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Fragrant Shrubs

© Nathalie Gignac Henderson

Many fragrances can suggest a special moment, a season or a place. They are subtle and light, and sometimes tease us with a dash of romance. Fragrance is an important element in your garden but too often forgotten. Fragrant shrubs will give you an attractive scent as well wonderful flowers and lustrous foliage that will enrich your yard. We are often pleasantly surprised to discover our shrubs have fragrance, and this is a shame because there are hundreds of fragrant shrubs to choose from.

Finding fragrant spring-flowering shrubs is easy enough but to keep them alive throughout the year is a challenge. Some foliage will release a strong fragrance when warmed by the sun or bruised. Many varieties of trees and shrubs bloom at different times of the year. With some planning you could have year-round fragrance. Fragrant plants are a lot of fun. Some will release their fragrance only at night, some in the morning and some in the evening. Careful selection of your fragrant shrubs will provide delight all day long.

The following fragrant shrubs are some of the most popular.
   

Fragrant shrubs (*)    Aromatic leaves (#)   
Blooming period: Sp-S-A-W

Abelia chinensis (*) S-A Artemisia"Powis Castle" (*) Aucuba japonica "Crotonifolia" (*) Sp Berberis darwinii (*) Berberis stenophylla (*) Buddleia alternifolia (*) Sp Buddleia davidii (*) S Buddleia globosa (*) Buxus sempervirens (*) Carpenteria californica (*) Sp-S Caryopteris clandonensis (#) S-A Ceonothus (*)(#) Sp Chimonanthus praecox (*) Sp or W-Sp Choisya ternata (*)(#) Sp Cistus corbariensis (*)  Sp Clerodendrum trichotomum (*) S Clethra alnifolia (*) S Cornus alba "Elegantissima" (*) Sp Corylopsis species (*) Sp Cotoneaster conspucuus decorus (*) Sp Cytisus battandieri (*) S-A Daphne odora (*) Sp Elaeagnus commutata (*) Elaeagnus ebbingei (*) Enkianthus (*) Sp Escallonia macrantha (#) S-A  (Sp-W for mild climates) Eucalyptus (#)

Gardenia (*) Halimium ocymoides (*) Sp Hamamelis species (*) Heptacodium (*) Jasminum grandiflorum (*) S Jasminum ligustrifolium (*) Jasminum multipartitum (*) Jasminum nutidum (*) Sp-S Jasminum polyanthum (*) Sp-S Jasminum sambac (*) Laurus nobilis (#) Lavandula species (*)(#) S Ledum (*)(#) Sp Ligustrum ovalifolium "Aureum" (*) Sp-S Lonicera fragrantissima (*) Sp-S-A  (depending on climate) Magnolia grandiflora (*) S-A Magnolia stellata (*) W-Sp Myrtus communis (*)(#) S Nandina domestica (*) Sp-S Osmanthus species (*) Sp Perovskia atriplicifolia (#) S Philadelphus species (*) Sp or S Phlomis fructicosa (#) Pittosporum tobira (*) Sp Pittosporum tenuifolium (*) Sp Pyracantha "Orange Glow" (*)  Sp

Rhododendron - deciduous Azaleas (*) Ribes odoratum (*)  Sp Romneya hybrida (*) Rosa species (*)  (especially fragrant: "La Reine", "Boule de Neige", and "Sombreuil")  Rosmarinus officinalis (#) W-Sp  Salvia officinalis "Purpurascens" (*)  Sp Sambucus racemosus "Sutherland" (*) Sp Santolina species (#) Skimmia Japonica (#) Sp Spartium (*) S-A or Sp-S Stranvaesia davidiana (*) S Syringa species (*) Sp Tamarix pentandra "Pink Cascade" (*) S  Thuja (#) Thymus (*)(#) Trachelospermum (*) Sp or S Viburnum bodnantense (*) W-Sp Viburnum fragrans (*)  W-Sp Wisteria sinensis (*) Sp

Depending on the weather, some shrubs can smell sweeter on sunny days, while the perfume of others will be enhanced by high humidity or rain. Plant these shrubs by a walkway or path for guests coming to your house, or some by your windows, patio and doors to enjoy them from the inside. Some fragrances that smell wonderful to us are overwhelming for others. Try them before choosing; go to your local nursery if none of your neighbours have them. If you want to be able to appreciate each fragrance in your yard, chose according to their blooming period since they are usually more aromatic at that time.