Home Gardening 25 Outdoor Plants That Smell Amazing To create a garden that smells fantastic, you must choose the right flowers. We have some suggestions. By Adrienne Jordan and Megan Lenzi Megan Lenzi Megan Lenzi is an Editorial Apprentice for RealSimple.com. Megan is a senior attending Iowa State University studying fashion communications with a minor in journalism. She has previously interned at Ralph Lauren and Steve Madden with the marketing and digital teams. Megan loves all things style, beauty, and pop culture, as well as fashion and beauty writing. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 07, 2024 Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Getty Images Creating a beautifully landscaped path is great for curb appeal. But it's made more impressive when all your senses are invoked—including scent. "What's really interesting is that no two flowers can have the same scent because of the diversity of their compounds and their distinctive interactions," says Stephen McFarlane, regional landscaping manager of Sandals Resorts. "In addition to adding color and beauty to a garden, fragrant flowers can uplift a mood, increase levels of positivity, and reduce stress—essentially, aromatherapy." Here some top picks for outdoor plants that smell amazing. An added bonus: Many of these plants also attract wildlife, from birds to butterflies to bees, creating a pollinator-friendly garden and an elaborate ecosystem in your backyard. The 5 Best-Smelling Houseplants to Add to Your Collection 01 of 25 Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides) Getty Images Consider the Cape jasmine, which grows as a large shrub with 3-inch fragrant flowers. This aromatic plant is best grown in acidic, consistently moist, well-drained soils. It can grow in full sun, but partial shade in the afternoons in hot climates is preferred. Be sure to use a fertilizer for this acid-loving plant during the growing season. Zones: 8 to 11 02 of 25 Common Jasmine (Jasminum officianale) Getty Images A fast-growing climbing shrub with clusters of fragrant white flowers, the common jasmine thrives in full sun to part shade. The pleasing scent will strike you, even from several feet away. This plant needs moist, well-drained soil. Remember to prune older shoots after blooming to encourage new growth, which will produce new blooms. Zones: 7 to 10 03 of 25 Frangipani (Plumeria sp.) Getty Images A gorgeous small tree with fragrant blooms that are used to make the iconic Hawaiian lei, the frangipani is a fragrant plant that prefers full sun and well-drained soil with deep, infrequent watering. This plant benefits from fertilizer with a formulation high in phosphorus. Zones: 10 to 12 04 of 25 Ylang Ylang Tree (Cananga odorata) Getty Images A medium to large fast-growing tree, the ylang ylang tree produces incredibly fragrant blooms and is actually a key ingredient in the famed Chanel #5 perfume. This tree enjoys full sun with rich soil that doesn't dry out. Be sure to fertilize every three to four months. Zones: 9 to 11 05 of 25 Butterfly Ginger Lily (Hedychium coronarium) Getty Images The perennial white butterfly ginger lily produces an appealing, spicy scent. The upright, rhizomatous plant prefers full sun to part shade with consistently moist to wet soil high in organic matter. Zones: 7 to 11 06 of 25 Orange Jessamine (Murraya paniculata) Getty Images When you want to add a versatile plant to your collection, the orange jessamine is one that can be trained into a small tree or a clipped hedge. It performs best in morning sun and afternoon shade with a well-drained, rich soil. It will also benefit from a balanced fertilizer throughout the year. Zones: 10 to 12 07 of 25 Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) Getty Images Just as the name implies, the sweet, intoxicating fragrance of the night blooming jasmine is only released at night. It thrives in full sun to part shade with rich, well-drained soil. To care, provide regular water and a balanced fertilizer throughout the year. An annual pruning will help keep the foliage in check. Zones: 9 to 11 08 of 25 Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) Getty Images/Picture Alliance Not only do hyacinths have a lovely, intense scent, but these blue, pink, red, purple, or white perennials are relatively easy to grow. Plant them in the fall in the ground or in planters. Just be sure to keep children and pets from eating them, because the bulbs are toxic. They thrive best when exposed to six to eight hours of sunlight a day. Zones: 4 to 8 09 of 25 Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) Getty Images/Wolfgang Kaehler Gardenias are high-maintenance, tropical plants with white flowers that grow best in warm climates. But if you are willing to put in the time and energy to tend to them, you will be rewarded with a magnificent, citrusy fragrance. They thrive in partial shade, and they like soil with a lower pH. They need about an inch of water a week, so if it's not raining that much, make sure to water them. Zones: 8 - 11 10 of 25 Dianthus (Dianthus caryophyllus) Getty Images/Flowerphotos This plant (which is also called Sweet William) has bright pink (sometimes white or red) blossoms and a spicy scent reminiscent of cloves and cinnamon. It needs alkaline soil and at least six hours of full sun. Water dianthus whenever it's dry, and it requires fertilizer every two months. Zones: 6 to 9 11 of 25 Flowering Tobacco (Nicotianas) Getty Images/Flowerphotos Star-shaped nicotianas have a strong scent—and no, they don't smell like tobacco. Their fragrance is similar to that of jasmine. They bloom in a wide range of colors and thrive in full sun and rich soil. Their scent is strongest after dark. Zones: 10 and 11 12 of 25 Peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) Jasenka Arbanas/Getty Images Peonies have a sweet scent reminiscent of roses. They thrive in full sun, blooming from late spring through early summer as long as they get about an inch of water per week. But be patient: Peonies usually don't bloom the first year but will begin showing the second spring after you plant them. Zones: 3 - 8 13 of 25 Lilacs (Syringa L.) Getty Images/NurPhoto Lilacs are a shrub with a sweet scent that's a bit like vanilla. They're typically purple, but can be pink or white. They need at least six hours of full sun, and well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. Water lilacs whenever they appear dry, and apply fertilizer once in winter. Zones: 3 -8 14 of 25 Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) Getty Images/NurPhoto Lily of the Valley flowers have a fresh, crisp, spring-like fragrance, which may be why there are a number of perfumes made for this scent. They are usually white but sometimes pink, and they grow best in either full or partial shade. They prefer soil that's well-drained and slightly acidic. Zones: 3 - 9 15 of 25 Phlox (P. paniculata) Getty Images/DEA / C. DANI I. JESKE Phlox flowers have a sweet, nutty scent and come in colors that range from pink and white to purple and blue. Tall phlox thrive in direct sunlight, while other varieties grow best in partial shade. They need regular water, a balanced fertilizer, and nutrient-rich soil. Zones: 4 - 8 16 of 25 Honeysuckle Getty Images/DEA/RANDOM Known for its bright red color and sweet scent, honeysuckle screams summertime. This flower attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, making your garden cheerful. Honeysuckle is typically red or sometimes white, and it's pretty low-maintenance. Try planting honeysuckle on trellises and fences to upgrade your yard's appeal (and make it smell oh-so-good). Zones: 4 to 10 17 of 25 Magnolia Getty Images/DEA/V. GIANNELLA Magnolia flowers spark a citrus, floral scent. These fragrant flowers come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. White, pink, red, purple, or yellow are all the color options for magnolias. Make sure to find a spot in your garden that receives full sun to light shade for optimal care. Zones: 4 to 9 18 of 25 Daphne Getty Images/DEA/G. ROLI This flower has a combination notes of floral, citrus, and sweet scents. The daphne flower comes in a range of gorgeous colors, such as pink, lavender, or white. For plant care, daphne flowers should be planted in moist soil and sun to part shade. Zones: 7 to 9 19 of 25 Sweet Pea Getty Images/DE AGOSTINI PICTURE LIBRARY Sweet pea flowers have an orange blossom scent with a touch of rose. As if we couldn't love this flower enough, it comes in a variety of colors. To keep good care of sweet peas, plant in the full sun in well-drained soil. Zones: 3 to 8 20 of 25 Freesia Getty Images/Flowerphotos You may recognize the freesia flower from wedding bouquets. With its multiple colored blooms and fruity scent, it's a great option for weddings or your backyard. Some bright color varieties include red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, and more. Keep this plant in good condition by planting in full sun and well-drained soil. Zones: 9 and 10 21 of 25 Alyssum Getty Images/DEA/C.DELU If you love a sweet, honey scent, alyssum is the perfect choice. With a honey scent, this flower does attract pollinators, and it also attracts butterflies and songbirds. This flower prefers full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Zones: 5 to 9 22 of 25 Butterfly Bush Getty Images/DEA / RANDOM The butterfly bush flower is known for its sweet, honey scent that attracts pollinators. This flower comes in both a purple and burgundy color. For plant upkeep, butterfly bushes prefer moist, well-drained soils that are planted in partial to full sun. Zones: 6 to 9 35 Stunning Flowers That Attract Butterflies to Gardens 23 of 25 Moonflower Getty Images/DEA/V. GIANNELLA In a stunning lavender color, the moonflower plant offers a sweet scent with jasmine and vanilla notes. As an added bonus, this flower type is low-maintenance for care, needing just regular watering and feeding. Zones: 10 to 12 24 of 25 Roses Getty Images/Europa Press News Rose flowers have a fruity, floral scent to pair with their vibrant colors. Roses work wonders to compliment your backyard with the color options. From gold to pink, the color possibilities are endless. Zones: 5 to 11 25 of 25 Heliotrope Getty Images/DEA/C.DELU The heliotrope flower evokes a sweet, floral scent into your garden. This flower type comes in an array of colors such as purple, blue, and white. To take good care of the heliotrope flower, it's important to grow outdoors in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Zones: 3 to 10 30 Fragrant Flowers That Make a Garden or Arrangement Smell Amazing Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. 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