Fragrant Bulbs or Bulb-Like Plants
Flowering Bulb Plants for a Fragrance Garden
Fragrant plants add a touch of charm and surprise to a garden and none more so than the pleasant surprise of hidden bulbs suddenly bursting forth with scent and color.
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis): Zone 4-9. Almost all hyacinths are fragrant, especially heirloom varieties. Plant hyacinth bulbs in the fall for spring blooms. These perennial bulbs prefer to not be disturbed so avoid division unless the hyacinths are severely overcrowded. With well-drained soil hyacinths will provide many years of heady fragrance and rich colored flowers. Hyacinth blooms in the early spring on 10” stalks and have flowers in rich tones of purple, pink, blue, yellow, white, rose and apricot.
Regal Lily (Lilium regale): Zones 4-9. These large perennials can grow 3-4' tall and produce early to mid-summer blooms. Plant lilies in early spring or in the fall and realize that the flower stalks may be shorter the first year than in subsequent years. These lilies look great planted in masses and are good choices for the back of a fragrant bed behind other scented perennials. Lilies are prone to aphids which can cause mosaic virus if not controlled so gardeners should check their fragrance garden periodically.
Poet's Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus): Zone 4-10. These fragrant daffodils have brightly colored centers and the bulbs should be planted in early fall. Popular with gardeners these daffodils were once considered the only true daffodils and are easy to naturalize in woodland gardens, lawns or meadow areas. Poet Daffodils grow just over a foot tall and bloom later than many other daffodils with bright, fragrant flowers. A cottage garden or heirloom favorite, gardeners should consider layering some of these with other fragrant bulbs in their scent gardens.
Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum): Zone 4-8. In Greek “Leucojum” means “white violet” and is an appropriate name for these fragrant, bell-shaped flowers because of their dainty appearance and violet-like fragrance. Snowflake's white, bell-like flowers are about 9” tall and will grow in damp garden areas. Plant Leucojum bulbs in sun to light shade early in the fall to enjoy the fragrant mid-spring blooms.
Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen cilicium): Zone 5-9. A member of the primrose family, these cyclamens are sweetly fragrant and bloom in the fall through winter in some areas. Grow these plant in part shade areas of your fragrance garden and enjoy the unusually shaped flowers year after year. Cyclamen leaves are rounded or ovular and can be marbled, splotched or slightly variegated adding interest to the scent garden through foliage contrast as well as fragrant flowers.
Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis): Zone 2-8. An easy-to-grow perennial, Lily-of-the-valley is not actually a bulb, but rather grows from rhizomes – thick fleshy roots that help the plant store energy. Lily-of-the-valley prefers rich, somewhat moist soil but will establish itself fairly quickly, naturalizing and spreading into other areas also. One of best fragrant plants for shade areas, Lily-of-the-valley will also grow under trees. Convallaria majalis produces broad, upright leaves, and delicate, bell-shaped flowers that are usually white although pink forms are also available.
Learn how to Design a Fragrance Garden using some of these other plant groups:
- Perennial Plants for a Fragrance Garden
- Ground Covers for a Fragrance Garden
- Fragrant Annuals for a Fragrance Garden
