Nosing Around the Garden for Fragrant Perennials

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Why are Fragrant Perennials Important?

The ornamentals in your yard should not be just for looking at, you've worked too hard on your landscape just for a little ocular pleasure. Here's a few reasons to choose fragrant perennials:

• Pleasant, natural fragrances add to outdoor living spaces such as patios, entryways, and porches.
• Fragrant perennials can be used as cut flowers to bring a little outdoor fragrance inside.
• That scent is meant to attract pollinators, such as butterflies and honeybees.
• The more fragrant a plant is, the less interesting it seems to be to deer. Of course, a hungry deer will eat anything, but they might eat your Peonies last!

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'Purrsian Blue' Catmint (Nepeta faassenii)

Zones: 3-8 / Blooms in Early Summer - Early Fall

When Nepeta's stems are broken, they release an aroma into the air that tends to attract cats, thus its common name, Catmint. Use 'Purrsian Blue' as a cut flower to get the most out of it's fragrance.

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'Rosie Posie' Anise Hyssop (Agastache)

Zones: 6-9 / Blooms from Midsummer - Early Fall

The foliage is the most fragrant part of this perennial and isn't so strong that it will overwhelm your senses. Due to it's heat and drought tolerance, 'Rosie Posie' is a great perennial for mixed containers. A perfect accent for late summer color on hot patios.

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'Cloudburst' Tall Cushion Phlox'

Zones: 4-8 / Blooms Early - Late Summer

A unique new perennial from Proven Winners, 'Cloudburst' flowers much the same as a Tall Garden Phlox, but has a shorter, mounding habit with blooms stretching all the way to the ground. These flowers are lightly aromatic and will be a favorite of pollinators.

*be sure to give 'Cloudburst' a year or two to settle in

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'Cherry Pops' Bee Balm - SUGAR BUZZ® Series (Monarda)

Zones: 4-8 / Blooms in Mid - Late Summer

The flowers' sweet nectar attracts scores of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to the garden. The aromatic foliage smells like mint when crushed and is occasionally used to flavor teas. Try this perennial in cut flower arrangements.

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'Paint the Town Magenta' Pinks (Dianthus)

Zones: 4-9 / Blooms in Early Summer, Rebloom in Early Fall

Lightly fragrant, 'Paint the Town Magenta' will thrive as a border plant alongside walkways and patios. Evergreen foliage will stay nice all year.

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'Collier' Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Zones: 3-9 / Blooms in Early - Midsummer

You might notice a pleasant aroma when 'Collier' is in full bloom. This vibrant, versatile perennial will work anywhere you have sun.

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'Rocketman' Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Zones: 4-9 / Blooms from Midsummer - Mid Fall

Russian Sage are know for their fragrance and 'Rocketman' is no exception. Finely textured silvery-green foliage will produce a pleasant scent all summer long.

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PHENOMENAL™ Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia)

Zones: 4-9 / Blooms from Mid - Late Summer

One of the all time best perennials for fragrance and cut flowers, Lavender is a plant you've almost certainly heard of before. PHENOMENAL™ is a very large, hedging lavender that can be used to create a border around the garden and also can be grown as a cut and dried flower for potpourri and culinary uses.

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Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

Zones: 2-7 / Blooms in Mid Spring

A charming, old-fashioned favorite. Pendulous, pure white flowers are very fragrant and are even used in making perfume! Unlike most of the plants on this list, Lily of the Valley has good performance in shady areas and will bloom in spring.

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'Prince Charming' Butterfly Bush - MONARCH® Collection

Zones: 5-10 / Blooms from Late Summer - Early Fall

Honey-scented blossoms will burst on to the scene in late summer and immediately become the focus of your landscape. If you want to see Monarch butterflies in your garden, planting Butterfly Bush like 'Prince Charming' is an easy way to do it.

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'Bartzella' Itoh Peony (Paeonia)

Zones: 4-9 / Blooms in Late Spring

At maturity, 'Bartzella' is a perennial rivaled by few. Incredibly elegant flowers have a pronounced sweet fragrance. Use 'Bartzella' for cut flower arrangements in spring.

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LAKOTA™ 'Santa Fe' (Echinacea)

Zones: 4-8 / Blooms from Early Summer - Early Fall

The lightly fragrant flowers are a favorite of pollinators and the seed heads will attract birds in fall and winter. Try 'Santa Fe' as a cut flower or on borders around walkways and patios.

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'Violet Riot' Perennial Salvia - COLOR SPIRES® Collection

Zones: 3-8 / Blooms Late Spring - Early Summer

The uniform, rounded clump of foliage is aromatic and a nice accent to the garden even when not in bloom. Try this easy to grow perennial in containers!

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'Medusa' Ornamental Onion (Allium)

Zones: 4-8 / Blooms from Mid - Late Summer

Foliage and flower stems twist and snake unlike other Ornamental Onion. Try this perennial as a stand alone cut flower in clear vases to show off the stems.

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'Moonshine' Yarrow (Achillea)

Zones: 3-8 / Blooms Early - Mid Summer

An excellent accent plant because its contrasting silver, textured foliage. 'Moonshine' has a light fragrance you can appreciate with cool summer breezes.

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'Amber Moon' Astilbe

Zones: 4-9 / Blooms in Midsummer

Another good fragrant perennial for shady areas, 'Amber Moon' will provide a delightful scent in Midsummer. Try this plant as a cut flower to add height and accent to your summer arrangements.