Planning an Herbal Fragrance Garden

In Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs there are several design plans for herb gardens from a sixteenth-century Knot Garden to a medicinal grouping. Their design for a fragrance garden is planned around a garden bench, the perfect place to reflect and meditate. Their beds are raised for ease in pulling weeds and keeping the more aggressive growers from taking over.

Tall Plants

When considering the basic plan it is best to know what height the plants will attain in order to create a pleasing design and to allow sunlight on all the herbs. Keep in mind the hardiness zones in the geographical area of the the garden since some plants will grow much taller and spread more rapidly in the warmer zones.

1. Snow White Beebalm is a perennial that spreads so it needs at least a two foot circle for growth. It can reach three feet in height. The white flowers and green leaves have a soft, lemon smell.
2. Garlic Chives is another perennial that will reach around two feet in height and spreads in clumps. Its main attraction is the neat spine-like foliage that sets on a white cluster of flowers in late summer. This is a cross-over herb that can be grown for use in the kitchen or for its own beauty and spicy fragrance.
3. White-Flowered Rosemary, in warmer zones, can be grown as a shrub but in the cooler ones it reaches around two feet in height. Rosemary is an elegant plant with a pleasant but pungent aroma of pine. It can be grown in a buried pot for ease in taking it in the winter since it cannot stand cold temperatures.
4. Lemon Balm adds a crisp, lemon smell to the garden and grows about two feet tall. Be warned, though, that it can take over the garden if the flower heads are not cut back. It blooms late summer, early fall and is a perennial.

Medium Plants

1. Hidcote Lavender is the perfect plant for the fragrance garden. It grows to about 18 inches and produces deep, lavender-blue colored flower spikes on silver-green foliage. These plants are highly fragrant and are perennial.
2. Scented Geraniums is another plant that will grow in height according to the zone. In mid to cooler zones it will be around 18 inches. There are many fragrances to choose from and all will compliment the fragrance garden. Geraniums have both green and variegated foliage and can be purchased in such scents as lemon, peppermint, rose and others. For more ideas and scents in these geraniums visit Gardening Know How.
3. Nasturtiums are an annual the grows around one foot tall and blooms in the summer in colors of red, gold, orange and apricot. If planted on the edge of the raised bed they will cascade. Nasturtiums have a strong but sweet peppery smell.
4. Blue Wonder Catmint grows between 12 to 15 inches and is a bushy plant. Its fuzz-like foliage puts off a mint smell. It blooms with blue flower spikes in spring and summer.

The Creepers

1. Sweet Violet is a wonderful little plant that puts in the air a delightful touch of violet fragrance. It prefers shade and grow in clumps about six inches tall. It blooms in the spring.
2. Mother-of-Thyme is a creeping ground cover bearing tiny lavender flowers and the odor of sea salt. The leaves are shiny and the plant will cascade or trail. It blooms in late spring, early summer and is a perennial.
3. Lemon Thyme is a small clump-like herb with a wonderfully lemon fragrance. It has rose colored blooms in early summer and is a perennial.