These lists of sweet-smelling plants can help you create your own sweet memories.
I’ve categorized these plants by scent, but as you know, it’s hard to describe odors, so some are merely filed under “sweet.” In actuality, most fragrances are quite complex. Also, cultivars of roses, lilies, irises and a few others span several scent groups.
Be aware that fragrance affects each of us personally — and not just because of our past experiences. For example, some people swoon over sweet alyssum’s perfume while others hold their noses. So while I say a flower smells great, you might not agree. Also, breeding has removed the scent from many species. You may need to sniff around to find the right cultivar to perfume your garden.
Spicy – Season the air with spicy-scented, cool-weather plants. These annuals and biennials will scent the spring air until warm weather arrives in summer.
| Annuals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wallflower | Erysimum cheiri | |
| Stocks | Matthiola incana or M. longipetala | |
| Carnation | Dianthus caryophyllus | |
| Shrubs | ||
| Spring-blooming daphne | Daphne x burkwoodii | zone 4 |
| Koreanspice viburnum | Viburnum carlesii | zone 4 |
| Summersweet | Clethra alnifolia | zone 3 |
| Jasmine | Jasminum officinale | zone 7 |
| Gardenia | Gardenia augusta | zone 8 |
| English lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | zone 5 |
| Tree | ||
| Southern magnolia trees | Magnolia grandiflora | zone 7 |
Citrus - These plants bring dreams of oranges and lemon-meringue pie.
| Perennials | ||
|---|---|---|
| German flag | Iris germanica | zone |
| Orris root | Iris pallida | zone 4 |
| Trees | ||
| Sweetbay magnolia | Magnolia virginiana | zone 5 |
| Oyama magnolia | Magnolia sieboldii | zone 6 |
| Annual | ||
| Angels trumpet | Datura innoxia | |
Fruity – Several species offer scents reminiscent of apple, raspberry, pineapple or cherry pie.
| Annuals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Four o’clocks | Mirabilis jalapa | |
| Heliotrope | Heliotropium arborescens | |
| Shrubs | ||
| Moroccan broom | Argyrocytisus battandieri | zone 7 |
| Oleander | Nerium oleander | zone 8 |
Sweet – What I call sweet fragrances range from the pungency of lilacs to the delicate bouquet of violets.
| Annuals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Flowering tobacco | Nicotiana sylvestris | |
| Perennial and Biennial | ||
| Dames rocket | Hesperis matronalis | zone 3 |
| Lily | Lilium spp. | zone 4 |
| Shrubs | ||
| Japanese skimmia | Skimmia japonica | zone 7 |
| Virginia sweetspire | Itea virginica | zone 5 |
| Dwarf fothergilla | Fothergilla gardenii | zone 5 |
| Mockorange | Philadelphus coronarius | zone 4 |
| Goldflame honeysuckle | Lonicera x heckrottii | zone 5 |
| Tea olive | Osmanthus fragrans | zone 7 |
| Lilac | Syringa vulgaris | zone 3 |
| Vine | ||
| Wisteria | Wisteria floribunda | zone 4 |