The Fragrant Garden: A Treat for the Senses
by Kathy Zimmerman
Transylvania Extension Master Gardener
When planning your landscape, there are many things to think about: site conditions, sun exposure, complementary colors and textures, appropriate size and height -- but don’t forget about fragrance! It is such a pleasure to be surprised by a waft of fragrance as you walk out the door or to be tending to garden chores and suddenly detect a pleasing scent in the breeze while you work.
In Transylvania County, we are fortunate that we can grow any number of scented, flowering plants that make it possible to have fragrance year-round. Let me take you through the seasons describing some of my favorites.
There is a wonderful groundcover shrub known as Sweetbox (Sarcacocca hookeriana var. humilis) that grows in partial or full shade. This plant, with shiny evergreen leaves, has a very small bloom that opens in late winter. While you can barely see the flower, the sweet scent is sure to catch your attention. I always like to take some cuttings indoors where the fragrance can be enjoyed.
Soon after the Sweetbox blooms, Winter Daphne (Daphne odora) flowers open with a fragrance that is almost intoxicating. My favorite place for a Daphne is near the front door, so that you and your guests can catch the heady scent as you come and go.
As spring arrives, daffodils provide a waft of fragrance. I enjoy these more when they are cut and brought in the house, as it is harder to catch their fragrance outside. On the other hand, another spring-blooming bulb, the hyacinth, has such a strong scent, that I enjoy them more outside.
Another spring-bloomer is one of my favorite all-season plants – Fothergilla. These shrubs (Fothergilla gardenii or Fothergilla major,) are covered with spiky, bottle-brush-like, scented white flowers in April. The bonus with Fothergilla is that they have awesome golden, orange and scarlet foliage in the fall.
Some of North Carolina’s native azaleas offer exceptional fragrance. The Coastal Azalea, (Rhododendron atlanticum,) is a small, suckering azalea with sweet bouquet offered by its lovely white flowers in April and May. The tall-growing Sweet Azalea (Rhododendron arborescens,) blooms in late spring, with a white to light-pink, sweet-smelling flower.
A mid-spring blooming shrub, the Koreanspice Viburnum, (Viburnum carlesii,) provides an outstanding show of flower that is enhanced by sweet fragrance. This is a fairly small, deciduous viburnum that is easily grown in sun or partial shade near the house, where it is readily enjoyed.
May and June are easy months for including fragrance in the garden. Peonies, roses, lavender and lilacs can be grown if you have full sun. The American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescans,) is a native vine that will perfume your garden. There are a number of hostas – especially the Hosta plantaginea – that have a highly fragrant flower. Star Gazer lilies provide a heady scent that will really get your attention!
Moving into the mid-summer, there are two related native flowering shrubs that are must-haves both for scent and pollinator attraction – Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia,) and Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra acuminata.) Blooming in July, these white- or pink-flowering shrubs have a strong, sweet smell that attracts people along with bees and butterflies!
Fragrance in the fall is less common, but if your summer plantings include herbs such as thyme, sage, rosemary and lavender, you will be able to enjoy their bouquet at this time of year. The evergreen “False Holly” (Osmanthus heterophyllus) blooms in fall and produces enjoyable wafts of sweet fragrance. The native witch hazel (Hammamelis virginiana) is another fall bloomer with a light, spicy scent.
There are many other fragrant plants to be enjoyed, but these favorites of mine will get you started thinking about how to include the sensory treat of fragrance in your garden.
Garden Tasks for Mid-June
- Prune climbing roses after they bloom. Fertilize nandinas with 8-8-8 for bright berries this winter.
- Stake dahlias and climbing clematis. Prune clematis after it blooms.
- Encircle lilacs with a complete fertilizer. Rake it in and water thoroughly.
- Do not start watering cool season grasses unless you will be able to keep it adequately watered all summer. Otherwise, allow it to do dormant (brown) and water every three weeks if it does not rain. Irrigated lawns need 1 inch of water per week.
- Continue fungicide/insecticide sprays on fruit trees and grape vines.
- Fertilize (sidedress) vegetables six weeks after planting.
- Spray tomatoes weekly with a fungicide to control blight.
Do you have a question for the Master Gardeners? Send your questions to the Transylvania Times or e-mail us c/o . The Master Gardener Telephone Clinic is also available to answer your garden questions from March through the end of October on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. tonoon at 884-3239. Walk-ins are welcome during those hours at the Community Services Building, 98 E. Morgan St., Brevard. Master Gardeners work at the gardens of Silvermont every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Drop by the ask questions, help or just enjoy the gardens!