Roses a romantic dispensers of scented plants for your garden

The rose is the most popular scented plant with a perfume that refreshes and rekindles love. However not all roses are scented; only are. Roses are truly beautiful and wonderfully scented plants.

Roses can be propagated in both beds and pots. When selecting roses from the garden nursery consider the following criteria

  • Suitability for cultivating in pots

  • Intensity of scent and colour of flowers

  • Growth techniques and height of growth

  • Flowering tendencies

Propagate roses in a tall pot for them to fully grow well. Roses should be handled with caution as they have very sharp thorns. The Rosa shocking blue crate accents with its colour and scent. Other varieties include Rosa Ena Harkness, Rosa Fantia-latour and Rosa New Dawn

Scented surroundings

You can design your own miniature scented island on a balcony or patio. It is good practice to mix both scented and non-scented plants to produce an appropriate scent which is not overpowering.

Introducing an exotic touch

Select large plants with an attractive eye-catching shape to use as accent plants. Combine these large plants with smaller plants and mix scented plants with non scented ones to allow the different aromas to remain pleasant and identifiable. Use attractive pots and gourds to enhance the ambience.

Robust Australasian plants

Plants from Australasia are very easy to care for. The rapid growing Eucalyptus produces a wonderful aroma which smells like the common cough lozengers. Mint bush (Prostanthera) releases very strong mint odors while the large leaved Australian frangipani (Hymenosporum) emits a sweet scent.

The glowing red tassels of the pokutakawa (Metrosideros) and bottle brush (Callistemon) trees are good accompanying plants for the Australasian scented plants. There are also climbing plants that can also enhance the design. Hardenbergia, Sollya, Kennedia and Clianthus can also be used. The Pandorea, with its gleaming foliage and oink funnel-shaped flowers harmonizes quiet well with flowers of the Boronia and Acacia.

Sun-loving plants from South Africa

Cape originating plants generally require considerable amounts of sun and protection from frost in winter. Cape town produces numerous of scented plants including the toxic Carissa, fine leaved silk tree (Albizia Julibissin) a and scented geraniums (Pelargonium).

The lantana and Seneca (Polgala) can be used as accompanying plants; with their strong colours. The African blue lily (Agapanthus) and cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata) can be combined with the Pelargonium to produce a beautiful scented flower masterpiece. You can decorate the design with flowers of the thorny coral tree.

The wealth of flowers from Central America

Most sweet scented plants are indigenous to Central America . Scented plants from Central America include milkweed (Asclepias) with sweet odors; the rapid growing tree tomato (Cyphomandra) and Araujia. The thorny Colletia is suitable for a background planting. The Chilean jasmine produces very enchanting scents. The scented plants can be combined with unscented species of passion flower (Passiflora), Bougainvillea and Aburilon (hibiscus species).

Plants that are native to china

Many plants that originate from China also thrive and grow in Mediterranean regions. Scented Chinese plants include lemon and orange (Citrus), oleander (Nerium) and jasmine (Jasminum). There are also climbing plants that smell sweet such as the Dregea. The Bamboo is ideal as an accompanying plant and the its green colour create a calm green oasis among bright colours.