by Kari Nichols

Created on: April 26, 2009   Last Updated: July 31, 2009

In the garden, fragrance is a bonus to the beauty of flowers. Shrubs can define areas and provide garden room barriers, and flowering shrubs add to that picture. Fragrance in a flowering shrub is an additional aspect, not to be missed. To enjoy fragrance almost all year round, try these favorites:

January and February
The Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) will open it's small, subtle flowers in January and February, but the sweet and slightly lemon fragrance is carried on the breeze. It startles the senses when you first catch it's aroma in the winter air, until you trace the scent to the nearly bare twisted branches of this unique shrub. As the daffodils open to announce spring, the flowers give way to green foliage that camouflage it for another year.

March
Taking over now is the Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) bush, famous for it's fragrance. The lovely pale flower clusters hang on extended branches like an offering. While they prefer the middle to northern states, given a cold winter they will perform in the South with great charm.

April
April brings the Sweetshrub, or the Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus) bears the most unique appearance. It's flowers appear to be made of wood, quite cinnamon red-brown and stiff petaled. They possess a unique spicy to sweet fragrance which varies from one plant to the next, and actually the entire plant has this aroma, which it will release if bruised. The flowers are set of by light green young foliage at bloom time, to accent the dark flowers.

April and May
Around Mother's Day, the Mock Orange (Philadelphus) opens its pure white flowers to release an intoxicating perfume. Be sure to buy the right variety - not all Mock Orange have fragrance, but the varieties that do are extraordinary. One of the most popular fragrant varieties is 'Virginal'. It blooms only on new growth, so after blooming, shear it back hard. The new growth will be abundant, and reward you next spring.

May and June
A rose is not always a rose - those without fragrance seem unrewarding by comparison. Of the many who do have a wonderful scent, Double Delight tea rose is an easy grower, produces beautiful bicolor blooms, and a knockout scent that says ROSE. Oklahoma is a nearly black flower with a heavy damask scent to match it's rich color, and Mr. Lincoln is the classic long-stemmed fragrant deep red rose.

June and July
The ever-popular, and ever-potent Gardenia (Gardenia spp.) should be planted where it will not overpower you when it does bloom,

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