You’ll know Rebecca Edwards from YouGarden TV, and here she shares her love for scented plants, and why they deserve a place in every garden…
“When it comes to fragrance in the garden, it can be an incredibly uplifting experience to wander through the flowers and enjoy their variety of aromas. Not only do they give us an excuse to get out in the garden, they can have the positive effects of making us feel happier and calmer, whilst also triggering strong memories; “stop and smell the roses” as the saying goes… This is an idiom for slowing down, taking time to relax, and enjoy life.
“Spring and summer may be considered the key times in the garden when there is an abundance of choice of fragrant plants, but the fabulous thing is that with a little bit of careful planning, you can actually have amazingly fragrant plants that will add layers of scent throughout each and every season, even in the depths of winter, with plants like Chimonanthus Praecox, or Sarcococca Hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’.
“Fragrance is not only known for aiding our own well-being, it also helps to nurture balance in the garden. Scent is a major catalyst for attracting a wide range of beneficial pollinators; the release of the fragrance from a plants flower is the trigger, letting pollinators know that nectar and pollen is available; a symbiotic relationship that we can also help to nurture with our choice of planting.
There are so many fragrant plants to choose from each season…
- For spring – Wisteria, White Forsythia, Hyacinths, Wallflowers, Lily of the Valley and Lilac.
- For summer – Jasmine, Lavender, Roses, Buddleia, Sweet Peas, Philadelphus, Honeysuckle and Lilies.
- For autumn – Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura Tree), Viburnum, Mahonia, Daphne ‘Eternal Fragrance’, Syringa ‘Bloomerang Pink Perfume’ and Eucalyptus.
- For winter – Sarcococca, Edgeworthia Chrysantha, Chimonanthus Praecox (Wintersweet), Hamamelis, Viburnum ‘Charles Lamont’, and Acacia Dealbata.
“My absolute favourite fragrant flower, and one that I’m very proud to have grown for a few years, is the Tuberose. A favourite of the Victorian era that is experiencing a recent rise in popularity.
“The scent of the Tuberose has been used for centuries as a base in perfumes because of the sweet, heady and intoxicating aroma. In addition, the flowers are one of the most alluring, tall, and elegant blooms, creating a stunning centre piece.
“Interestingly, although the fragrance is powerful and potent during the day, it’s actually in the evening when it really puts on a show; the scent becomes exponentially intoxicating in order to attract nighttime moth pollinators. Definitely one to make you enjoy those balmy summer evenings sitting in the garden.
“Whatever you’re planting, just make sure to plant where you will appreciate the scent, near to doors and windows, or pathways are always a good idea. Using containers means that you can easily move the plants wherever you will most enjoy them and remember scents tend to linger longer in more sheltered parts of the garden.
“Remember to plant those scented beauties near to any outdoor seating area so you can sit, relax, and let the garden do its job of transporting you out of the everyday into your own personal sanctuary.”
