need suggestions for fragrant plants

[Anonymous]

We are landscaping all around our house. Front, side and back.
I would love to include some nice-smelling plants by our patio and maybe by the side walkway.
I love the smell of jasmine but I don't think it grows well here. What about honey suckle?
Does anyone have bay laurel? I thought that might work. Would love some suggestions. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

With honeysuckle, make sure to get one of the native species because the other stuff is horribly invasive and will spread out of control. The native honeysuckle also attracts hummingbirds.

Here are other ideas:
Roses (not Knockout roses, which don't smell)
Lilac (variety Miss Kim or similar that will tolerate our heat)
Crabapple
lavender

[Anonymous]

There are some newer varieties of knockout roses that have a bit of a scent.

Lavender does very well in sunny, dry spots.
You might want to try rosemary too, though it is more finicky than lavender.

I have seen hardy gardenias, but mine didn't make it through the winter.

[Anonymous]

Honeysuckle is great, though it has a relatively short bloom season. Major Wheeler is a nice variety, and it will also attract hummingbirds. You will need to provide a sturdy support.
Peonies also smell heavenly though the season is short.
Bay laurel is not reliably hardy here. It will not get to Mediterranean proportions outdoors.
There are several fragrant varieties of roses, but again they have defined bloom seasons and need maintenance. Some get huge.
Lilies give off a lovely fragrance in the summer evenings, but the plants should be mixed in with others so they don't look straggly. Asiatic and Orientpets are more hardy than the Oriential lilies.
Hyacinths and magnolias for spring fragrance.
You can plant fragrant herbs such as rosemary, pineapple sage, lavender, lemon verbena, lemon balm and mint (in containers, invasive otherwise), thymes. Geraniums and tuberoses also smell good.
Keep the mature size of the plant in mind. And don't let anyone talk you into planting Sweet Autumn clematis in this area. It becomes a tenacious weed.

[Anonymous]

phlox?
there are some fragrant peonies

[Anonymous]

I'd add these DEER resistant plants (the reality of this area) to list:
My favorite is lily of the valley
the sweet nicotianas (tender annuals that self seed and/or grow from own roots): bloom late afternoon into early morning and are just lovely scent and plant Moonflower vine for same
sweet allysum (though not a smell I like!)
All the culinary rosemary, sages and thymes among the herbs that look pretty in the gardens (and bloom)
Dianthus
Monarda (beebalm)
Russian sage (get the newer "dwarf" varieties
Cheerfulness daffodil very fragrant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd add these DEER resistant plants (the reality of this area) to list:
My favorite is lily of the valley
the sweet nicotianas (tender annuals that self seed and/or grow from own roots): bloom late afternoon into early morning and are just lovely scent and plant Moonflower vine for same
sweet allysum (though not a smell I like!)
All the culinary rosemary, sages and thymes among the herbs that look pretty in the gardens (and bloom)
Dianthus
Monarda (beebalm)
Russian sage (get the newer "dwarf" varieties
Cheerfulness daffodil very fragrant

Please don't plant Russian Sage--it's invasive:
http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/Weed/non.htm

as is nicotianas: http://texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=NIGL

as is sweet alyssum: http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=18750

as is dianthus: http://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=771

[Anonymous]

Witchhazel and Sweet Box are both native and smell delightful. Witchazel blooms in the winter which is an added bonus.

[Anonymous]

Search this pdf, OP, for the word "fragrant."
https://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/pdf/chesapeakenatives.pdf

32 options and you can cross reference with deer resistant in the TOC.

[Anonymous]

What kind of sun do you get? How is your soil?

[Anonymous]

Some native alternatives for fragrance from the National Arboretum (common and Latin names)

leatherflower, Clematis viorna
Carolina jasmine, Gelsemium sempervirens
trumpet honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens
sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana
purple passionflower, Passiflora incarnata

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for an evergreen, I love the smell of boxwood.

Lilacs are delicious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking for an evergreen, I love the smell of boxwood.

Lilacs are delicious!

I agree with you on lilacs, but boxwood always smells like cat pee to me! Yuck! Maybe it's like cilantro -- you either love it or hate it.

To the native plant suggestions above, I'll add spicebush. But the right plant(s) all depends on the ultimate size you want as well as the sun/shade combo and soil moisture.

[Anonymous]

Definitely lily of the valley.

One of the most fragrant plants that we have is our holly trees (not sure of the variety, just looks like a standard holly). When it blooms it is covered with bees (fine by me, I like bees!) and smells divine.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. These are great suggestions.