The sweet smell of spring

Green Side Up

On these cold winter days when you are perusing seed catalogs and thinking about your upcoming (pun intended) flower beds, I challenge you to think outside the box. In fact, why not go all the way to thinking with your nose? The visual impact of flowers is almost a cliché, but the fragrance of the flower garden/bed can be just as stunning. Interestingly, National Fragrance Day is March 21 which coincides with the beginning of spring (which is 49 days away, in case you are counting).

Some bulbs produce fragrant spring flowers. Several varieties of hyacinths are available that bloom early in the spring. Some varieties are more fragrant than others and they may not all have the same scent. One of my favorites is the grape hyacinth. These four-to-six-inch tall plants are the first to bloom in my flower beds. Grape hyacinths bloom with a true blue color and smell like grape Kool-Aid to me. Grape hyacinths will spread easily and require very little care. Other spring flowering bulbs that have notable fragrances are daffodils and tulips. Some varieties are more fragrant than others, and the scent may vary between varieties.

The dianthus is an eight-to-twelveinch tall sun-loving plant. Some varieties are annual and others are perennial and available in colors of purple, red, pink and white. The perennial varieties will often bloom all winter if the weather is not too severe. The flowers have a slightly spicy fragrance. Dianthus require well drained soil and are adaptable to container growth. Containers should be protected especially in harsh weather to protect the plants’ roots. The dianthus I have had in pots have become so thick that I was able to divide them into additional pots. These plants have moderate water and fertilizer needs but have virtually no serious problems. Carnations, pinks and sweet William (alyssum) are members of the Dianthus genus.

Phlox are another group with fragrant flowers. The annual phlox (Phlox Drummondii) is a Texas native that blooms in summer or fall. It grows to a height of 10 to 20 inches. It cannot stand a heavy frost so should be planted in a sunny, sheltered location. The annual phlox is reported to be susceptible to several insect and disease problems and is somewhat demanding to grow. The perennial phlox (Phlox paniculate) also blooms in summer and fall and is reported to be easy to grow. The spring blooming phlox is Thrift or Moss Pink (Phlox subulate). It grows somewhat shorter than the annual phlox but is easy to grow with few if any problems. Phlox come in shades of pink, rose, red, white, lavender and hot pink which is reported to be the easiest to grow in Texas.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) produce good color for fall or from late winter to early spring. They bloom on spikes with fragrant flowers of red, pink, orange, bronze and white. Snapdragons like our alkaline soils and appreciate regular watering and some fertilization during growth. Its problems include the ever-present aphid. The plants can be cut back to the ground after blooming and should come out again in the spring. These hardy plants are easy to grow.

Additional plants with fragrant blooms include gardenias which do not like alkaline soils but prefer acidic soils high in organic matter. Even moisture is important for these plants. Some others are nicotinia, sweet autumn clematis, Oriental lilies, sweet peas, iris, lavender, lilac, stock, honeysuckle, violets, several varieties of jasmine, mock orange and Korean spice viburnum. Of course, the dependable rose is always a favorite for garden fragrance. In general, the more highly hybridized a rose the less fragrant. Antique roses are strongly scented. My favorite highly scented roses is the Lady Banks rose. So, take time to smell the roses, snapdragons, phlox, dianthus, etc…. ›

Many of these plants are adaptable to pot or container culture and can be placed near doors and windows or in high traffic areas for maximum enjoyment.