25 Fragrant Flowers

A beautiful garden is a feast for the eyes—but a fragrant one is pure magic.

Whether it’s the sweet perfume of jasmine drifting through the evening air or the nostalgic scent of old-fashioned roses, fragrant flowers add another layer of charm and sensory delight to any outdoor space.

These 25 flowers don’t just look stunning—they smell divine. From delicate spring bloomers to bold summer showstoppers, this list is packed with easy-to-grow options that bring scent as well as color to borders, containers, walkways, and cutting gardens.

1) Rose

Roses are the ultimate classic when it comes to fragrant flowers. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, there’s a rose for every garden—climbing, shrub, hybrid tea, and more—all with their signature sweet or spicy scent.

They prefer full sun, well-drained soil, and regular feeding. While some modern hybrids focus more on looks than scent, many old-fashioned or English roses are rich in fragrance and bloom repeatedly throughout the season.

Ideal for borders, trellises, or cut flower gardens, roses add timeless beauty and irresistible perfume.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
‘Gertrude Jekyll’	4–9	Late Spring to Fall
‘Mister Lincoln’	5–9	Summer to Fall
‘Double Delight’	5–9	Summer

2) Gardenia

Gardenias are known for their creamy white blooms and intoxicating, tropical scent. Their glossy green foliage makes them attractive even when not in bloom, and their fragrance intensifies in the evening.

They thrive in warm, humid climates and prefer partial shade and acidic, well-drained soil. Though they need a bit of care to get established, they’re well worth it for the scent alone.

Perfect for patios, entryways, or containers where their scent can be fully enjoyed.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’	7–10	Spring to Fall
Gardenia ‘Radicans’	7–10	Summer
Gardenia ‘Kleim’s Hardy’	7–10	Late Spring to Summer

3) Lavender

Lavender is one of the easiest and most beloved fragrant flowers, offering a clean, calming scent and beautiful purple spikes. It’s highly drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Lavender’s scent intensifies in the heat, making it perfect for sunny borders, herb gardens, or gravel beds. It’s also deer-resistant and attracts pollinators.

You can use the dried flowers in sachets, teas, or crafts, making it a multipurpose addition to any garden.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
English Lavender	5–9	June to July
Lavandin ‘Provence’	5–9	Midsummer
French Lavender	7–10	May to August

4) Jasmine

Jasmine is prized for its sweet, heady fragrance that fills the air—especially in the evening. It’s a climbing or vining plant with delicate white or yellow blooms that flourish in full sun and well-drained soil.

Best grown on trellises, fences, or arbors, jasmine is perfect for scented vertical interest. Some varieties bloom only at night, adding mystery and allure to moon gardens.

It’s also widely used in perfumes and teas due to its strong, floral aroma.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Jasminum officinale (Common Jasmine)	7–10	Summer to Fall
Jasminum sambac (Arabian Jasmine)	9–11	Year-round in warm zones
Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine)	8–11	Late Winter to Spring

5) Sweet Pea

Sweet peas are charming annual climbers with ruffled flowers and one of the sweetest, most nostalgic scents of all garden flowers. They come in a rainbow of pastel shades and bloom best in cool weather.

They prefer full sun, rich soil, and support to climb. Plant them near entrances or along trellises to enjoy their irresistible fragrance up close.

These romantic bloomers are also excellent for cutting and add fragrance to indoor arrangements.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Sweet Pea ‘Matucana’	Annual	Spring to Early Summer
Sweet Pea ‘Cupani’s Original’	Annual	Spring
Sweet Pea ‘April in Paris’	Annual	Late Spring

6) Lilac

Lilacs are beloved spring-blooming shrubs known for their large, cone-shaped flower clusters and their strong, sweet fragrance. Their scent is often associated with the start of spring and is a favorite in perfumes and nostalgic gardens.

They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and need cold winters to bloom well. Lilacs are long-lived and low-maintenance once established, making them a great addition to borders or as stand-alone focal points.

Plant them near windows or patios to enjoy their beautiful aroma on spring breezes.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’	3–7	Mid to Late Spring
Syringa ‘Charles Joly’	3–7	Spring
Syringa ‘Miss Kim’	3–8	Late Spring

7) Lily

Lilies offer bold, trumpet-shaped blooms and a rich, heady fragrance that can fill a garden with scent in summer. Many types are sweetly perfumed, especially Oriental and trumpet lilies.

They prefer full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Their tall stems and showy flowers make them excellent in borders and cutting gardens.

Plant in groups for the best scent impact, and stake taller types as needed.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Oriental Lily ‘Stargazer’	4–9	Midsummer
Lily ‘Casa Blanca’	5–9	Late Summer
Trumpet Lily ‘Regale’	4–8	Mid to Late Summer

8) Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is a fragrant climbing or shrubby plant with tubular flowers that release a strong, sweet scent—especially at dusk. It’s a favorite for hummingbirds and butterflies.

It prefers full sun to partial shade and grows well on fences, arbors, or trellises. Honeysuckle is low-maintenance, fast-growing, and provides months of blooms.

Its intoxicating scent makes it ideal for planting near seating areas or entryways.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’	5–9	Summer to Fall
Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’	4–9	Late Spring to Fall
Lonicera ‘Goldflame’	5–9	Summer

9) Peony

Peonies are treasured for their large, ruffled blooms and sweet, sometimes spicy fragrance. Blooming in late spring, they provide big, bold color and scent with minimal effort.

These long-lived perennials prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Once planted, they require little care and can bloom reliably for decades.

Choose fragrant varieties for planting near patios or for use as spectacular cut flowers.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’	3–8	Late Spring to Early Summer
Peony ‘Festiva Maxima’	3–8	Late Spring
Peony ‘Duchesse de Nemours’	3–8	Spring to Early Summer

10) Freesia

Freesia is a spring-blooming flower with slender stems and tubular blooms that give off a citrusy, sweet fragrance. Often used in bouquets, freesia’s perfume is clean, fresh, and uplifting.

It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil and is often planted as bulbs in the fall in mild climates or started indoors in cooler regions.

Excellent for borders, containers, or cutting gardens, freesia offers both color and scent in a compact form.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Freesia ‘Double Blue’	9–10	Spring
Freesia ‘Ballerina’	9–10	Spring to Early Summer
Freesia ‘White Wonder’	9–10	Late Spring

11) Stock

Stock is a cool-season flower known for its spicy, clove-like scent and dense, colorful flower spikes. It blooms in shades of white, pink, purple, and lavender, often carrying its fragrance well into the evening.

It thrives in full sun to part shade and rich, well-drained soil. Stock is often grown as an annual but reseeds easily in the right conditions. Its scent and structure make it a wonderful cut flower.

Plant it near walkways or seating areas to enjoy its old-fashioned charm.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Matthiola incana ‘Vintage Mix’	Annual	Spring to Early Summer
Stock ‘Cinderella Series’	Annual	Late Spring
Stock ‘Night Scented’	Annual	Spring to Summer

12) Dianthus

Dianthus, also known as pinks or carnations, is a charming perennial with fringed petals and a spicy, clove-like scent. It blooms in soft shades of pink, white, red, and lavender, with some varieties being strongly fragrant.

These compact plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and are excellent for edging, containers, or rock gardens. Deadheading encourages reblooming, though many varieties bloom heavily without it.

They’re easy to care for and loved by pollinators.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Dianthus ‘Firewitch’	3–9	Late Spring to Summer
Dianthus ‘Old Spice’	3–9	Spring
Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’	4–9	Late Spring

13) Tuberose

Tuberose is a highly fragrant, tropical-looking flower that blooms in creamy white clusters. Its sweet, intense, and exotic scent is often used in high-end perfumes.

It prefers full sun, warm temperatures, and well-drained soil. In cooler climates, it’s typically grown from bulbs as an annual or lifted after the season.

Plant tuberose near patios or entryways where the fragrance can be appreciated, especially in the evening when its scent is strongest.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Polianthes tuberosa ‘The Pearl’	7–10	Late Summer to Fall
Tuberose ‘Mexican Single’	7–10	Summer to Fall
Tuberose ‘Double Pearl’	8–10	Late Summer

14) Hyacinth

Hyacinths are spring-blooming bulbs with dense, upright flower spikes that deliver a powerful, sweet fragrance. Their scent is one of the strongest in the garden, often associated with early spring.

They thrive in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil and can be grown in borders, containers, or forced indoors for winter blooms.

Hyacinths are perfect for adding color and scent to the start of the gardening season.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Hyacinthus ‘Blue Jacket’	4–8	Early to Mid Spring
Hyacinthus ‘Pink Pearl’	4–8	Spring
Hyacinthus ‘Woodstock’	4–8	Mid Spring

15) Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley is a beloved woodland perennial with dainty, bell-shaped white flowers and an unforgettable sweet fragrance. Despite its delicate appearance, it’s a hardy plant that spreads easily in shady, moist soil.

Once established, it naturalizes well and returns each spring. It’s ideal for shady borders, underplanting trees, or growing along walkways where its scent can be appreciated up close.

Note: All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Convallaria majalis	3–8	May to June
Lily of the Valley ‘Rosea’	3–8	Late Spring
Lily of the Valley ‘Albostriata’	3–8	Mid to Late Spring

16) Heliotrope

Heliotrope is a charming annual (or tender perennial in warm zones) prized for its clusters of tiny purple or white flowers and its rich, vanilla-like fragrance—often described as warm and slightly spicy.

It thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Perfect for containers, borders, or window boxes, heliotrope blooms all summer and releases its scent most strongly in the late afternoon and evening.

It’s a butterfly magnet and ideal for patios or places where you’ll brush past and catch its scent.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Heliotropium arborescens	10–11 (Annual elsewhere)	Summer to Fall
Heliotrope ‘Marine’	Annual	Late Spring to Frost
Heliotrope ‘White Lady’	Annual	Summer

17) Mock Orange

Mock orange is a deciduous shrub with stunning white blooms that emit a citrusy, orange blossom-like scent in late spring to early summer. The fragrance is strongest in the evening, making it perfect for moon gardens or pathways.

It prefers full sun to partial shade and average soil. Once established, it’s low-maintenance and long-lived. While not related to true orange trees, its scent is just as memorable.

Mock orange makes an excellent hedge or background plant in mixed borders.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Philadelphus coronarius	4–8	Late Spring
Mock Orange ‘Minnesota Snowflake’	3–7	Spring to Early Summer
Mock Orange ‘Belle Étoile’	5–9	Late Spring to Summer

18) Nicotiana

Nicotiana, or flowering tobacco, is an elegant plant with tubular flowers that open in the evening and release a sweet, jasmine-like scent. It’s an annual in most zones but self-seeds easily.

It grows best in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Nicotiana’s fragrance is strongest at dusk, making it ideal for night gardens and planting near seating areas.

It’s also a favorite of hummingbirds and evening pollinators.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Nicotiana alata ‘Fragrant Cloud’	Annual	Summer to Fall
Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’	Annual	Mid to Late Summer
Nicotiana ‘Only the Lonely’	Annual	Summer

19) Wisteria

Wisteria is a vigorous climber with cascading clusters of purple, white, or pink blooms and a sweet, grape-like fragrance that fills the air in late spring. It creates stunning displays when trained over arbors, pergolas, or fences.

It prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. While it needs sturdy support and occasional pruning, it’s generally easy to grow once established.

Wisteria is a showstopper when in bloom and adds unforgettable fragrance and romance to the garden.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Wisteria sinensis	5–9	Late Spring
Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’	5–9	Late Spring to Early Summer
Wisteria ‘Blue Moon’	4–9	Spring and again in Summer

20) Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is a low-growing annual that forms dense mounds covered in tiny white, pink, or purple flowers. It produces a light, honey-like scent and blooms profusely from spring to frost in cooler climates.

It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is ideal for borders, rock gardens, hanging baskets, or as a fragrant groundcover. Sweet alyssum is heat-tolerant and self-sows easily for a continuous display.

Its soft fragrance makes it perfect for planting near patios or along walkways.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Lobularia maritima ‘Snow Princess’	Annual	Spring to Fall
Sweet Alyssum ‘Easter Bonnet’	Annual	Late Spring to Frost
Sweet Alyssum ‘Royal Carpet’	Annual	Summer

21) Four O’Clock

Four o’clock flowers get their name from their unique habit of opening in the late afternoon and evening, releasing a sweet, citrusy fragrance that fills the twilight air. The trumpet-shaped blooms come in a variety of colors—sometimes even bi-colored—and attract evening pollinators like moths.

These bushy, easy-to-grow annuals thrive in full sun and average soil. They self-seed readily and often return each year in warmer climates.

Perfect for planting near patios or windows where you can enjoy their evening perfume.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Mirabilis jalapa (Common Four O’Clock)	7–10 (Annual elsewhere)	Summer to Fall
Four O’Clock ‘Limelight’	Annual	Midsummer to Frost
Four O’Clock ‘Broken Colors’	Annual	Summer

22) Chocolate Cosmos

Chocolate cosmos is a velvety, deep burgundy flower with a rich, chocolate-vanilla scent that’s truly unique. The fragrance is strongest in warm afternoon sun, making it a conversation piece in any garden.

This tender perennial is typically grown as an annual in cooler climates. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and while it doesn’t produce seeds, it can be grown from tubers year after year.

Perfect for containers, borders, or planting near seating areas where its scent can be savored.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Cosmos atrosanguineus (Chocolate Cosmos)	7–11	Summer to Fall
Chocolate Cosmos ‘Choca Mocha’	7–10	Late Summer to Frost

23) Plumeria

Plumeria, also known as frangipani, is a tropical flowering plant with waxy, star-shaped blooms and an intensely sweet, citrusy fragrance often used in perfumes and Hawaiian leis.

It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. In cooler climates, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors over winter. Blooms appear in warm weather and carry their scent day and night.

Perfect for patios, poolside planters, or anywhere tropical flair is welcome.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Plumeria rubra ‘Celadine’	9–11	Summer to Fall
Plumeria ‘Singapore Pink’	10–11	Late Spring to Fall
Plumeria ‘Acuminata’	9–11	Summer

24) Night-Blooming Jasmine

Night-blooming jasmine (not a true jasmine) is a powerhouse of evening fragrance, with tubular greenish-white flowers that emit a sweet, spicy scent after dark. The scent is strong and can fill an entire garden at night.

This fast-growing shrub or vine thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It blooms repeatedly from summer through fall in warm climates.

Best planted away from open windows for sensitive noses, but perfect for moon gardens or fence lines.

Plant Varieties	Growing Zone	Blooming Period
Cestrum nocturnum (Night-Blooming Jasmine)	8–11	Summer to Fall
Night-Blooming Jasmine ‘Lady of the Night’	8–11	Midsummer to Fall

25) Angel’s Trumpet

Angel’s trumpet is a dramatic tropical plant with huge, pendulous trumpet-shaped flowers that emit a sweet, intoxicating fragrance—especially in the evening. The scent is strongest just after sunset.

This plant grows as a shrub or small tree and prefers full sun, rich soil, and regular watering. In cooler climates, it can be grown in containers and overwintered indoors.