GREENGOLD GARDEN CONCEPTS
CARE AND MAINTENANCE NOTES

FRAGRANCE IN YOUR GARDEN

The fragrance of flowers is thought to be mostly to attract insects, birds and animals to pollinate the flowers. This may attract a range of pollinators or only one e.g. Red clover which is only pollinated by bees. When it was first introduced into New Zealand large quantities of bees had to also be sent to ensure it's survival. Another example is Stapelia which smells like rotting flesh and attracts carrion flies.

The leaf oils of some plants are quite strong in warm weather eg. lavender, rosemary, citrus etc. It is thought this could be to warn away animals that may damage them or that the vapours provide a type of air conditioning.

WHEN ARE PLANTS MOST FRAGRANT

This depends on the essential oils that provide the fragrance. These oils are in flowers and plants at different levels during the day and night. This varies from variety to variety. Roses have the strongest fragrance on damp mornings when the sun hits them until noon. Some flower's fragrance is noticeable at night e.g. Cestrum nocturnum, moonflowers. Fragrance may be more noticeable in a protected position where the wind does not disperse the scent.

A SELECTION OF FRAGRANT PLANTS

There are many plants to choose from to add fragrance to your garden, patio or even balcony. Some have fragrant flowers, others aromatic foliage and some have both. The following list may help you to select plants to add fragrance to your garden.

Annual Flowers

Summer flowering Carnations, mignonette (Reseda)- the fragrance fades if removed f:rom sunlight, evening scented stock (Mathiola bicornis).

Winter flowering Calendula (aromatic), forget-me-nots (scented in the evenings), pansies, sweetpeas, stocks, sweet william and wallflowers.

Flowers for all year - Sweet alyssum.

Aquatic Plants Water Hawthorn (Aponogetum distachycum), white scented flowers with black centres in late winter and spring.

Waterlilies - some of these lovely flowers are fragrant. They can be used as cut flowers to enjoy their scent.

AUSTRALIAN NATIVES:

Boronias - Boronia megastigma varieties (The brown Boronia), and B. serrulata have very fragrant flowers. B. 'Sunset Serenade' and B. denticulata have aromatic foliage.

Darwinia citriodora - lemon scented leaves.

Mint Bushes (Prostantheras) - Aromatic foliage which smells something like mint.

Gum trees (Eucalyptus) - Many varieties with aromatic foliage. E. citriodora has lemon scented leaves.

Lemon scented tea tree (Leptospermum petersonii)- lemon scented leaves.

Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum) - fragrant,creamy yellow clusters of flowers in spring.

Water gum (Tristania laurina) Small, yellow clusters of orange, honey scented flowers in summer.

Wattles (Acacias) - Many varieties with very fragrant flowers.

Wax flowers (Eriostemon) - Aromatic leaves and white to blush flowers in spring.

Azaleas and Rhododendrons

Few of our evergreen garden azaleas are fragrant. The tall growing, single flowered varieties are the exception e.g. Alba Magnifica(Alba Magna)m, Alphonse Anderson. They have a delicate sweet fragrance.

Amongst the deciduous azaleas there are quite a few with fragrance particularly the Ghent and occidental hybrids.

Rhododendron Van Ness Sensation has a light fragrance and grows well in Sydney and the Malesian variety R. jasminiflorum.

Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes

Summer flowers - Daylilies and ginger (both scented in the evening), lilies, belladonna, hyacinth, cape hyacinth (galtonia), crinums acidanthera, hymenocallis and eucharis (also spring flowering).

Winter flowers - Allium cowanii, bluebells, daffodils, iris, freesias, grape hyacinths, hyacinths, jonquils and lily of the valley.

Autumn flowers - tuberoses.

Climbers Jasminum nitidum. White star shaped flowers for most of the year Arabian Jasmine (Jasminum sambac) Creamy white flowers most of the year. Carolina Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) Sweetly scented yellow bells in autumn, winter and spring. Chilean Jasmine (Mandevilla laxa) - White flowers throughout summer (beautiful dediduous climber.)

Honeysuckle (Lonicera) Well known for their spring/summer flowers. L.'Firecracker' is noticeable in the evening not the day for its strong fragrance.

Hoyas White to pale pink flowers depending on the variety. The scent carries in the evening. H. carnosa flowers from late summer through autumn. (For a protected position.)

Jasminum azoricum - White star shaped flowers for most of the year. Jasminum polyanthum - Masses of very fragrant white flowers in August/September. Jasminum stephanese - Pale pink flowers in late spring and summer. Madagascar Jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda) White flowers in summer (For a warm protected patio or inside).

Pandorea 'Snowbells' Masses of musk scented white bells in August and September. The fragrance carries at night.

Poet's Jasmine (Jasminum officinale 'Grandiflorum' - White flowers for most of the year. It and J. sambac are used for perfume.

Chinese Star, or Star Jasmine(Trachelospermum jasminoides) Clusters of white jasmine scented flowers in spring. Retains some flowers after a strong Spring flush, through to mid to late autumn.

Wisterias - There are various types and colours, all are fragrant.

Evergreen shrubs

Bouvardia humboldtii The well known summer flowering shrub with white tubular flowers. Some coloured types are available but they are not all fragrant.

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) There are many different types. D. davidii is the most commonly available. Their long flower trusses frorn spring to autumn have a sweet honey fragrance.

Camellia sasanquas - Many types with white to crimson flowers in late autumn/winter.

Clethra arborea - Vanilla scented white flowers in summer. (For a protected position).

Daphne - Well known for its very fragrant winter flowers.

Diosmas (Coleonema) - Various types are available all with aromatic foliage.

Evening Scented Jessamine (Cestrum nocturnum) Greenish flowers from spring to autumn. As the common name suggests the fragrance is noticeable at night.

Gardenias - various types of this well known shrub are available which flower from November to February.

Italian Jasmine (Jasminum revolutum) - Yellow flowers in summer.

Japanese Star Anise (Illicium anisatum) Strongly aromatic bark and foliage; white flowers in spring.

Lantanas - There are many different ones with different coloured flowers. The leaves are aromatic.

Lavenders (Lavandula) - Aromatic foliage and flowers.

Luculia gratissima - Well known for its pink flowers in winter.

Mahonia - Mahonia bealei and M. japonica - Both have yellow flowers which smell like lily of the valley in late winter.

Mock Orange (Philadelphus ) Rose scented white flowers from October to December.

Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata) Heads of white, orange blossom scented flowers in spring.

New Zealand Daphne (Pittosporum tobira) - Trusses of white flowers in September/October with a sweet orange fragrance.

Orange Jessamine (Murraya paniculata) - ~Orange scented, white flowers in spring and autumn. This versatile shrub grows very well in a wide range of soils and conditions, and is particularly popular on the coastal plain of NSW, and the Sydney metropolitan area.

Osmanthus - There are several ones with fragrant flowers but Osmanthus fragrans is probably the best. Its white flowers usually appear in mid winter however a strain in Sydney seems to flower erratically throughout the year particularly from January to September.

Pieris formosa 'Forrestii' Sprays of white flowers in September with a delicate fragrance followed by red new growth. (For a protected position).

Port Wine Magnolia (Michelia figo) Hardly noticeable purple flowers with a very strong fragrance of port wine and sweet fruit in spring and summer. Very noticeable at night.

Rondeletia amoena - Trusses of sweetly scented pink flowers in August/September.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus) - Well known for its aromatic foliage. Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) Yellow pea shaped flowers in late spring with a honey scent.

Tree Gardenia (Rothmannia globosa) White bells of gardenia scented flowers in late spring.

Viburnums - There are many types with fragrant flowers. Viburnum tinus flowers in winter and early spring. Viburnum japonicum, V. odoratissimum and V. suspensum all flower in spring.

Yesterday Today and Tomorrow Shrub - (Brunfelsia Exima, or B. latifolia) Flowers open in deep purple, fading to white as they age. Light sweet perfume.. Flower during warmer months.

Evergreen Trees

Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum) - Sweetly fragrant, creamy flower spikes in summer.

Michelias - Michelia doltsopa and Michelia champaca both have heavily scented, creamy white flowers in spring.

Flowering Deciduous Shrubs

Chinese Witchhazel (Hamamelis mollis) Yellow flowers in mid winter with a fragrance like jonquils.

Flowering currants (Ribes sanguineum) - Pale pink or pale crimson musky scented flowers in August/September.

Lilacs (Syringa) Well known in various colours of white, pink and blue flowers in spring. They need cold winters to flower well. Not recommended for the coastal plains of NSW or the metropolitan area of Sydney.

Mock orange (Philadelphus) Masses of sweet, orange scented white flowers in late September and October.

Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) Sprays of white, sweetly scented flowers like heliotrope in summer. It's not often available and needs a protected spot to grow well.

Viburnum x burkwoodii, V.carlesiiand V. x carlcephalum - Clusters of white flowers in July and August with a fragrance of carnation and gardenia.

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) - Tiny yellow flowers in mid winter with a fragrance like jasmine and jonquils.

Flowering Deciduous Trees

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Friesia') - Pale lilac, vanilla scented flowers in spring and golden foliage.

Crabapple (Malus ionensis plena) - Fluffy, double, pale pink flowers with an almond scent in late September/October and good autumn foliage. M. spectabilis and M. floribunda have this scent but not as strongly.

Flowering Apricot (Prunus mume) - There is a double pink, a double white and a double crimson type. They have almond scented flowers in June/July.

Flowering Plum (Prunus x blireiana) - Fluffy, double, pink flowers with a sweet honey fragrance in August/September followed by purple red leaves. Prunus cerasifera varieties have a similar fragrance but it is not as strong.

Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) Red, pink, apricot and white forms are available of this well known plant which has deliciously scented summer flowers.

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) - There is a double pink and a double crimson form. The flowers in September smell of honeyed almonds.

Lindens (Tilias) There are quite a few varieties and all are well known in Europe for their delicious scent in summer. They do however take quite a few years to flower.

Fruit Trees

The smell of citrus in bloom is always magnificent in spring and the aromatic fragrance of their foliage in summer is welcome. Plums and apples have a delicious scent when in bloom too. When we think of fragrant plants we often forget fruit trees and yet they also provide food!

Herbs

Many have aromatic foliage e.g. Mint, Thymes, Wormwood and some fragrant flowers e.g. Elderberry, Lemon verbena, Violets, Heliotrope.

Magnolias

These well known late winter/early spring flowers boast many varieties. They have a sweet fragrance and are lovely as cut flowers. The evergreen Magnolia grandiflora which flowers in summer has a lemon fragrance and grows into a large tree.

Orchids

This group of plants mostly have a subtle fragrance although some have a very strong scent. Cymbidiums, coelogyne and many dendrobiums can be grown outside fairly easily in Sydney. They mostly flower through winter and spring. They make excellent basket and pot plants and can be brought inside while in flower.

Roses

There is a wide range of roses which exude delightful perfumes. Many of the older roses have light fragrances, and modern bush roses such as Double Delight, Mr. Lincoln, and Peace, have heady perfumes. Check with your Greengold Garden Centre for recommendations on the best available perfumed roses.