Fragrant Friends

During these months of winter snow and gloom, I find my thoughts turning to next years planting. Although the visual component comes first and foremost when considering which greenery a particular border, bed or pot should contain, it is also important to ensure also that scent is taken into account. I have, therefore, compiled a top ten list of plants of all sizes blessed with fragrant flowers:

1. Buddleia - preferably B. davidii; either 'Empire Blue', blue flowers with an orange eye, or 'Fortune', pure lilac, again with an orange eye. Loved by butterflies.
2. Heliotropium - a bushy half-hardy annual.
3. Freesia - a very sweetly scented bulbous plant, native to South Africa.
4. Gardenia - a tender semi-evergreen flowering shrub.
5. Robinia - pref. R. bispida, a hardy flowering tree or wall grown shrub,
6. Magnolia - another wonderful deciduous species which includes both shrubs and small trees.
7. Lavandula (lavender) - an unforgettable must-have for this list, especially attractive to bees.
8. Iris - a genus of well over 300 plants, small, spreading and easily grown.
9. Lilium (lily) - a personal favourite with innumerable variety. Very robust.
10. Hyacinthus (hyacinth) - delicate, miniature blooms clustered together on a spike.

I hope you like my top ten, but I'm sure you have your own personal preferences. If you would like me to add something to this list, please make a suggestion using the comments box.

Join the Gardener's Fellowship - a free-to-join forum for all things garden related!