Archive for the ‘Perfumed Plants’ Category
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PORT WINE MAGNOLIA
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
A special floral is Michelia figo as it is generally labelled and that we know in our gardens as the Port Wine Magnolia. It originates in China as so many of our wonderful flora and is enjoyed for its scented flower oil used on the hair and valued for the fragrance it offers in the garden environment. The flower shares the genus of the famous Champaka.
The tiny flowers of this wonderful plant when sniffed in the warmth of the day, or when they exude what can only be called an intoxicating and intriguing scent. Some are known to have an aversion to its strong , sweet perfume and yet others, as myself would happily swoon with pleasure if I could only inhale greater quantities of it! Such is our individual reaction to aromatics.
Landscape gardeners are usually aware of the likelihood that some will not appreciate a port wine magnolia shrub in close proximity and adapt the placement of these exotics to suit the owners or the environment. The shrubs would be enjoyed near schools or in parks that young people frequent as their sensitivity is keen. We may think that older people would not be able to indulge in the same way but sometimes a hint or memory can compensate to echo past delights experienced by a port wine magnolia lover.
The essential oil from the flower is rarely known and expensive as all the exquisite florals and we will welcome its future availability.
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NATURAL GARDEN PERFUMES
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
Actinidia Actinidia kolomikta tiny fragrant flower similar scent as Lily of Valley
Allspice Calycanthus floridus, scented as the name indicates sweet
Amazon Lily Eucharis grandiflora scent is good
Artemisia arborescens – ‘Powis Castle’ is a soft, ornamentla variety strongly scented
Arum lilies Zantedeschia aethiopica, Z. odorata has a strong perfume of freesias
Backhousia citriodora lemon scented leaves
Basil Ocimum basilicum slightly camphorous, attractive scent
Bay leaf Laurus nobilis , Pimenta racemosa has a warm, spicy smell
Belladonna Lily Amaryllis belladonna heavy perfume – too heavy
Broom-Spartium, Genista and Cytisus scented spp
Buddleja asiatica, B. auriculate B. davidii spice scented flowers and other scented spp
Buffalo Currant Ribes odoratum spicy scented flowers
Calamints Calamintha alpinahas scent mixed thyme and sage C. grandiflora is taller with rose red flowers aromatic leaves
Californian Lilac Ceanothus dentatus Gloire de Versailles powder blue flowers
Carnation, Gillyflowers spice scented
Catmint, Catnip Nepeta cataria, N. mussini attracts cats
Cestrum nocturnum heavy, toxic scent at night
Chamomile, Roman Anthemis nobilis-lawn chamomile, apple scented
Chilean Jasmine Mandevilla laxa syn M. suaveolens scented white flowers.
Cistus ladanifer has sticky leaves and white flowers
Clematis Clematis. Armandii ‘appleblossom’ is best perfume C.montana wilsonii highly perfumed scent like cowslips C. flammula has best fragrance
Clerodendrum Clerodendron trichotomum has scented flowers but smelly foliage
C. bungei, C. fargesi have sweetly scented pink flowers
Clethra arborea Lily of the Valley tree
Cosmos, Chocolate Scented Cosmos atrosanguineus
Cotton Lavender, Santolina Santolina chamaecyparissus aromatic foliage.
Crinum x powellii has scented flowers
Curry Plant Helychrysum italicum
Cyclamen europeum has a strong scent
Cypress cupressus sempervirens
Daphne odora, D. pontica D. Burkwoodii D. blagayana is a prostrate fragrant plant
Datura syn Brugmansia D. candida wonderful perfumed flowers to intoxicate
Dianthus Carnations Dianthus fragrans, D. caesius – Cheddar pink from England has best perfume old cloves, many hybrids
Dregea sinensis syn Wattakaka sinensis scented pink flowers
Eau de Cologne Mint leaves and flowers when crushed scent of eau de cologne
Elaeagnus angustifolia honey scented flowers intoxicating fragrance
Elder Tree, Sambucus flowers have perfume – leaves are smelly
Eucalyptus globulus, E. citriodora one of the cleanest antiseptic scents, the latter lemony
Evening Primrose Oenothera odorense – biennial O. trichocalyx white flower almost as pleasantly scented
Flowering Tobacco ,Scented Tobacco- Nicotiana alata yn N. affinis only the white has the perfume “Fragrant Cloud’
Franjipani possesses the well known scent of tropic gardens
Freesia corymbosa the wild ones having best perfume
Gardenia augusta, G. florida, G. jasminoides etc. – exquisite perfume
Geranium Geranium Bourbon, Pelargonium graveolens flowers and leaves scented
Giant Lily Cardiocrinum giganteum from the Himalayas has fine scent.
Ginger plant and root possess the wonderful warm well known ginger scent
Ginger Lily Hedychium gardnerianum scented yellow flowers H. coronarium White ginger Lily
Gladioli tristis has a very sweet scent G. murielae syn gladiolus callianthus has lily scented flowers
Heliotrope, Heliotropium spp Cherry Pie strongly reminiscent of hawthorn. Some are
vanilla scented
Himalayan magnolia, Champaca source of perfume
Honeysuckle spp Loniceras fragrantissima L. periclymenum, and others sweet scented
Hoya carnosa, H. lanceolata
Humea elegans Incense Plant – can cause skn irritation but has fragrant foliage.
Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis heavy, overpowering scent
Iris aphylla, arenaria, , germanica, graminea, reticulata, stylosa all scented species
I. florentina flower is violet scented and the root dried in use of perfume I. pallida Fleur de lis or Fower de Luce of Damatia has very sweet perfume like orange flower.
Jasmine Jasminum officinale, J. angular has larger leaves than J. polyanthm and heavier flowers J. sambac ‘/Grand Duke of Tuscany’ double exquisite perfume.
Jonquil, Narcissus spp heady perfume that is either loved or avoided
Juniper Juniperus communis strong masculine type aromatic
Katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum perfumes the air
Lavender Lavendula officinalis, L. Vera , L. dentata
Lavender cotton, Santolina - once as cooking herb but suited to keeping away moths Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis – lemony scent
Lemon blossom Citrus limonum unique clear, citric scent allied to the orange flower
Lemon Oil from fruit Citrus limonum antiseptic, shart and cleansing
Lemon scented thyme Thymus best for garden verges, walkways and culinary use
Lemon Verbena Aloysia citriodora syn Lippia citriodia Lemon Verbena leaves scented
Lilac Syringa vulgaris exquisite perfume. Many hybrids.
Lilium – many sp. Most have scent but careful as pollen often stains
Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis strong and distinctive perfume
Luculia gratissima cherished plant for pink delicate scented flowers
Magnolias sinensis, M. stellata, M. wilsonii, M, grandiflora
Mahonia japonicaflowers like lily of the valley
Marjoram Origanum majorana familiar scent in garden and kitchen
Meadowsweet Spiraea sp once a strewing herb – richly perfumed English wild flower
Mexican Orange blossom Choisya ternata scent similar to sweet Orange blossom
Michelia, spp includes the indescribable richness of the Port Wine Magnolia
Mimosa , Wattle Acacia dealbata and many others – but care with allergies
Mint, Mentha spp scented foliage and flowers
Mock Orange, Philadelphus Philadelphus coronarius, strongly scent P. microphyllus,
Murraya paniculata delightfully fragrant shrub with white flowers
Myrtle Myrtus communis aromatic leaves
Narcissus/Jonquils, Daffodils – select spp N, campoernelli odourus plenus doule has great perfume N. jonquilla flore pleno
Night Blooming Cereus, Night scented Cacti – Epiphyllum crenatum
Night scented Stock Matthiola longipetala bicornis waves of delicious fragrance in evenings.
Orange blossom, Neroli Citrus aurantium one of the supremely satisfying scents
Osmanthus fragrans exquisite perfume similar to warm ripe apricots
Ozothamnus ledifolius leaves covered in sticky gum perfumes, white flowers pink buds from Tasmania, Australia
Passionflower ‘Incense” Passiflora incarnata x P cincinnata has fragrant flowers
Patchouli Pogostemon patchouli popular first in India and now world wide
Pelargoniums – many scented varieties P, tomentosum, P. graveolens Rose Scented used for rose substitute perfume. Some spp have are evening scented flowers P. gibbosum is strange plant hightly scented green flowers in evening. P. triste also evening fragrance
Peppermint Mentha piperita attractive to the senses of taste and smell
Petitgrain Citrus aurantium bitter orange tree – refined scent in demand in perfumery
Petunias – suitable for warm climate gardens and exude wonderful scent at night
Phlox paniculata scented flowers
Pine Pinus sylvestris has strong, clear, mellow scent. Masculine scent used in aromatherapy for general massage
Roses – Rosa gallica sp and R. moschata, also David Austin roses (See Rose List)
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis a scent traditionally associated with the mind and with memory. It is a culinary herb well suited to all potato dishes
Sage. Salvias Salvia officinalis S. rutilans has a pineapple scent S. sclarea Clary Sage strongly scented but not as strong as common sage
Spanish Broom Spartium junceum sweetly scented – many hybrdis are scented
Stephanotis floribunda Madagascar Jasmine sweet strong perfume
Stocks- White Perennial Matthiola incana – most heavily scented
Sweet Alice Alyssum scent like hawthorn
Sweet Box Sarcococca confusa, S. hookeriana
Sweet Peas Lathyrus odoratus – soft, powdery sweet perfume
Sweet Pepper Bush Clethra alnifolia white and pink flowers scented
Sweet Rocket Hesperis matronalis has a perfume like cloves – evening perfume
Sweet Sedge,Calamus Acorus calamus, scented in all ita parts but roots most valued
Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum scented flowers and foliage – strewing herb
Tangerine Citrus reticulata from peel of ripe fruit
Thyme Thymus. serpyllus wild the – culinaryT. herba borona smells of caraway seeds
T. nitidus attractive perfume
Tobira Pittosporum tobira – scent of orange blossom
Tuberrose Polyanthes - said to be the strongest of floral perfumes.
Vetivert Vetiveria zizanoides for tranquillity
Viburnum fragrans – fruits are eaten there are many hybrids with perfumed flowers.
Violet, Viola Viola odorata true perfume V. ruviniana Dog Violet with no smell
Wallflower Cheiranthus cheiri syn Erysimum cheiri Best scent are the original yellows
Water Hawthorn Aponogeton distachym has a strong scent lance shaped leaves white
flower unusual shape with black anthers. Scent disappears soon after picking.
White Flag Iris –perfumed like lemon sherbet -delightful
Winter Heliotrope Petasites fragrans has hawthorn like perfume – exceedingly strong
Winter’s Bark Drimys winteri jasmine scented flowers and aromatic leaves.
Wisteria floribunda Japanese Wisteria W. sinensis Chinese Wisteria
Witch-hazel Hamamelis mollis from China has wonderful scent on warm day.
Ylang Ylang Cananga odorata an exotic tropical perfume used discreetly in perfumes
Zaluzianskya. Zaluzianskya ovata heavily scented plant from Sth Africa
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