Enjoy the glorious scent of spring in your garden

The best fragranced plants for Spring

When springtime comes we are all ready for a breath of fresh air, and spring offers some of the most heavenly scented plants to enjoy in your garden. Many of these flowers are also good for cutting and bringing indoors, so you can fill your home with fresh, natural fragrance too.

Gardenia

A native of China, Japan, Africa, and Oceania, the gardenia is valued for its smooth, white and long-blooming flowers with their sweetly tropical scent. An evergreen with dark glossy leaves, gardenias bloom from mid spring to midsummer, favouring bright but indirect light and great humidity. Blossoms are followed by groups of flame-orange berries.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

Profoundly popular with those who appreciate fragrant plants, their tubular flowers are pleasantly scented and give fresh, honeylike nectar – loved by hummingbirds. Colours vary from creamy white, yellow and orange to pink and red, and elongated fruits in variations of red, blue, and black follow the blossoms – with many being edible for birds and wildlife.

Osmanthus Delavayi

Delightful white flowers adorn this rounded shrub in spring, brightening up the evergreen foliage. It’s worth planting next to paths or seating, to get the most of the elegant scent. Grow it in well-draining soil in partial shade.

Hyacinths

For a real hit of uplifting spring scent and colour it has to be hyacinths. Their strong, lasting fragrance can be enjoyed in the garden or they are great for cutting and bringing indoors to fill your home with the essence of spring. Hyacinths grow in many beautiful colours ranging from elegant white to sugary pink and royal navy – this has a particularly intense aroma.

Magnolia

Did you know the magnolia tree can grow up to 40 feet wide? Bear this in mind when you plant and make sure you have space for the variety you have chosen. When it comes to planting, magnolia like well-draining, rich soil with full sun. A Magnolia makes a dramatic highlight of any spring garden and the shape of the flower – from cups to stars - will depend on the variety.

Daffodils (Narcissus)

Daffodils are a joyous spring flower that comes in many varieties, so plant abundantly and cut them to enjoy indoors. You can find them in a combination of colours including white, yellow, pink and orange, and scents will vary. Some fragrances are not to everyone’s taste so try to sniff a few before you commit to a variety.

Lily of the valley (Convallaria Majalis)

Perhaps one of the most nostalgic spring scented plants is Lily of the Valley. Its delicate bell-shaped pastel pink flowers grow in extensive mass and spread naturally from individual rhizomes. This woodland flower enjoys shade and will bring precious beauty to a dark corner with its nodding blooms.

Iris Reticulata

Often overlooked for their delicate scent, Iris Reticulata make wonderful cut flowers so their aroma can be better enjoyed. They are also very happy growing in containers where they look beautiful combined with foliage such as ivy or ferns.

Native Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

This particular flower has a fresh and sweet fragrance that is quintessentially floral. Native Bluebells add a woodland feel to your garden when grown below deciduous trees in moist and rich soil, and will spread naturally for years to come.