Fragrance should feature prominently in your design; it adds an additional and essential dimension to any garden. Plants give out scent in two distinct ways: through scented flowers that release their perfume as they open, such as roses, honeysuckle, philadelphus and mahonia; or through aromatic foliage, when essential oils are released by crushing, brushing, and heat, such as rosemary, chamomile, artemisia and lavender.

Position scented plants where you are likely to sit in the garden, remembering that many flowers exhale their scents most strongly in the evening. However, do bear in mind that some research has indicated a possible link between scent and allergic complaints such as hayfever and asthma, so you may need to take this into consideration when planning where to position scented plants.

Scent Styles

Garden scent can be classified in a way similar to the 'notes' referred to with cosmetic perfumes:

• Fruity
• Honey melon sage (Salvia elegans)
• Moroccan broom (Cytisus battandieri)
• Herbal/Balsam
• Mint (Mentha spp.)
• Artemisia spp.
• Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)
• Honey/Almond
• Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
• Tree lupin (Lupinus arboreus)
• Lemon/Orange
• Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla)
• Lemon thyme (Thymus × citriodorus)
• Lemonwood (Pittosporum eugenioides)
• Rose/Floral
• Japanese mahonia (Mahonia japonica)
• most Roses
• Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
• California lilac (Ceanothus)
• Spicy/Musk
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• some Azaleas
• Buffalo currant (Ribes odoratum)
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)
• Sweet/Vanilla
• Mimosa (Acacia dealbata)
• Burkwood's daphne (Daphne burkwoodii)
• Lily tree (Magnolia denudata)

Season

Time of year is important when planning scent, and there are plants available which produce scent throughout the year either via their flowers or their foliage. Select scented plants of both types for year round effects. Here are a few seasonal suggestions:

• Spring
• Carles' viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)
• Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
• Evergreen clematis (Clematis armandii)
• Fragrant daphne (Daphne odora)
• Japanese crab apple (Malus floribunda)
• Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata)
• Rhododendrons - particularly R. lutea
• Summer
• Moroccan broom (Cytisus battandieri)
• Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
• Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
• Roses
• Mock orange (Philadelphus)
• Autumn
• Clematis (Clematis × triternata 'Rubromarginata')
• Common myrtle (Myrtus communis)
• False redbud (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
• Holly-leaf sweetspire (Itea illicifolia)
• Oleaster (Elaeagnus x ebbingei)
• Winter
• Bodnant viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense)
• Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
• Christmas Box (Sarcococca confusa)
• Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)
• Japanese mahonia (Mahonia japonica)

Time of Day

Some plants produce their scent at different times of the day, and so you should use this to your advantage by placing them where they can be enjoyed. For example, plant evening scented specials such as Night Scented Stock, Nicotiana or Evening primrose around a seating area that enjoys late sunshine. Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas') is also popular - it has a wonderful fragrance which lingers in warm evenings.

However, do bear in mind that heat reacts with scent, making the effects overpowering for some. Examples of such plants are Regal lily (Lilium regale) and other heavy scented subjects.

Creating Tiers of Scent

Try to make tiers of scent by including scented plants from each of the major groups in your planting - trees, climbers, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, annuals and biennials. Combined with seasonality, this will give you a good balance of scented plants in your garden.

Don't forget ground level subjects - thymes, chamomile and pennyroyal grow happily between paving slabs, releasing their scent when trodden on. The heat reflected by paving also disperses scent into the air.

Creating Different Moods

Scents can be very evocative of people and places. For example, the aroma of Cistuses instantly conjures up the Mediterranean. Use scented plants in different garden compartments to reflect different moods and styles and entice visitors around.