Get more from your fragrant favorites, and create a romantic container garden on a patio or terrace with any one of these eight super sweet perennials. They also attract pollinators, like bumblebees and butterflies. Essential oils in the petals of most plants produce fragrances, but it’s not just to appease your nose. When flowers give off their unique smells, it’s an alert to pollinators that they are ready for pollination.
Plant these pleasant-smelling beauties near a window or the front door, so you can enjoy them more often. If you really want to maximize fragrant flowers, grow scented herbs. Rosemary, mint, and basil all do double duty in the kitchen. In the mean time, check out these eight super fragrant flowers.
Monarda, Zones 4 to 9
These cheery plants with funky hairdos are native to North America. With spiky, daisylike blooms in red, blue, violet, white or pink hues, bee balm, as its name suggests, is a pollinator magnet. Its aroma is similar to oregano but contains hints of citrus, mint and thyme.
Size: 2 to 4 feet high
Why we love it: Bee balm attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees, but not usually deer—so it’s a smart bet if you live in a wooded area with a large population of these garden grazers.
Where to buy it: Walters Gardens, Inc.
Phlox Paniculata, Zones 3 to 9
Found naturally in forests, in open fields and clinging to cliff walls, this hardy perennial with a heady fragrance offers many disease-resistant varieties to choose from. Bloom colors run the gamut from red, pink and rose
to lavender, deep purple, white and even bicolor.Size: 2 to 5 feet high, 1 to 3 feet wide
Why we love it: Phlox is a showstopper in a summer garden, and it blooms for six weeks or more. Plus, it’s known to attract hummingbirds.
Where to buy it: Walters Gardens, Inc.
Lilium orientalis, Zones 4 to 9
Sound the horn for these trumpet-shaped blooms that smell as exotic as they look. For easy color in the garden, lilies are No. 1. The trouble is in deciding which gorgeous variety to grow. Just be sure to provide a little extra staking for when summer storms blow in.
Size: 2 to 5 feet high
Why we love it: There’s no need to visit a florist with bouquet-ready beauties growing in your backyard. Remove faded flowers to direct energy into the bulbs for next year’s floral display.
Where to buy it: American Meadows
Lavandula angustifolia, Zones 5 to 10
A forever favorite, lavender is prized for intensely fragrant purple-blue blooms that can be cut and displayed in floral arrangements or dried to use in teas, spice mixes or potpourris. Pollinators such as butterflies and bees can’t resist lavender’s intoxicating lure.
Size: 12 to 14 inches high, 12 to 16 inches wide
Why we love it: This sun lover thrives in well-draining soils and looks lovely season after season.
Where to buy it: High Country Gardens
Clematis terniflora, Zones 4 to 9
This vigorous perennial vine features fluffy clouds of fragrant, creamy white flowers that spill romantically over fences, arbors or pergolas—even in partial shade. Keep its aggressive nature in check by pruning in spring before growth begins.
Size: 10 to 15 feet high
Why we love it: As other flowers fade in late summer, sweet autumn clematis starts its show and goes through fall.
Where to buy it: White Flower Farm
Paeonia lactiflora, Zones 3 to 8
Its large, showy cup-shaped flowers can’t be beat, but the easy-to-grow peony also has sturdy stems that won’t need staking and tons of fragrance. For ultimate aromatherapy, choose a cultivar prized for its scent, such as Festiva Maxima, Sarah Bernhardt, or Eden’s Perfume.
Size: 2-1/2 to 3 feet high and wide
Why we love it: Peonies are reliable performers that offer big impact without a
lot of work. Their show is brief, but it’s nothing short of spectacular.Where to buy it: Walters Gardens, Inc.
Salvia nemorosa, Zones 4 to 8
Sage is drought-tolerant and easy to grow. It makes a stunning cut flower and attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Plus, the foliage is wonderfully fragrant. If you’re short on space, try a small cultivar like Blue Hill.
Size: 1 to 2 feet high and wide
Why we love it: Less watering means less work (and more time to enjoy summer on the patio). Mother Nature will thank you, too!
Where to buy it: Walters Gardens, Inc.
ROSA, ZONES 3 TO 10
With scents including apple, melon, honey, orange and even wine, these beauties make you stop to take them in. For that classic rose aroma, opt for English, floribunda, heirloom or antique varieties such as Honey Perfume, Heritage, and Louise Odier.
Size: 1 to 5 feet high, up to 8 feet wide
Why we love it: With so many colors available, it’s easy to find a rose to suit your nose. Plus, it’s hardy!
Where to buy it: David Austin Roses
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Claudia Lofing says
I have 3 blooming in my yard right now–perfume at it’s best–they will re-seed and you could have more–they grow tall–15 feet and maybe 15 feet wide ! ! !
Lisa says
Hi Claudia, Which region are you in? Or zone?
Betsy says
The Autumn Clematis? Double,triple quadruple that ! Mine grew to the top of a 60 foot pine tree. It covered the side of my house which is 2 stories. Now it has moved next door as well as 30 feet along the fence. It keeps going going and going ! Yes the scent is fabulous! But not as fabulous as the Night Blooming Lillies.
Shane says
I’m guessing Sweet Autumn Climatis…? It smeels like rootbeer to me.
Papa says
@claudia Which plant are you referring to?
Linda R Anderson says
Sweet Autumn Clematis is considered a nuisance/invasive plant in many areas.
Marcy says
We have one on a fence – have to keep it trimmed as with wind and heavy snow, it bent the steel poles and tore down our chain-link fence! The perfume is nice, but we find volunteers growing everywhere. They must love NW MO.
chris says
We had a sweet autumn clematis that was encouraged to clamber up a post that supported a tiny, covered sitting spot in my yard. When I bought the plant, I had no idea it was fragrant, just that the sparkling white clusters of flowers were so pretty. When I got a whiff of the wonderful fragrance, I was amazed. This is a very easy clematis to grow and will foam over almost any obstacle, draping it with starry flowers that produce fascinating, fuzzy spiral seed heads that follow the beautiful, fragrant flower clusters.
R. Worley says
Afraid that the deer got all of mine, but they were pretty while they lasted. Got to find more plants that are a bit MORE Deer resistant, Ha!
Papa says
If we could bottle those fragrances we would be rich!