Favourite Fragrant Flowers & Foliage

Often we choose trees and shrubs for our gardens that are aesthetically pleasing; spectacular foliage, rich flowers and remarkable architectural forms but we mustn’t over look the importance of fragrance. From shrubs that dizzy the senses with the aroma of their blooms to trees with autumn foliage that smells good enough to eat here are my top picks for fragrance.

Davidia involucrate vilmoriniana- Handerkerchief tree
Fragrant: Spring

Cytisus Battandieri – Pineapple broom tree
Fragrant: June July

Cercidiphyllum japonicum- Katsura tree
Fragrant: Late Summer Autumn

Deutzia scabra ‘Pride of Rochester’- Fuzzy pride of Rochester shrub
Fragrant: June July

Laburnum alpinum ‘Pendulum’- Weeping Scotch laburnum tree
Fragrant: May

Mahonia japonica ‘Hivernant’- Japanese mahonia shrub
Fragrant: November December January February March

Nothofagus Antarctica – Antarctic beech tree
Fragrant: Spring

Prunus x yedoensis – Yoshino cherry tree
Fragrant: March April

Ptelea trifoliate – Hop tree
Fragrant: June July

Magnolia soulangiana ‘Alba Superba’ - White tulip magnolia tree
Fragrant: April May

Re: Favourite Fragrant Flowers & Foliage

Reply from Nicola

Thanks for the great tip Kate!

Re: Re: Favourite Fragrant Flowers & Foliage

Reply from Ena Ronayne

What a lovely selection Kate, thanks for sharing. I particularly like Cercidiphyllum japonicum and the scent off the leaves in Autumn. Some describe it as ‘honey like’ and others say it has more of a ’caramel’ or ‘brown sugar’ like smell. Either way an interesting scent none the less.

Re: Re: Re: Favourite Fragrant Flowers & Foliage

Reply from Ornamental Tree Nurseries

I'd say caramel - oddly though walking up to it and sniffing doesn’t seem to work ... I've been wandering about the nursery and then suddenly a lovely nose full of burnt sugar/caramel is upon me and the Cercidiphyllum are on the other side of the nursery!

Re: Favourite Fragrant Flowers & Foliage

Reply from Belinda Macdonald, Shades of Green

I love Hamamelis, Sarcococca and Viburnum x bodantense 'Dawn' at this time of year. Skimmia 'Kew Green' is a good one for a bit later in the spring.