Six Herbs for a Scented Garden

Scent in the garden is as important as color, texture and balance. Scented gardens draw people in and to stop to smell the roses. There are many flowers that will give the gardener those scents. Stocks and lilacs are a natural for the scented garden, but herbs should also be included. Some can actually be walked upon and used in place of grass, each step releasing the pungent oils within its leaves.

This is a list of the best scented herbs to plant in the garden. It also includes some plants gardeners may not know as traditional herbs, but a herb is any plant in which leaves, seeds, root or flowers can be used for flavoring food, scenting a room as in potpourri or for medicinal purposes.

The Rose is a Herb

The rose is a herb and it’s been used for scent, flavoring and medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and a favorite among gardeners for just as long. In the days of Cleopatra, rose petals were strewn over the floors. The elite would bathe in rose water and perfume their bodies with its essential oil. Antique roses such as Damasks and Albas are highly scented. And antique roses are generally hardy to Zone 4.

Lavender is Queen of the Scented Herbs

Lavender belongs in every garden. It is highly scented and beautiful in a border or surrounding a bird bath or statuary. Lavender has been used in potpourri since the middle ages. It was mixed with other scented herbs and strewn over the floors to hide the nasty smell of unwashed bodies.

Oils and perfumes were made from lavender as they are today. In Provence, France, there are fields of lavender grown for the perfume industry. Lavender is a small shrubby perennial frequently grown as a low hedge. In the Renaissance period, it was a key feature in knot gardens. It is strongly scented when brushed or pinched. The Hidcote variety is hardy to Zone 4.

Thyme

Thyme has a fragrance that can be very strong on hot days. Mother-of-thyme is a favorite and can be planted as a path instead of stone, gravel or grass. The scent is lifted with every step and the plant bounces right back. In mid-summer, when in full flower, it can soften the rough corners of a garden. For this purpose, it makes a great border plant as it rolls over the edge of the beds. It’s finely twiggy and easily cut back as it does tend to get big. There are many thyme varieties and most are hardy to zone 4.

Apple-Scented Chamomile

In Renaissance gardens apple-scented chamomile might cover an earthen garden seat planted. It is thought to be calming when sat upon. So, where thyme is known as a ‚”walk-upon,” plant, chamomile is known as a ‚”sit-upon” plant. It is the slight bruising of the leaves that causes the scents to be released. But these are strong plants and this doesn’t do them any damage. Unfortunately chamomile is a member of the compositae family which includes ragweed and can cause allergic reactions. It is hardy to zone 5.

The Peony

The Peony is a herb as well as a popular garden plant. The old apothecary would have prescribed an infusion of the powdered root for liver problems and it was thought to drive away evil spirits when planted in a garden. The peony flower is striking in size as well as scent. It’s an easy-care plant but may grow a few years before flowering. It can also get quite wide, but easily split by slipping a garden fork or spade right down through the middle, which a good way to increase stock. Most peonies are hardy to zone 4.

Scented Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle, also known as woodbine should be found in every garden. It is highly scented and often used in the making of perfumes. There are many varieties of honeysuckle, but they all have that scent which attracts bees and butterflies alike. Honeysuckle is easily propagated by cuttings in spring. Most varieties are hardy to zone 4.

References

• The Country Housewife’s Garden.,William Lawson, First published in 1617, Reprint 1983 Breslich and Foss
• The Complete Book of Herbs, Lesley Bremness, Reader’s Digest, 1989
• Botanica’s Pocket Roses, Whitecap Books 2001
• The Classic Garden, Graham Rose, Summit Books,1989
• Romance in the Garden, John H. Tobe, 1958, George McLeod Ltd.