Ah, summer. The season of countless beach trips, fresh lemonade, a tan, and fragrant plants.
Now we’re sure there are a ton of other things that can be added to that list, but we want to touch on the last item mentioned…
The fragrant plants.
When creating a landscape, it’s important to create a product that will be pleasing to at least two of the five senses. And why we say two out of five is because you may not want to eat the plants in your landscape. Leave that to the deer and insects. (Just kidding, there are always ways to prevent that.) Also, you may not want to touch all of the plants in your landscape, as some plants have thorns and could cause irritation to your skin. Plants don’t really make a sound unless the wind is blowing. That leaves two senses that you can use to your advantage to create your landscape…sight and scent.
The plants we are going to mention today are for Summer interest, and are both very pleasing to the eyes and nose.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
This shrub grows best in full sun with any soil type. It comes in a wide variety of colors and blooms in the summer and fall. It’s pretty much a guaranteed hummingbird and butterfly magnet, and is one of the most fragrant of shrubs. See more varieties and information in our previous article about Butterfly Bushes here. (The photo above is of a Purple Haze Butterfly Bush.)
Four O’ Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
This lively perennial received the name of Four O’ Clocks because the flowers open late in the afternoon. Think of it as a plant that celebrates happy hour! Although there’s not much scientific proof, the leaves are thought to be attractive and lethal to Japanese beetles. Sounds like a good science project for your kids! (Your landscaping can be educational and take care of that sixth sense too!) The flowers come in a variety of colors and produce a slight vanilla scent around the time they start opening up. It’s like a welcome home present from your plants! (The photo above is of the Broken Colors Four O’ Clocks.)
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
This evergreen shrub makes the list because it is known for the extremely fragrant flowers it produces. It grows best in warm climates, in part shade, but adapts well to wherever it is placed as long as it is maintained. (The photo above is of the Crown Jewel Gardenia.)
Moonflower (Datura)
This annual is noted as one of the most romantic plants you can grow in the garden. Imagine planting this beside a bench, surrounded by landscape lighting, for you and your significant other to enjoy, while having a glass of wine and a late night talk. Similar to the Four O’ Clocks mentioned above, these flowers open up in the evening after the sun goes down and stay open until the sun returns the next morning. They carry a sweet fragrance while they’re open. They do well here in North Carolina because they’re heat and drought resistant, two things we occasionally battle during the summer. They’re low maintenance but there is a downside to this beautiful flower…it’s poisonous. When we mentioned earlier about maybe not wanting to eat your plants, this is what we were talking about. If you can find a different way to fulfill your hunger, this plant would make a wonderful addition to your landscaping!
Confederate Jasmine
While there is a full on controversy and political debate going on about one of the words listed above, it has nothing to do with this very fragrant and very beautiful plant. It’s an evergreen and grows best in full sun. This plant only requires average water and is drought resistant. Like the Moonflower, you can’t eat this plant because all parts of it are poisonous. See why we mentioned creating your landscape based on only two senses?
We incorporate these plants in many of our landscaping plans and designs, as they are often requested and suggested. Ready to add one or all of these plants to your existing landscape? Ready to start a new project? We’d be more than happy to help you!
Give us a call today at 919-844-3441 or fill out the contact form below. We look forward to hearing from you!
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