Fragrant Plants

Scent is the one part of a garden you experience before you even see it, which is why fragrant plants earn a place near the spots you use every day. Whether you want perfume drifting through an open window on a summer evening or a scented welcome at the front door, this collection brings together plants grown for their aroma as much as their looks.

Placement matters more with fragrance than with almost any other plant trait. Perfume pools in still, sheltered air, so position scented plants beside doorways, along narrow paths, near outdoor seating or under bedroom windows rather than in open, windy beds. In warm humid regions of Queensland and northern New South Wales, richly perfumed evergreens flower for months at a time, while gardeners in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth can lean on winter and spring flowering species so there is scent in the cooler months too. If you are starting near an entrance, a 200mm pot gives quicker impact, while smaller sizes suit filling out a scented border over a season or two.

• Plant scented species at pinch points, such as gates, steps and path edges, where you brush past them daily
• Stagger flowering seasons so at least one perfumed plant is performing in every quarter of the year
• Remember scented foliage, including herbs and aromatic natives, releases fragrance when touched and works between paving stones and along walkways
• Grow strongly perfumed plants in pots so you can move them close to entertaining areas when they bloom
• Evening scented species do their best work near patios and windows you use after dark

Fragrance pairs naturally with visual impact, so many gardeners shop this range alongside our flowering plants for colour to build beds that appeal to every sense. If you are considering classic perfumed favourites, our gardenia care guide and murraya care guide cover feeding, pruning and positioning in detail. Not sure where to start? The plant finder narrows the range down to scented options suited to your climate and space.