What smells great and strong, looks good and doesn't need alot of looking after

I am new to gardening and have planted a couple of flower beds last year which are doing ok so far. I deliberatly planted perrennials as i dont always have alot of time being a dad of two etc etc etc.

I would like to enhance the garden experience with something that kicks up a good smell with the wind. I have planted a lavender which, im told will get bigger every year and two lemon scented conifers at about two feet each but neither really give that obvious, in your face smell as you walk past, Is that even possible? If so what would give me that? I also have a few pots which im learning about..

 

Hi paterson00 and welcome to GC.

How about a Lemon-Scented Verbena shrub? It's called Aloysia triphylla (here it's called Bela-luísa). It's a very attractive evergreen shrub (perhaps not there) which you can keep trimmed and has a wonderful lemon scent if you brush against it or touch it so best planted by a path. The leaves can be dried to make lemon tea .... so a bonus! It's drought tolerant here once established ... but not a problem for you, but means it can take neglect!

Hardy Salvias are scented in the wind and when you touch them also.

Enjoy the forum!

 

Thanks for your reply. I have ordered four of these straight away from ebay on your reccomendation and a little research and eagerly await there arrival. Do you have any maintanence tips or any more reccomendations?

 

Gosh, don't know, plant them, look after them initially (we only water and don't feed here and we're on red clay soil) and then let them to their own devices ... that's what we do here .... plants have to survive under quite severe conditions here so should be okay there. I gave one to an English friend here and it was the one thing that survived when he went away for the summer last year ... unattended! Good luck ... but I think you'll enjoy them!

Hopefully someone from there will come along and confirm my choice.

 

Honeysuckle will give your garden that lovely scented smell. You can plant it in an out of the way corner.

Scented carnations and pinks are good too.

Not perennial but a packet of night scented stock seeds sprinkled into the back of beds will waft their perfume round the garden.

 

I'd recommend any of the following, all of which are happily scenting my garden - Jasmine, Phlox, Sweet Williams and Perennial Nemesia. For something more exotic there's Cosmos Atrosanguineus, also known as the Chocolate Plant, which does exactly what it says on the label and smells strongly of chocolate or Calamintha which smells of peppermint.

 

Lemon verbena may be hardy in Portugal but it won't survive a winter here unless planted against a south wall and protected with bubble wrap!

For perfume to be carried on the wind and be noticed at a distance you could try
Mahonia
Sarcocca
Skimmia
Syringa
Philadelphus
Cytisus
Select Roses

Otherwise go for plants with aromatic foliage and plant near a path so you brush against them and release the smell, Loads of possibilities here but try
Southernwood
Curry plant
Mexican orange blossom
Cotton lavender

 

I can recommend a variety of Pink called Mrs Sinkins for scent - proving it's a fairly sunny area with quite well drained soil they don't take much looking after other than dead heading. The flowers smell nice in a vase indoors as well.

 

Lavender. Apart from needing a trim after flowering and pruning back in early Spring to maintain it's shape, it can be left to it's own devices most of the time.

 

Totally off track.. but whenever I see this title, I think "Angela Rippon"... I sat next to her on a train once.. and she smelt devine!