Scentsational choices

What brings more joy that passing by a stunning show of blooms and receiving the added bonus of a gorgeous waft of sweetly scented flowers? Here are our top picks for filling your garden with scent.

Spring- Lilacs (Syringa species)

The lilacs (latin name Syringa) offer pretty panicles of flowers that give off a heady perfume on warm spring days. For deep pink try Charles Joly, or Katherine Havemeyer for double, lavender-coloured flowers. Madame Lemoine is a classic white lilac and Scentsation an unusual variety with purply-pink flowers edged with white.

Summer – Tilia Platyphyllos (Lime)

If you’ve ever walked down a street in July and wondered what is supplying that heady smell of summer.

Autumn - Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Rightfully known as the Candyfloss Tree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum exudes the most wonderful smell of burnt sugar as you wander past it in the autumn. It’s mysterious, too, as you won’t catch the scent of it on the leaves still attached to the branches – it’s more of an aura surrounding the tree that you have to step into to appreciate!


And other…

Winter – Pinus
Trachelospermum jasminoides – flowers with knock-out perfume
Wisteria – a gentle suggestion on the breeze
Liquidambar styraciflua – the resinous scent of its crushed leaves give it the common name sweet gum
Cedrus libanii