Anyone else interested in scented plants?

My garden is planted mainly with scented plants for year round flowering. The best has to be viburnum x bodnantense Dawn, which flowered from September last year until April this year, the scent was so powerful you could smell it 15ft away, particularly at night. It's deciduous and so isn't affected by the vinburnum beetle which got my V. tinus

I planted a sarcoccoca last year because when we went to the Oxford Botanic Garden once it took us ages to work out what was producing the amazing smell, but perhaps it's too small to do much. It certainly doesn't compare with the viburnum, I'm leaving it because it's evergreen but it's a bit of a disappointment.

My David Austin rose Summer Song is also pretty impressive having right now 4 flowers on it and the scent travelling 15ft in the sun, but it's (supposedly) a colour which might not suit everybody.

I wouldn't worry about kids pulling up daffodils and tulips and not washing their hands. No-one in my family ever washed their hands after picking flowers and we're all still here. It's if she starts eating the leaves you want to worry.

 

In an earlier post I asked about a scented Skimmia I had some years ago and ClaraLou suggested it was Skimmia Fragrans. I've now found a supplier on-line but haven't ordered it yet. Assuming it's the right plant it was extremely hardy - evergreen of course- and had a very strong scent in February before most other plants. I'd recommend it.

 

I've never bothered about how toxic plants are in relation to the kids. Just told them to wash their hands when they pick flowers, but I doubt they have ever bothered when I'm not actually stood there - whip-in-hand. I was brought up to wash hands after picking Aconites and the like; over the last few years Internet Forums have made me aware that a number of garden plants are toxic, which I [and probably millions like me!!] never knew about before ... and I'm growing Ricin this year, for the leaves, which must be one of the most deadly poisons know to mankind? I've made a mental note to wash my hands after potting them on, etc., but I don't think I've actually remembered to do so once ...

I don't want to be the cause of some tragic accident, but I think Toxicity through casual contact [with plants] is greatly over stated (specific allergies aside).

Would be worth checking what the LD50 is on some of these things - it could easily be half a wheelbarrow load

 

Hello there AkkaN

I have Viburnum fragrans, which is quite similar to bodnantense (I think it's a parent plant) and I agree it is hard to beat for fragrance. As you say, it blooms for a very long time. I always think it smells a bit like those sugared almond sweets that an ancient aunt always used to give me to break my teeth on.

As for the Sarcococca, give it a bit of time. It's fairly slow growing, but once it reaches a decent size you'll certainly notice it.


My sis and I grew up in a house with laburnum trees in the garden, as well as foxgloves and all manner of other poisonous things. I think we were probably warned to be a bit careful, but no one would have dreamt of bothering to tell us not to sit down and eat them as finger buffet. Even our parents didn't think we were that thick. Anyway, the cupboard was always full of chocolate digestives. Much nicer.

 

Today the long awaited arrival of yet another rose i had to buy last year....(Woos fault) opened up to reveal the most beautifull scent i think i have ever had the pleasure of....
Felicia....just wonderfull

 

Oh yes, that's a lovely one, Loli. It's another of the Reverend Pemberton's Hybrid Musks; a kind of sister to 'Buff Beauty' and 'Cornelia'. They all have a lovely smell, and it travels well on the air; some roses have to be sniffed close up, but no so with the Hybrid Musks!

 

Oh, give me strength! How many daffodil-related deaths or illnesses have there been - ever - in the UK? Surely nobody would be daft enough to cross daffodils off the list just because some H&S Jobsworth somewhere says they're toxic? They are totally ubiquitous in Spring so most families would yield a few yellow-puking toddlers if they were actually, you know, significantly dangerous.

 

There was a case recently where a particularly stupid man (a vicar, if I remember correctly) gave a talk at a primary school and, in order to get the children's attention, decided to eat a daffodil flower. The kids all thought this was hilarious and promptly went outside at break time and followed suit. Several had to be taken to hospital. But I agree totally, Madahlia, dumb vicars notwithstanding.

 

exactly my point ... read the whole thread .... I'm looking at planting Daphne and someone mentioned that it's toxic

 

Wot happened to the vicar? Fell dead on the floor? That'd get their attention.

Reminds me of a story that my bro-in-law likes to tell where he rushes into his boss's office and necks a handful of yew berries in protest against some yew trees that were due for the chop.

You have to spit the pips out, apparently. Still don't see how you would survive if you didn't have this essential bit of info. I'll get him to tell me the story again, he'll enjoy that.

 

I would love an essence of lupin. I have 3 (pink,blue and white) and I almost swoon as I go outside to give them some water in the evening. It's such a PRETTY perfume.....

 

Great idea for a thread Clare.Scented plants are essential ilove in my garden most of the plant you have mentioned .
But I have seen nothing about plant that have scented leaves like Pelargonium
and what about plants that smell chocolat like the Cosmos atrosanguineus or Berlandiera lyrata which is spectacular in full hot sun
please be indulgent English is not my mother tongue

 

Hello Cistus

Your English is just fine, unlike my lousy French.

Yes, I agree, there are still some things we haven't got around to including here.

I love Cosmos atrosanguineus. However, I wonder whether we would identify the smell as 'chocolate' if we didn't already know that it's called 'Chocolate Cosmos'! It's very nice, though. I've never grown Berlandiera lyrata.

I love the scented pelargoniums and have grown most of them over the years. My favourite is a variety with rather small leaves called 'Prince of Orange'. It really does smell like oranges.

My favourite leaf smell has to be Lippia citriodora, Lemon Verbena. It only needs a slight touch to release the scent.

 

Sitting outside for 5mins when i got home from work today i kept getting the gentle scent of Nemesia and trailing verbena.....sent me 'of on one' again... just lovely