Anyone else interested in scented plants?

One of my clients is busy building a large conservatory ....

I work there today and will try convince him to use loads of potplants in the conservatory, and what will work well if most of the plants are fragrant potplants .... then try and obtain fragrance for all 12 months

I landscaped his whole garden from scratch,and that would be the cherry on the cake

 

No, I haven't been, John, but it sounds wonderful. I must put it on my list of things to do. If we ever get a summer. It is positively stinking in Kent today. The windows misted up earlier on. Love your picture; shame it isn't scratch n' sniff. Wasn't Monsieur Redoute a great illustrator of roses?

 

Told you they were a dark horse! But they're evergreen and self-seed, there's a lot to be said for them. I 've never heard them called fringecups, good name. I keep forgetting their proper name, I have to think about the William Tell overture.

 

In my gardensssss plantingssss I am always mindful to which way the wind blows and the usually sitting position of humans. Thus making sure scented ones are planted in that area. And if I do have a choice between a scented that will work or a non-scented the former is always picked.

 

I've posted this one already, in the rose forum, but I had to include here as well.

It's 'Wellbeing' by Harkness and it smells wonderful. The scent somehow goes with the colour - fresh and fruity.

 

I spoke to my client today about the scented pot plants in his conservatory .... he is keen, and said I must get some prices ... his wife is keen aswell, aslong as she gets to choose the planting pots (she has expensive taste)

thats a good excuse for me to learn about indoor fragrant plants now ... the conservatory is large, so a few small shrubs in pots will fit in aswell

I may even include a tree fern or two for foilage (I've never planted of grown a tree fern yet)

 

Not scented, but I've been very pleased with the Plumbago Capensis Darker Blue I got form Jungle Plants last year. Vigorous, flowers like mad, looks good, nice darker blue

www.junglegardens.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d30_Conservatory_Plants2.html

 

I sometimes frequent a forum that discusses fragrant plants .... there is one name that many are prepared to pay a lot of money for, and which originates from Asia/China ...

chloranthus spicatus

they say there are 2 varieties, and the one with the white flowers is the one they all want

it must be very special for fragrance .... it seemed that the guys were willing to part serious money for these

 

found more info on the chloranthus spicatus ... it's also known as Pearl Orchid

http://fragranthill.com/?p=104

the fragrance is described as (snip):

Our featured plant, the Pearl Orchid, is not a true orchid either. It is being called one due to its floral fragrance. This is a trouble free plant with smooth, glossy, slightly puckered green leaves and tender, semi-crawling stems. It prefers warm moist shady conditions and humus rich well-drained soil. The blooming period is from summer to fall and the flowers are exceedingly fragrant. As a house plant, this one easily beats out Gardenia and Jasminum sambac for producing fragrant flowers under low light conditions
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the one they show on the link is the pink one .... the white one is supposed to be rarer, and much more fragrant

they say it's easy to propogate (the pink one) .... so if you sell plants, here's one where you could make lots of money if you can get hold of one or 2 plants

 

they cost approx £20 at garden centres near me ... but that is for fairly large shrubs ... on ebay they are cheaper but smaller

there are different types ... I have only ever planted 2

the one that has a strong fragrance for me is the Philadelphus coronarius - 'Variegatus'

last year, I planted a different variety that has yellowish/lime coloured leaves to compliment a colour scheme in a garden ... it's the Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'

it was planted late last year, so never bloomed ... it is however forming flowers now, so it will be interesting to see how it compares .... this one is planted in semi-shade, but seems to be thriving

 

Hello there

There are many different varieties of philadelphus (mock orange) and you can buy them quite cheaply from garden centres.

Here are a few I have grown over the years:-

Virginal - beautiful double flowers which have a very strong scent. This is a large variety which needs space. It eventually grows into a small tree.

Belle etoile - a smaller plant, growing to about five or six feet. Single flowers with a nice dark blotch at the centre. Again, lovely scent.

Philadelphus lemoinei - a dainty shrub with slender, arching stems. Single flowers - not the showiest - but with a particularly lovely smell which has a fruity, pineappley quality.

There is a very pretty double flowered dwarf form of lemoinei called 'Manteau de Hermione' which you often see at garden centres. It is a perfect garden plant in many ways, but if you're growing the plant primarily for scent, choose another variety. The perfume is at best weak. Most of the time I can't smell it at all.

Bear in mind that the flowering season for philadelphus is fairly short and the plant isn't particularly noteworthy for the rest of the season. Philadelphus coronius 'aureus', which I think *dim* has mentioned, has golden leaves which are a bit more interesting than some of the other cultivars.

 

PS I should have added, Fat Controller, that philadelphus is not at all fussy and will grow in most situations and soils. Make sure it has a bit of sunshine, however.