Fragrant Flowers from Seed
by Diane Linsley
What are the most fragrant flowers from seed?
One of the great pleasures in life is enjoying the sweet fragrance of a flower in your own garden. There's no perfume in the world to compare with the warm, sun-kissed fragrance created by nature.
Plant fragrant flowers close to paths so you can enjoy them as you walk by. Some plants have fragrant leaves, which are fun to rub. I have a potted herb garden by my front door. I enjoy rubbing the leaves of the herbs while I'm watering them. The herbs come indoors for the winter, where I continue to enjoy them long after the rest of the garden has gone dormant.
"It is a golden maxim to cultivate the garden for the nose, and the eyes will take care of themselves." ~Robert Louis Stevenson
Fragrant Flower Seeds
Alyssum -- Masses of tiny white, pink or purple flowers with a light, sweet fragrance. Easy-to-grow annual.
Dianthus -- Most dianthus species have a sweet and spicy fragrance.
Fragrant Persian Stonecress -- Pink flowers with a cotton candy fragrance. Drought-tolerant perennial.
Gilia tricolor -- Annual wildflower with delicate, lilac and white, trumpet-shaped flowers that smell like chocolate. Easy to grow from seed.
Hesperis matronalis -- Sweetly fragrant, violet or white flowers. Self-sowing perennial. Easy to grow from seed.
Lunaria annua -- Fragrant, purple flowers followed by showy seed pods. Shade-tolerant biennial.
Mirabilis jalapa (Four O'Clock) -- Sweetly fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in a wide range of colors.
Moonflower Vine (Ipomoea alba) -- Huge, 6" wide, pure white flowers with a sweet fragrance. Night-blooming, annual vine. Tender perennial in zones 8-11.
Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) -- Fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. Annual.
Night Scented Stock -- Heirloom annual with a light, sweet fragrance.
Oenothera (Evening Primrose) -- Yellow to orange-red flowers that bloom in the evening, releasing their sweet fragrance.
Penstemon palmeri -- Large, light pink flowers that smell like grapes. Drought-tolerant, native perennial.
Petunia -- Fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers on trailing plants. Blooms in shades of pink, red, purple and white. Easy to grow from seed.
Phlox drummondii -- Native annual with lightly fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red, rose, magenta and white.
Siberian Wallflower -- Lightly fragrant, bright orange flowers in late spring.
Sweet Pea -- The powerful fragrance can be smelled from several feet away.
Virginia Stock -- Sweetly fragrant, small flowers in pink, purple and white. Quick to bloom from seed.
Yellow Columbine -- Delicate, honeysuckle fragrance. A rare aquilegia species.
Flowers and Herbs with Fragrant Foliage
Agastache -- Perennials in a range of colors and forms. The leaves have a minty or licorice fragrance. Each species or variety smells different.
Basil -- Highly fragrant herb for cooking and ornamental gardens. Each variety has a different flavor.
Chamomile -- Sweetly fragrant foliage. Small, white daisy flowers for tea.
English Thyme -- Fragrant herb for cooking or potpourri. Pinkish-white flowers. Drought-tolerant perennial.
Greek Oregano -- The pizza herb. Yummy fragrance. Spreading perennial.
Lavender -- Fragrant flowers and foliage. Good for potpourri.
Lemon Balm -- Strong, lemon fragrance. Nice for teas. Has a sedative effect. Easy to grow from seed.
Lemon Beebalm -- The crushed leaves have a mild, citrus fragrance. The lavender-pink flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Sage (Salvia officinalis) -- Spicy herb for poultry seasoning. Lavender flowers.
Related Articles
Flowers for Cutting -- The best annual and perennial cut flowers from seed.
Container Flower Seeds -- The best annuals and perennials for containers.
Companion Plants for Roses -- Annuals and perennials for the rose garden.
Recommended Books
Tasha Tudor's Garden by Tova Martin & Richard W. Brown
The Bold and Brilliant Garden by Sarah Raven
Seeds
