15 Best Fragrant Perennials For Your Garden

Agastache foeniculum, is a short-lived herbaceous perennial with blue flowers — Photo:
Getty Images

Scent is powerful, triggering memories from long ago and transporting us to faraway places. In the garden, fragrant perennials often connect us to childhood walks through our grandparents’ gardens or summer days spent gathering bouquets. Aromatic flowers and foliage also play upon our emotions. Some scents are soothing and can be used to enhance outdoor seating areas to help us unwind after a long day. When planted near the front door, fragrant perennials make an alluring first impression. Fragrant blooms also attract a diversity of pollinators to the garden.

When planting fragrant perennials in the garden, consider placement relative to other aromatic plants, as some scents clash. Create distance between strong smells so they do not overpower one another and combine complimentary fragrances for an altogether unique experience. Also think about airflow. Gentle breezes disperse a flower’s perfume through the garden, but heavy winds can carry it away. Protect scented blooms from heavy wind to ensure the aroma lingers.

For fragrance that lingers all season long, plant a mix of spring, summer, and fall blooming perennials throughout the garden. Concentrate on areas where you spend the most time relaxing so you can enjoy the sweet rewards of your labor.

From spring bulbs to fall blooms, these 15 fragrant perennials will transform your garden into a feast for the senses.

01 of 15

Dianthus

Botanical Name: Dianthus species and hybrids
Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
Soil Type: Medium to Occasionally Dry, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline (6.0-7.5)

Commonly called cheddar pinks, cottage pinks, or simply pinks, Dianthus are known for their spicy, clove-scented blooms and fringed petals. This low-growing evergreen makes a wonderful groundcover or border in perennial beds and performs well in rock gardens. Deadhead plants following the spring flush for repeat blooming in summer. Many varieties also rebloom heavily in early autumn. Dianthus is winter hardy in USDA zones 3-9.

02 of 15

Tuberose

Botanical Name: Agave amica (previously Polianthes tuberosa)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Type: Medium to Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)

Tuberose is a favorite of hummingbirds and humans alike, with intensely fragrant blooms that have long been used to make perfume. Plants produce spikes of trumpet-shaped flowers in white, yellow, or pink hues. The individual flowers open sequentially along the stem beginning in mid-summer for a long-lasting display, even when flowers are cut for bouquets. Hardy in zones 7-10, tuberose plants can be dug and stored indoors over the winter in colder regions.

03 of 15

Peony

peonies — Southern Living/Adrienne Legault

Botanical Name: Peonia species and hybrids
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.5-7.0)

Peony blooms are not only immensely showy but also delightfully fragrant. Some cultivars are more fragrant than others, so keep that in mind when selecting peonies for your garden. Growing peonies in Southern gardens can be tricky, as plants require a period of winter chill to bloom. Herbaceous peonies grow well in zones 3-8, but typically require afternoon shade. Early blooming varieties perform the best in hot southern gardens. Tree peonies and Itoh peonies are more heat tolerant and can grow as far south as northern Florida.

04 of 15

Butterfly Ginger

Ginger Lily Bloom — APION / Getty Images

Botanical Name: Hedychium coronarium
Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
Soil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.5-6.5)

A tropical-looking plant perfect for hot and humid Southern gardens! Named for its butterfly-shaped blooms, this delightful member of the ginger family produces 2-inch, pure white flowers from late summer through frost. Blooms are irresistibly fragrant, with a scent reminiscent of honeysuckle. Reliably hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8-10, plants can also be overwintered beneath a heavy blanket of mulch in protected areas of zone 7. In colder regions, container-grown plants can be overwintered indoors in a dry, frost-free location.

05 of 15

Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula species
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Type: Dry to Medium, Well-draining, Lean
Soil pH: Neutral to Slightly Alkaline (6.7-7.3)

While lavender thrives on heat, humidity can mean its demise. Luckily, plant breeders have introduced new varieties that withstand Southern humidity, including Phenomenal™ and 'Sensational' lavenders (zones 5-9). Hybrid varieties tend to perform the best in the South but must have well-draining soil. Consider planting in raised beds or containers.

06 of 15

Garden Phlox

Phlox paniculata — Getty Images/Jacky Parker Photography

Botanical Name: Phlox paniculata and hybrids
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline (6.0-8.0)

The scent of garden phlox (zones 4-8) is synonymous with summer. The sweet vanilla-clove scented flowers open July to August in densely packed clusters forming 6- to 8-inch heads in vibrant pink, purple, blue, or white hues. Garden phlox is native to the eastern United States and attracts a diversity of native bees and butterflies. You’ll also see hummingbirds sipping from the tubular florets.

07 of 15

Bearded Iris

Botanical Name: Iris x germanica
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Type: Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.0-7.0)

With names like 'Sasparilla' and 'Lime Soda' it comes as no surprise that many varieties of bearded iris (zones 3-9) smell sugary sweet. 'Java Bleue' has a distinctive orange scent while the variety 'Gingersnap' smells like root beer. The blooms of a closely related species, Iris pallida (zones 4-10), smell like grape Kool-Aid and the oils from its roots have been used to flavor sodas and candy. With so many delectable fragrances, it’s hard to choose just one variety for the garden. So go ahead, plant up an aromatic feast!

08 of 15

Chocolate Flower

Botanical Name: Berlandiera lyrata
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Type: Dry to Medium, Well-draining, Average Fertility
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Alkaline (6.0-8.0)

This unusual member of the Aster family is perfect for dry, exposed areas of the garden. Native to rocky plains and grasslands from Kansas south to Texas and Arizona, chocolate flower has a deep taproot and excellent drought tolerance. The chocolate scent giving the plant its name comes from the flowers and is most pronounced on warm mornings. Plants bloom year-round in frost-free areas and flower spring through frost in cooler regions of its range (Zones 4-10).

09 of 15

Oriental Hybrid Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium - Oriental hybrids
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)

Of all the lilies, the oriental hybrids emit the most exquisite perfume. The large, upward facing blooms are often bicolored, boasting brilliant shades of pink, lavender, or burgundy, while the flowers of some cultivars are pure white. These tend to be the last lilies to bloom, opening mid to late summer and into fall. They make excellent cut flowers, but not everyone appreciates their strong scent indoors.

10 of 15

Lily of the Valley

Botanical Name: Convallaria pseudomajalis
Sun Exposure: Dappled to Partial Shade
Soil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)

Common lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis, Zones 3-7), which hails from Europe and Asia, can be quite aggressive, but its American counterpart C. pseudomajalis (Zones 5-8), native to the Southern Appalachians, is much better behaved. Also called lily of the valley (to keep us all confused), the flowers of C. pseudomajalis are just as fragrant as their Eurasian cousins and stand among taller foliage. Native lily of the valley can be challenging to find at garden centers. Ask for it at specialty nurseries and from your local native plant society. The heavenly perfume makes it well worth your effort to seek out this charming native .

11 of 15

Rosemary

Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Type: Dry to Medium, Well-draining, Average
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)

The pine-like scent of rosemary leaves is a kitchen favorite but can also add wonderful aroma to the garden. Plants with scented foliage work best near walkways, where passersby can brush up against the leaves to release their perfume. Rosemary also works well in raised planters and patio containers that provide the good drainage this plant needs. Plants are winter hardy to zone 8 and must be wintered indoors in colder regions.

12 of 15

Chocolate Cosmos

Botanical Name: Cosmos atrosanguineus
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Type: Medium, Well-draining, Average
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (5.5-6.2)

This low-maintenance beauty boasts velvety, deep red blooms that emit an appetite-whetting chocolate aroma. The fragrance of these heat-loving blooms is most pronounced on warm sunny days. Chocolate cosmos are tender perennials hardy in zones 9 to 11. In cooler areas, treat plants as an annual or dig tubers in fall and store them overwinter in a cool, dry location, much like dahlias.

13 of 15

Hyacinths

Botanical Name: Hyacinthus orientalis
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)

Don't overlook bulbs when seeking out fragrant perennials. Hyacinths (zones 4-8) bring rich, floral fragrance and plenty of color to the spring garden. Flowering in eye-catching pink, purple, blue and red hues, hyacinths produce spikes of densely packed florets that open all at once for a striking display. Plant hyacinths October to December for mid-spring blooms.

14 of 15

Blue Phlox

Botanical Name: Phlox divaricata
Sun Exposure: Deep to Partial Shade, Dappled Sun
Soil Type: Moist, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.5-7.2)

This native woodland perennial is a delight to the senses each spring, when the tubular blue to lavneder blooms open en masse, releasing their heavenly perfume. Blue phlox (zones 3-8) provides an excellent source of nectar for native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. While plants thrive in moist soils, they tolerate dry soil and periods of drought. A lower-growing species than garden phlox, blue phlox plants grow one foot tall and spread to form small clumps.

15 of 15

Anise Hyssop

Botanical Name: Agastache foeniculum
Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun, Dappled Shade
Soil Type: Dry to Medium, Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (5.5-6.2)

Anise hyssop (zones 5-9) is named for its anise- or licorice-scented foliage which is commonly used to flavor teas. Showy spikes of tiny, soft purple flowers adorn plants, opening atop the bright green foliage in late July and continuing to bloom through late fall. The tubular blooms open in intervals for a long-lasting display and attract a variety of pollinators to the garden.

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