Fragrance in the garden can be just as important as colour or structure. Whether you’re designing for a domestic garden, a commercial landscape, or a sensory-focused space, choosing plants with reliable scent adds another dimension—one that evokes emotion, memory, and wellbeing.
At Johnsons Nurseries, we’ve selected a range of high-performing fragrant plants that offer seasonal interest, structure, and most importantly—natural perfume.
Lavender is a timeless favourite, prized for its calming aroma and versatility. Its long-flowering spikes are a magnet for bees and butterflies from mid-summer onwards, making it both ornamental and beneficial for pollinators. With its silver-grey foliage and distinctive purple blooms, it suits everything from formal borders to wildlife gardens and containers.
Fragrance: Classic, calming, and intense—great for paths and containers
Flowers: July – September
Position: Full sun
Height: Dependent on variety
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Available in 2L, 3L, 5L and 10L pots (depending on variety)
This evergreen climber is a go-to choice for adding vertical fragrance. Star Jasmine’s creamy-white flowers appear from late spring into summer, releasing a sweet, exotic perfume reminiscent of warm Mediterranean evenings. Its dark green leaves turn bronze in colder months, providing year-round interest.
Ideal for walls, trellises, or over archways, it needs a sunny, sheltered position and fertile, well-drained soil. As a bonus, it’s relatively low maintenance and offers structure along with scent.
Fragrance: Sweet and exotic, reminiscent of warm evenings
Flowers: June – August
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 9m
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Available in 5L, 10L and 20L pots (subject to availability)
Lilacs are classic spring-flowering shrubs that offer a burst of colour and scent in May and June. Their dense clusters of flowers fill the air with a nostalgic, sweet perfume, instantly recognisable and deeply evocative. Lilacs are perfect for cottage gardens, mixed borders, or as statement features in more formal planting schemes.
They prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, particularly one that is neutral to alkaline. Available in sizes from 2L to 20L, lilacs offer strong early-season impact with minimal care once established.
Flowers: May – June
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 5m (depending on variety)
Soil: fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil
Available in 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L, 20L + pots. (subject to availability)
Sarcococca, or sweet box, is a hidden gem of winter planting. Flowering in the coldest months (December to February), it produces small, white blooms that release a surprisingly strong, sweet fragrance. Its evergreen foliage, compact habit, and tolerance of shade make it ideal for entranceways, shaded corners, or containers.
‘Winter Gem’ is particularly valued for providing seasonal scent when little else is in bloom. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and adds year-round structure to the garden.
Fragrance: Unexpectedly strong for such a small flower—spicy and sweet
Flowers: Late winter-early spring
Position: Partial shade
Height: Up to 0.5m
Soil: fertile, well-drained, moist soil
Daphne is an elegant, slow-growing shrub known for its early-season fragrance. From late winter into early spring, it produces clusters of pale pink blooms with a soft but rich scent. Its variegated, evergreen foliage adds year-round interest, making it a great choice for raised beds, containers, or near paths.
Daphnes do best in sheltered positions with full sun or partial shade and humus-rich, well-drained soil. Though relatively compact, they pack a sensory punch and work well in smaller garden spaces or courtyard designs.
Fragrance: Subtle and sophisticated
Flowers: December – March
Position: Full sun – Partial shade
Height: Up to 1.5m
Soil: fertile, well-drained, humus-rich soil
No fragrant garden would be complete without roses. From classic tea roses to modern shrub and groundcover forms, scented varieties offer unmatched floral perfume. One standout is Rosa de L’hay, a vigorous shrub rose with deep purple blooms and an intense fragrance from July to September.
Roses prefer full sun and fertile, moisture-retentive soil. They’re ideal for traditional borders, rose gardens, or mixed planting schemes. We stock a wide range of perfumed rose varieties suitable for various garden styles and planting needs.
Fragrance: Deep, luxurious, and romantic
Flowers: July – September (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun – Partial shade
Height: Up to 2.5m (depending on variety)
Soil: fertile, well-drained, moist humus-rich soil
Whether for personal enjoyment or for creating appealing commercial spaces, fragrant planting can:
✔ Enhance outdoor living areas
✔ Provide year-round sensory value
✔ Support health and wellbeing through nature
✔ Encourage lingering and relaxation
We stock a wide range of hardy, nursery-proven fragrant plants suitable for a variety of schemes. Speak to our team for advice on combinations, seasonal highlights, or availability across pot sizes.
📞 Contact us today or explore our latest availability list online.
Posted 3rd Jun 11:14am
