A fragrant garden – an experience for all the senses

It can sometimes be too intense with strongly scented plants indoors, such as hyacinths. Outdoors, they will provide just the right amount of scent. Most scents we perceive more or less unconsciously, so it's nice to place scented plants in areas where we usually spend time. Scented plants can, for example, be placed in a pot on the stairs or on the patio. Scented climbing roses surrounding the entrance door can have a nice effect. Scented plants can also be used to enhance a space that feels less cozy, such as the driveway.

Plants contain scent to attract pollinating insects - it is simply one of their survival tricks. By planting fragrant flowers, we are doing insects a favor, especially if we choose older unprocessed species and meadow flowers they are used to. Some flowering plants are particularly interested in attracting insects that are active at night, such as moths. These flowers usually smell best in the evening and also have bright colors to show up well in the dark. The brighter a night-scented flower is, the more scent it emits. All flowers have a scent of essential and volatile oils. But why do not all flowers smell? Some flowers are wind-pollinated and some use clear colors instead to attract insects for pollination, so the need for scent is not as great.

Fragrance does not always come from the flowers themselves - rosemary, mint, and other plants can instead emit scent from their leaves. Sometimes the scent is not there to attract insects, but rather to repel them. However, we humans will perceive the scents as appealing. Many fragrant herbs and spices have the advantage of also being used in cooking. In an herb garden, they can be combined with fragrant flowers for greater effect. Oregano, lemon balm, sage, and mint are all delightful to rub on your hands on a warm summer day.

If you want the opportunity to move around your fragrant flowers, planting in pots is convenient. Fragrant spring bulbs that have made newly awakened bees and bumblebees happy can be replaced with, for example, herbs or a nice and fragrant summer flower, when they have withered.

Scents can be experienced differently, so it's wise to choose fragrant flowers that suit you and give you positive emotions. Perhaps it's not the most beautiful and showy flower that smells the best, but rather a discreet and unobtrusive one? And maybe it's scents that you associate with positive experiences, like childhood and security, a wedding or another happy event? Let your nose guide you to make the garden or balcony more personal.

Daisy, Wisteria, Chocolate mint, Phlox, Freesia, Gardenia, Heliotrope, Hyacinth, Catmint, Honeysuckle, Lavender, Lily of the valley, Lilies (such as daylilies and Easter lilies), Peony, Sweet pea, Sweet William, Magnolia, Musk, Nicotiana, Trailing petunia, Lily, Roman chamomile, Rosemary, Roses, Mock orange, Silky dogwood

Liselotte Roll, Swedish garden inspirator, journalist and author of books about nature, cultivation and animals, such as "Earth", "Cultivating for insects" and "Chickens as a hobby".