Fragrance Garden Ground Covers
Low-Growing Plants for Fragrant Gardens
No garden is complete without attractive ground covers and these fragrant plants will work perfectly in a fragrance garden! Plants for both sun and shade are included.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Zone 5-9. A favorite ground cover for herb gardens and cottage gardens thyme is a fragrant, flowering herb that spreads easily, but not invasively. Because of its drought tolerance and long-lasting color, thyme is becoming a popular lawn replacement plant and is a great ground cover choice for fragrance gardens. Thyme prefers full sun and will provide semi-evergreen color for your fragrance garden or foundation planting. All this in addition to being a popular culinary herb - thyme is used to season fish, stews, soups and roasts!
Sweet Violet (Viola odorata): Zone 4-10. Also called English Violet, this charming plant is related to the viola species known as “Johnny Jump-ups” but is a slightly larger plant growing to 12” tall and 18” wide. Sweet violets are ready self-sowers and make an excellent ground cover for naturalizing although viola odorata can be slightly invasive. Gardeners should be prepared to pull up some stray violets in the spring, control with their growth by using edging or mulch or plant them in a fragrant or herbalist garden where their presence will be welcome. Fragrant viola-like flowers appear late winter through early summer. Violets are not only pleasant flowers to look at and to smell, but are also edible and can be used to garnish salads, cakes, and candied for deserts. English violets will grow in full sun or shade but prefer cooler climates and need more shade in hot climates while taking more sun in cool climate gardens.
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum): Zone 4-8. Sweet woodruff, also known as Our Lady's Lace, grows about 6” tall and prefers moist soil in shady conditions. While sweet woodruff is a fragrant ground cover for shady areas, it can be slightly invasive so plant this perennial in areas that are self contained or mow it down when it encroaches unwanted areas. Galium odoratum won't do well in dry, sunny areas however so gardeners should consider it for rock gardens, herb gardens, or as a ground cover in shady fragrance garden. Mid-summer flowers are white and the aromatic leaves of sweet woodruff hold their fragrance well, even when dried, making them popular in potpourri blends.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima): Sweet alyssum is an easy-to-grow annual that is highly fragrant and attractive to butterflies. Use sweet alyssum as an edging plant, in the front of borders or decorative containers and in butterfly or fragrance gardens. Sweet alyssum is most commonly seen in white, but the fragrant flowers come in shades of red, orange, yellow or pink, making it easy for gardeners to find a sweet alyssum selection right for any fragrance garden.
Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus): Zone 6-11. Also called gray santolina, this evergreen perennial has silver-green foliage that is richly aromatic. Often used in knot gardens, santolina grows to about 18” tall and is easily pruned if needed. Unlike sweet violet and sweet woodruff, lavender cotton (also known as holy herb or petite cypress) tolerates full sun and partially dry conditions. Add this plant to any fragrance garden with full sun exposure and well-drained soil such as patio, mail box planter or poolside deck border. The only potential downside to santolina is the multitudes of bright yellow flowers each summer may aggravate the allergies of some gardeners.
Learn how to Design a Fragrance Garden using some of these other plant groups:
- Perennial Plants for a Fragrance Garden
- Annual Plants for a Fragrance Garden
- Fragrant Bulbs for Scent Gardens
