents of fall.
