Which Shrubs Smell Good?

Image by: Olivier Magnolia stellata

What's that smell?

We all know that many flowers smell and that is true of flowers on shrubs. Some also have fragrant foliage and occasionally fragrant roots or stems. This is often neglected when shrubs are chosen for the background because of their size and shape, leaving perennials and annuals to provide the scent.

Here are some ideas for shrubs that have a pleasant fragrance, either from their flowers or from their foliage.

Fragrant flowers

By far the commonest way to add scent to a garden is by using flowers.

Latin Name	Common Name	Comments	USDA Zone
Buddleia davidii	Buddleia	Distinctive summer fragrance.	5-9
Calycanthus	Allspice	Flowers smell like bubblegum. Leaves are also fragrant.	5-9
Chimomanthus praecox	Fragrant Wintersweet	Small fruit-scented creamy flowers during late winter.	7-10
Choisya ternata	Mexican Orange	Orange-scented spring flowers.	7-11
Clethra	Summersweet	Flowers from mid-summer to autumn and smells like roses.	3-8
Cytisus battandieri	Pineapple Broom	Flowers smell like pineapple.	7-9
Daphne ordora	Winter Daphne	Very fragrant winter flowers.	7-9
Daphne x burkwoodii	Daphne	Showy fragrant flowers in spring.	5-8
Gardenia jasminoides	Gardenia	Scented flowers for several months in spring and summer.	8b-10
Hamamelis mollis	Witchhazel	Spicy scented yellow flowers during winter. Many Witchhazel hybrids are also scented.	4-9
Jasminum nudiflorum	Winter Jasmine	Not a strong scent but it last the whole winter.	7-10
Ligustrum	Privet	Flowers have a distinctive smell, not always considered pleasant.	5-11
Lonicera	Honeysuckle	Familiar sweet-smelling flowers.	5-9
Magnolia	Magnolia	The large spring flowers are scented.	7-9
Osmanthus	False Holly	Insignificant flowers in autumn have a subtle scent.	7-9
Rhododendron	Rhododendron/Azalea	Many species and varieties have scented flowers, but not all.	4-9
Rosa	Rose	Choose a Rugosa or an old rose like Damask for the strongest scent.	5-10
Sarcococca	Sweetbox	Winter flowers smell like honey. Followed by berries, S. hookeriana is the most fragrant.	6-9
Syringa	Lilac	Lilac flowers add scent in spring.	3-8
Viburnum	Viburnum	Honey and spice scented flowers. V. burkwoodii, V. carlesii, V. farreri, and V. x bodnantense offer the best scent.	4-8

Scented leaves

A few shrubs have leaves which produce a noticeable smell, sometimes only when touched or crushed.

Latin Name	Common Name	Comments	USDA Zone
Aloysia triphylla	Lemon Verbena	Lemon-scented foliage used as a herb.	8-11
Calycanthus	Allspice	Also has fragrant flowers.	5-9
Elettaria cardamomum	Cardamom	Leaves smell like Cardamom.	9-11
Elsholtzia stauntonii	Mint Shrub	Leaves smell like mint.	4-8
Illicium	Anise	Crushed leaves smell like aniseed.	8-10
Ledum groenlandicum	Labrador Tea	Aromatic leaves are used to make tea.	2-8
Lindera benzoin	Spicebush	Strong spicy citrus scent from crushed leaves.	4-9
Rosemarinus officinalis	Rosemary	Small scented shrub used as a herb.	8-10
Ruta graveolens	Rue	Foliage scented like gorse	5-9
Salvia officinalis	Sage	The herb used in cooking is actually S. fruticosa	5-9
Sassafras officinalis	Sassafras	The roots, bark, and leaves are all strongly scented. Very large shrub or tree.	4-11
Thymus vulgaris	Thyme	This herb is actually a small shrub.	5-9

Entered by iann

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