Scented Pots

Containers are a simple way of introducing scent to a garden – and with the right choice of plants you can have the smell of pineapples and marzipan. Pots can be moved around for maximum effect, and placed near doors or windows so that the smell can filter into the house. All it takes is a warm, sheltered spot, where the scent hangs on the air.

Scents are available all year round. The late winter strong scents start with the daphnes which, under glass in a garden room, really are stunning. They hardy evergreen Daphnebholua “Jacqueline Postill” has pinkish or white flowers, and will only grow to about 6 ft (1.8 m) in a pot. Follow it with another hardy evergreen, Daphne adora “Aureomarginata”, with dark pink flowers, which grows to half the size. If you need another wave of perfume, grow the tender Jasminum polyanthum. If it grows too tall, prune it back after flowering, but give it fresh air over summer, standing it outside. Also provide plenty of tomato feed in summer to improve next year’s show. The cooler the winter temperature once it is brought indoors in the fall, the later it will flower next spring.

SUMMER AND WINTER SCENTS

LEFT: The excellent old varieties of heliotrope such as this “Chatsworth” can be used as bedding plants in the summer, then potted up in the fall and brought indoors for winter. With a tomato feed they will keep on flowering.

HYACINTHS

BELOW: Plant hyacinths near seating areas where you can appreciate their amazingly rich scents.

EVENING SCENTS

ABOVE: Nicotiana plants have a wonderful evening scent. Include them in pots around a doorway or under a window.

In summer you need plenty of lilies, and one of the old fashioned heliotropes such as Heliotropium “Princess Marian” for the wonderfully rich smell of marzipan. Salvia rutilans smells of fresh pineapples. For heady evening scents try nicotiana, and still one of the best annuals, night-scented stock. If you have a humid garden room, then pot up one of the tender hoyas. With a minimum winter temperature of 50^F (10^C) they will put out waxy, star-shaped flowers in showy clusters.

The season ends on a high. Gladiolus callianthus “Murieliae” has white flowers with striking purple inner markings in fall, and a sweet scent. And for an inexpensive gift, plant up gall bowls of freesias. Easily raised, the buds open in winter or spring and their scent is quite exquisite.

SCENTED FOLIAGE

ABOVE: Scented-leafed pelargoniums should be placed where people gently brush past them, releasing their perfumes.

LAVENDER IN A POT

RIGHT: Lavenders, such as Lavandula angustifolia, make fine plants for shape and scent.

OVERPOWERING

LEFT: Lilium avratum is one of the most easily grown, and most heavily-scented lilies. Indoors, it is overpowering, so place it outside under a window.

THE SMELL OF CITRUS

RIGHT: You can grow everything from a kumquat to a lemon, especially with winter humidity.