by Lydia Holley May 12, 2025
Gardens can delight all five senses of the body. Sight, of course, with beauty and color. Sound from the birds, frogs, and other creatures which make your garden their home. Touch is satisfied with plants that are either soft, such as lamb’s ear, or thorny, such as pyracantha. Taste from the greens, fruits, and vegetables generated from plants, trees, and even some weeds. But it is the sense of smell that can make a garden come alive in your mind and evoke long lost memories.
Most homes are either filled with cooking aromas or air fresheners. But outside, the fragrance of plants is a delightful discovery with every step. Some plants famous for their lovely fragrances are gardenia, honeysuckle, jasmine, and rose. Other plants that can delight your sense of smell which are less known or not as often grown include brugmansia, magnolia, mock orange, and wisteria. Sometimes scents are a surprise. I once planted tuberose bulbs and was delightfully surprised at its perfume-like scent when it bloomed.
Some people enjoy the scent of lantana, while others are repelled by it. The same goes for boxwood, marigold, paperwhite narcissus, salvias, and society garlic. Personally, I like a spicy aroma and appreciate an occasional break from all the sweet scents.
When shopping for plants, you may wish to determine whether or not its fragrance is something you will enjoy in the years to come or whether you will be repelled by it. For instance, the female ginkgo tree is said to emit a distinctive odor which some find offensive. Since ginkgos can live 1,000 years, it would be a tragedy to plant one and find out later that you would prefer to avoid the plant when it is fruiting.
Gardens should delight all your senses. When you are outside, stop and smell the roses—and all the other plants—along the way. It will enhance your outside experience and you just may find a favorite scent to enjoy.
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