Nothing says summer like a garden filled with sweet, heady scents wafting through the warm air. These aromas can instantly lift your mood and create a welcoming space for friends and family. Whether you're drawn to floral, citrusy, or spicy notes, these fragrant plants offer something for everyone. The scents also help attract butterflies and bees, making your garden beautiful and beneficial. With just a few of these blooms, your garden can become a vibrant, perfumed retreat you'll love spending time in.
1. Gardenia, The Classic Creamy Bloom
Gardenias are a summer favorite with creamy white blooms and a rich, jasmine-like aroma. Plant them near entryways or patios for a burst of perfume with every breeze. For optimal growth, gardenias prefer partial shade and acidic soil. Their glossy green leaves add elegance to any garden. These shrubs bloom from late spring through summer. Regular watering helps them thrive in warmer months.
2. Lavender, The Purple Aromatic Healer
Lavender’s calming scent and purple spikes are iconic. It thrives in sunny, dry spots and attracts pollinators while repelling mosquitoes. Ideal for borders or rock gardens, it’s drought-tolerant once established. Prune it after blooming to encourage new growth. The essential oils in lavender are popular in soaps and sachets. It also makes a beautiful dried flower.
3. Jasmine, The Nighttime Perfume Vine
Night-blooming jasmine fills the evening air with a sweet, exotic fragrance. It’s perfect for fences and trellises. Its star-shaped white blooms open at dusk. The scent becomes more intense in the evening. Jasmine thrives in warm, humid climates. It’s a favorite for moon gardens and patios.
4. Honeysuckle, The Sweet Nectar Climber
This vine offers clusters of nectar-rich, tubular flowers with a sweet scent that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. It grows rapidly and is perfect for covering fences or arbors. Honeysuckle blooms in shades of white, yellow, pink, or red. It enjoys full sun to partial shade. Its fragrant blossoms can last from spring through summer.
5. Sweet Alyssum, The Honey-Scented Carpet
These tiny blooms pack a punch with their honey-like aroma. Use them as ground cover or in containers. Sweet alyssum grows low and spreads quickly. It blooms prolifically throughout the season. This plant tolerates cool weather and light frost. It’s ideal for edging paths and borders.
6. Roses, The Timeless Scented Bloom
Old-fashioned and English roses are prized for their powerful and varied fragrances, from fruity to musky. They come in many colors and sizes to suit any garden. Roses love the sun and rich, well-drained soil. Deadheading encourages more blooms. Certain varieties are primarily bred for scent.
7. Peonies, The Lush Springtime Star
Peonies bloom in late spring to early summer, bringing a lush, rose-like fragrance to borders and beds. Their large, ruffled flowers are a garden showstopper. Peonies are long-lived perennials that get better each year. They thrive in sunny spots with rich soil. Some varieties have stronger fragrances than others.
8. Nicotiana, The Dusk-Perfumed Flower
Also known as flowering tobacco, this evening bloomer releases its sweet scent at dusk. It comes in white, pink, red, or lime green blooms. Nicotiana thrives in full sun or light shade. It's easy to grow from seed. The fragrance intensifies in the evening hours.
9. Lily of the Valley, The Bell-Scented Groundcover
Delicate bell-shaped flowers and an unforgettable perfume make this plant a shady garden gem. It prefers moist, rich soil. Lily of the Valley spreads through rhizomes to form lush carpets. It blooms in late spring. Caution: The plant is toxic if ingested.
10. Mock Orange, The Citrus-Scented Shrub
Named for their citrus-blossom scent, mock orange shrubs bloom profusely in early summer. The white flowers resemble orange blossoms. This low-maintenance plant thrives in full sun and attracts pollinators like bees. Prune after flowering to shape the plant.
11. Sweet Peas, The Candy-Colored Climber
These climbers produce fluttery blooms with a light, candy-like fragrance. They are perfect for trellises and cut bouquets and come in a rainbow of colors. Sweet peas prefer cool weather and rich soil. Keep picking the flowers to extend the blooming. They add charm to any cottage garden.
12. Bee Balm, The Minty Pollinator Magnet
Bee balm smells of mint and citrus and attracts bees and butterflies with its bright red blooms. It belongs to the mint family and spreads easily. The plant thrives in moist, sunny areas. It can also help repel pests. Use its leaves in herbal teas.
13. Daphne, The Lemon-Spice Bloom
Highly fragrant in late winter and early spring, Daphne’s pink or white flowers smell like lemon and spice. It's a small shrub with glossy leaves. Daphne prefers partial shade and well-drained soil. It’s sensitive to overwatering. The blooms may be small, but the scent is mighty.
14. Freesia, The Citrus-Colored Gem
A florist favorite, freesia grows well in pots and offers a citrusy, sweet fragrance in many colors. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. Plant the corms in well-drained soil. Freesia’s funnel-shaped flowers appear in spring. They’re often used in perfumes and bouquets.
15. Lemon Balm, The Zesty Green Herb
Crush the leaves for a burst of lemony scent. This herb is part of the mint family. It’s easy to grow and spreads rapidly. Lemon balm prefers sun to partial shade. Harvest often to keep it bushy. It's great in teas and adds a fresh aroma to your garden path.
16. Tuberose, The Moonlight Perfume Spike
This tall, white-flowered beauty emits one of the most intense floral scents. It is ideal for moon gardens and blooms in mid- to late summer. Tuberose prefers warm climates and full sun. It's popular in high-end perfumes. Its fragrance grows stronger in the evening.
17. Chocolate Cosmos, The Cocoa-Scented Rarity
Dark burgundy blooms that smell like, you guessed it, chocolate! A sweet treat for the nose. Chocolate cosmos thrive in sunny, well-drained areas. They’re tender perennials in cooler climates. The blooms appear in late summer. They add drama and depth to borders.
18. Hyacinth, The Springtime Powerhouse
Among the earliest bloomers, hyacinths come in many hues, bringing strong, sweet perfume to spring borders. The flowers grow in dense clusters. Hyacinths prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Their bulbs are planted in the fall. They're perfect for containers or flower beds.
19. Chamomile, The Apple-Scented Healer
Apple-scented chamomile brings a calming aroma and is also perfect for herbal teas. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. The daisy-like flowers bloom in summer. Chamomile attracts pollinators and helps soothe the garden. Harvest flowers for drying and tea-making.
20. Angel’s Trumpet, The Dramatic Night Bloomer
Large trumpet-shaped flowers dangle from branches, filling the night air with a heady scent. Caution: toxic if ingested. The blooms can be white, yellow, or pink. It prefers warm climates and full sun. This plant makes a stunning focal point. Fragrance intensifies at night.
21. Stock, The Clove-Perfumed Cottage Favorite
A cottage garden favorite, stock delivers clove-scented flowers in soft pastel shades. It’s ideal for borders or containers. Stock thrives in cool weather. The flowers are long-lasting when cut. Their spicy scent adds depth to garden fragrances.
22. Scented Geraniums, The Touch-Activated Aromatics
When touched, their leaves release scents like rose, lemon, or mint, ideal for containers and borders. The flowers are usually small but charming. These plants enjoy full sun and well-drained soil. They’re drought-tolerant once established. Crush the leaves to release more fragrance.
23. Plumeria, The Tropical Lei Flower
Famous in Hawaiian leis, plumeria boasts a tropical fragrance and thrives in warm climates. The blooms come in white, yellow, pink, or red. Plumeria prefers sunny, well-drained spots and can be grown in pots or gardens. The scent varies by variety but is always captivating.
24. Wisteria, The Cascading Floral Perfume
Wisteria’s cascading lavender blooms offer a delicate, grape-like fragrance in late spring to early summer. It’s a fast-growing climber that needs strong support. Wisteria loves full sun. Prune regularly to encourage blooms. Its draping clusters add drama to arbors and pergolas.
25. Basil, The Spicy Green Protector
Not just for the kitchen, basil emits a spicy, fresh scent and helps repel pests in vegetable gardens. It thrives in warm, sunny locations. Pinch flowers to promote leafy growth. Basil comes in many varieties, each with unique aromas. It’s great in containers or garden beds.
A Symphony of Summer Scents
From the sugary notes of sweet peas to the bold punch of tuberose, these plants will fill your garden with the essence of summer. Mix and match to keep the natural fragrance flowing all season long. Plant near windows or patios to enjoy the scent indoors. Choose a variety of bloom times for continuous fragrance. Many also support pollinators and natural pest control. Let your garden be a retreat for the senses.