26 Fragrant Flowers To Make a Garden or Cut Arrangement Smell Amazing (2024)

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley, known for its delicate, sweet-scented white blossoms, adds an interesting silhouette and enticing fragrance to any arrangement. For the garden, plant in early spring in partial shade, keeping in mind that they tend to spread out.

Caution: toxic to animals and people

Hardiness Zones 3-9

Hyacinth

When heady hyacinth is in bloom, you'll often catch its scent before you see it. Waiting for this bloom requires patience because bulbs need to be planted in the fall (before the first frost) in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade.

But hyacinths are worth the wait. In the spring, they'll reward you in an array of gorgeous pink, purple, and blue shades.

Hardiness Zones 4-8

Rose

The rose has always held its own as one of the sweetest-smelling flowers in the garden. There are endless varieties from which to choose—some easier to grow than others—from classics to modern hybrids.

Among the most fragrant blooms, many English roses make the list, including Heritage and Gertrude Jekyll. Some hybrid tea roses, such as Just Joey and Mister Lincoln, are also aromatic.

When buying roses at the florist or market, be sure the stem is firm and green. Petals should fit snugly against the bud and not be too wide open.

Hardiness Zones 4-11

Lavender

It should be no surprise to see lavender on a list of aromatic flowers. Its soothing scent has proven stress-reducing properties, and just a few sprigs can amp up the aroma of a DIY bouquet.

The hybrid Lavandin, also known as French lavender, is among the most fragrant varieties. Even if you don't have a garden, potted lavender is easy to grow in a sunny spot on your kitchen counter.

Hardiness Zones 5-8

Gardenia

The rich perfume of this bloom may remind you of wandering in a garden after dusk. That's because it releases more scent at night to attract pollinating moths.

Gardenia does best in regions where nighttime temperatures are warm (around 60 degrees F), and it prefers moist soil and humidity.

Hardiness Zones 8-11

Freesia

For a light, sweet-smelling scent that's been compared to strawberries, opt for freesia. Available in vibrant shades of purple, yellow, pink, and red; freesia is as lovely in a garden as it is in a bouquet.

In Zones 9 and warmer, plant freesia bulbs (called corms) in the fall to overwinter and bloom the next year. In cooler zones, it's best to plant corms in the spring for fragrant summer blooms. If potting freesia for indoors, keep the soil moist and place it near a sunlit window.

Hardiness Zones 9-10

Jasmine

Like gardenia, night-blooming jasmine is most fragrant after dark. Not all types are fragrant, but the common white jasmine is best known for its sweet scent.

When grown indoors, Jasmine needs six or more hours of bright, indirect light, such as near a north or east-facing window. Grown outside, Jasmine's delicate white flowers look particularly striking when grown on a trellis or pergola.

Hardiness Zones 7-10

Magnolia

The only thing sweeter than the aroma of a magnolia bloom might be a glass of sweet tea on a nearby front porch swing. In general, magnolia trees grow best in the sunny, humid Deep South, but among its 80-plus varieties, there's likely one that's well-suited to grow where you are.

Arguably, the most fragrant variety is Daybreak, with a rosy-pink flower that blooms in mid-spring. Magnolia flowers make fabulous cut flowers: They're available all summer long, some varieties are as big as dinner plates, and they last up to 2 weeks.

Hardiness Zones 6-10

Wisteria

Wisteria flowers command a dramatic appearance, whether they're dangling from a pergola or trellis, or bursting from a vase. This climbing vine prefers full sun and blooms in shades of blue and purple in spring and late summer.

Due to its aggressive growth pattern, wisteria—particularly the non-native Chinese and Japanese varieties—is considered invasive in many regions. To be on the safe side, opt for the American wisteria, which has all the fragrance without the bad reputation.

Caution: toxic to animals and people

Hardiness Zones 5-9

Heliotrope

This old-fashioned annual is enjoying a resurgence of late, thanks to its attractiveness to pollinators and its scent, which ranges from vanilla, baby powder, and grapes to cherry pie. Among more than 320 species, the most common ornamental isH. arborescens. Look for ‘Fragrant Blue’for the most strongly scented flowers, which turn deep blue when temperatures drop.

Amazing as cut flowers, heliotropes are also well-suited to container gardening, where you can move them around to best capture their fragrance. Bring them inside to overwinter, but only if you like your room to smell like cherry pie.

Caution: toxic to animals and people

Hardiness Zones 9-10

Sweet Pea

The diminutive size of this annual flower belies its mighty fragrance. Whether tucked in a border garden or climbing up atrellis or arch, its honey-and-orange blossom perfume is delightful.

Dainty and delicate, sweet pea blooms last up to five days in a vase, and the more flowers you cut from the garden, the more they proliferate. Despite this flower's edible namesake (technically, the English pea), this flowering sweet pea plant is poisonous.

Caution: toxic to animals and people

Lilac

One of the many delights of spring is the all-too-short blooming season of the lilac bush. If you have plenty of space in a sunny spot, they're a great addition to any fragrance garden. Completely non-toxic, lilacs are among several flowers that are edible.

For a cut arrangement, you'll likely need to plant your own lilac bush since they're rarely available commercially. But there's nothing more beautiful and aromatic, albeit short-lived, than a vase of woody-stemmed, lavender or white lilac blossoms.

Hardiness Zones 2-7

Daphne

This woody, densely-branched, broadleaf evergreen prefers a spot in dappled shade. If conditions allow, the best location for this woodland shrub is near a door or pathway, so you can enjoy its stunning scent every time you pass by.

Daphne flowers areexcellent for cutting, and their fragrance intensifies when they're brought indoors. Dubbed "the world’s most fragrant shrub" (perhaps by its New Zealand breeder), the variety Daphne Perfume Princess™ emits a sweet, spicy fragrance with a citrus undertone.

Caution: toxic to animals

Hardiness Zones 4-9

Angel's Trumpet

This tropical plant features a dramatic flower that hangs like an upside-down squash blossom—or to some, an angel's trumpet—up to 20 inches long. It wafts an exotic perfume at night, so placement near an outdoor space used after sundown takes best advantage of its heady scent.

Not common as a cut flower, you can still enjoy the angel's trumpet's fragrance indoors as a container plant. Let it soak up the sun outdoors during summer, and then bring it inside to overwinter.

Caution: toxic to animals

Hardiness Zones 9-12

Daffodils

We love daffodils for their cheery colors and their role as the harbinger of spring, not necessarily for their scent. But among their 13,000-plus varieties, there are many fragrant ones available to enjoy in your garden bed, container, or vase. Look for varieties like 'Actaea', 'Baby Moon', and 'Canaliculatus'.

Hardiness Zones 4-8

Tuberose

This Mexican native is valued worldwide for its sweet, floral-scented blooms, so much so its essential oil is widely used as aperfume ingredient. Its large, white, trumpet-shaped blooms, which grow on stalks that can reach 4 feet tall, are a florist favorite for weddings and Hawaiian leis.

If your garden is too cold for this tropical beauty to thrive, they make spectacular container plants for a sunny spot on a patio after the threat of frost has passed. In an arrangement, they're particularly effective in bouquets with flowers that lack a strong scent.

Hardiness Zones 9-11

Mock Orange

This spring-blooming shrub requires quite a bit of space, as it grows up to 8 feet tall and wide, but requires very little care. It proliferates sparkling white flowers with a jasmine-like fragrance, but don't expect to harvest any fruit: It's not even in the citrus family. Twigs of mock orange blossoms set against their bright green foliage make a fragrant filler for a mixed bouquet.

Hardiness Zones 4-8

Peony

Voluptuous showy blooms from peony plants emit an amazing aroma that ranges from light and citrusy to sweet and spicy. Typically, double white and pink peonies are the most fragrant.

As cut flowers, peonies are rather top-heavy, so it's vital to give them as much support as possible in your vase to prevent their stems from bending. Different varieties are early, mid, or late blooming, so if you plant some of each in your garden, you'll enjoy their aroma—inside and outside—as long as possible.

Hardiness Zones 3-8

Summersweet

Summersweet is a summer-blooming shrub that perfumes the air with a seductive clove-like fragrance. Its bottle-brush-shaped spike of white-pinkish florets tops stems with lustrous green leaves that turn brilliant yellow in fall.

In the garden, this shrub adapts to a wide range of growing conditions, including shade, soggy soil, and salty air; but does not thrive in a hot, dry location. Several woody stems in a plain glass vase make an elegant, natural-looking, no-fuss arrangement.

Hardiness Zones 4-9

Stargazer Lily

Lilies, especially those in the Oriental group like this one, are known for their delightful fragrance, and this hybrid stands out among them for its overpowering aroma. Stargazer's huge pink and red-spotted flowers convey an exotic appearance, making it a favorite among gardeners and florists. Indoors, container-grown Stargazers demand a sunny window or a grow light to keep them happy.

Caution: toxic to cats

Hardiness Zones 4-9

Flowering Tobacco

To answer the inevitable question: No, this isn't the flower from the plant used for smoking tobacco, but this summer-blooming ornamental variety is a close relative. A native of South America, it's grown as an annual throughout most of the U.S. and is favored by florists for its eye-catching blooms.

The flowering tobacco's long, tubular flowers, reminiscent of shooting stars, emit a strong jasmine-like scent, particularly the white varieties. Their nearly iridescent quality and scent, which is stronger after dusk, make this plant the perfect candidate for a moon garden.

Caution: toxic to animals

Hardiness Zones 10-11

Ginger Lily

Ginger lilies are a collection of about 70 tropical flowering plant species that grow best in partial sun, They're known for their fragrant late-summer, early-fall blooms in shades of white, yellow, orange, and peach.

Indoors, these flowers' long cylindrical spikes make a dramatic addition to bouquets, and outdoors they attract hummingbirds and butterflies. In cooler climates, they adapt well to growing in containers that can overwinter inside.

Hardiness Zones 8-11

Carnations

Carnations are a mainstay of floral arrangements, prized for their wide range of colors, sizes, and longevity as a cut flower, but their aroma is often underrated. With some types more odiferous than others, many smell more sweet-and-spicy than floral, and the fragrance of some is reminiscent of cloves.

When choosing carnation plants for an aromatic garden, make sure they're labeled "fragrant." For fresh arrangements, just follow your nose.

Hardiness Zones 6-9

Flowering Quince

This early spring-blooming shrub sports a messy growth habit yet neat red, orange, white, or pink flowers. Fresh-cut flowering branches bring drama and color when arranged in a vase—with other blooms or alone—but its twigs are thorny, which makes working with them indoors a challenge.

Hardiness Zones 5-9

Stock

This spring bloomer provides showy blooms that offer your garden or cut flower arrangement plenty of vertical interest. It's a member of the cabbage family, but don't think it smells like their relatives. Its clusters of fluffy, dense yet delicate blooms pack an intense clove-like scent.

These hard-working plants come in a wide range of spectacular colors. No matter what the occasion, garden and floral designers use these versatile flowers as fillers, background blooms, and stars of their own hom*ogenous bouquet.

Hardiness Zones 7 to 10

Naked Lady

Some of the longest-lasting blooms available, the intriguing name of this member of the amaryllis family comes from its growing pattern: Its lily-like flower blooms before its leaves appear, leaving the plant in a unique state of undress.

Naked ladies' elegant flowers in shades of white and pink tend to smell like bubble gum. When clustered in the garden or a vase, these lively-looking late-summer flowering bulbs appear to dance.

Hardiness Zones 7 to 10