When choosing plants for the garden, one needs to consider several factors, such as ultimate height and width, soil and light requirements, hardiness, flower color and season, foliage characteristics, and pest resistance. Often overlooked in this selection process is fragrance. Although sense of smell is not as developed in humans as in many other animals, it is still a powerful force, useful for identifying objects and dangers, and capable of affecting feelings and conjuring memories. There is much wisdom in the old adage "stop and smell the roses", although the breeding of rose varieties has left few with any significant fragrance, especially in the cut-flower industry. Roses aside, there are a large number of shrub species that do have fragrant flowers. In this article I will describe a few of my favorites.

Perhaps the earliest (and latest) shrubs to bloom in our area are the witch hazels (Hamamelis spp.). While the native witch hazel (H. virginiana) blooms in October to November, most varieties available at nurseries are hybrids of oriental species (H. x intermedia) or varieties of Hamamelis vernalis, which is native to the Midwest and south, and these varieties bloom between January and April. Hamamelis 'Rochester' is probably the earliest, longest bloomer, and the most fragrant variety of witch hazel. This variety is a hybrid of Chinese (H. mollis) and Vernal (H. vernalis) witch hazels, has yellow-orange flowers with a red throat and a strong spicy scent. The original plant is growing in Durand-Eastman Park, and was originally named H. mollis superbum by Richard Fennichia in 1960. Growing to about 8' high by 10' wide, this plant has the unfortunate habit of retaining its dead leaves until spring, thus somewhat obscuring its flowers. But a good way to enjoy these flowers is to cut stems and bring them indoors, where they will perfume the entire room and last several days if kept in water. Other witch hazel varieties with good fragrance include Arnold Promise (yellow), Angelly (pale yellow), Barmstedt Gold (Golden yellow), Pallida (pale yellow), Orange Peel (orange), Antoine Kort (red), and Danny (dark red). Most witch hazels can grow to 10 to 15' tall and as wide, but can be kept smaller by pruning back every year after blooming to two buds above the blooms; this way they can be kept to about 6 to 8' tall and as wide, and produce more flowers. If left to grow to full size naturally, witch hazels develop a wonderful, open-vase shape with many horizontal tiers. Full sun will give the best show, but they also do well in the shade of a high canopy. Well-drained soil is a must, but adequate moisture is also important, especially for newly planted specimens, so that organic woodsy soils are the best. Given the basic requirements, witch hazels are easy to grow and trouble-free.

In late winter or early spring, Daphne mezereum comes into bloom. Although the common name is February Daphne, around here it does not bloom until March. This is, in my experience, the easiest Daphne species to grow. It likes a little protection and shade from midday and afternoon sun, so an eastern exposure is ideal. The flowers, aligned along the leafless stems, are purple and extremely fragrant. The shrub will grow to about 3' tall and very upright. The leaves emerge after blooming and red fruits develop in June and last into winter. Like all Daphne species, D. mezereum will thrive for several years and then suddenly die from unknown causes, but possibly a lethal virus. Good drainage and plenty of moisture are essential. There are white-flowering varieties available. Since it blooms so early, often while still under snow, this is another good candidate for cutting and bringing indoors.

April is when the native spicebush (Lindera benzoin) blooms. While the branches are still naked, the small yellow flowers open along the branches, creating a pale yellow mist against a backdrop of the woods. As the flowers fade, the bright green, waxy leaves emerge. While the flowers are not fragrant, at least to human senses, the leaves and stems are extremely fragrant when bruised, giving off a strong, spicy scent, reminiscent of Sassafras. The leaves turn a golden yellow in the fall, and contrast well with the red fruits on the female plants. Spicebush will quickly grow to about 8 to 10' tall in an open vase shape if left alone, but if pruned, will sucker into a very dense form. Easy to grow, it will thrive in full sun or shade, wet or dry soil, and is generally left alone by deer.

Late April and early May ushers in the main flowering season for woodies in our area. The Viburnum genus includes a large number of species, well adapted to our area. Unfortunately, the appearance of the Viburnum Leaf Beetle in recent years has had a devastating impact on many species of Viburnum, especially the natives, V. trilobum, and V. dentatum, such that many people are reluctant to plant any Viburnum species. However, the insect does not generally bother the fragrant Asiatic varieties, possibly because their leaves tend to be thick and/or hairy. Most of the fragrant varieties owe their scent to the Koreanspice Viburnum (V. carlesii), which has been used in several breeding programs. Two of my favorites are Judd Viburnum (V. x juddii) and Mohawk Viburnum (V. x burkwoodii 'Mohawk'). The Judd Viburnum has a roundish habit to about 5' by 4', with grayish green leaves, due to very fine hairs, and red buds which open to white, sweetly fragrant flowers in a hemispherical cyme. The Mohawk Viburnum grows somewhat larger to about 7' and more upright in habit. Its leaves are a shiny dark green and turn scarlet to wine red in the fall. The inflorescences are more spherical than the Judd, and retain more of the red color from the buds, resulting in an overall pinkish color. The fragrance is equal to that of the Judd. Viburnums are easy to grow and quick to reach their mature size. They can tolerate full sun or shade, and most soil types, although, of course, moist well-drained, slightly acid soil is the best.

Native to the Appalachians, from Virginia to Florida, is the Sweetshrub or Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus). This shrub is also called spicebush, not be confused with the spicebush found growing in our woods (Lindera benzoin). Although native to the southern states, Calycanthus is quite hardy in our area and further north to Zone 4. A suckering shrub, it forms a dense, rounded shape reaching about 6' high and as wide or wider. It is easily grown and is tolerant of a wide variety of soils, even high pH. It prefers full sun, but will tolerate some shade, although it will not flower as well and will tend to be leggier in shady situations. The deep green leaves are ovate and very glossy, and turn yellow in the fall. The flowers are perfect, deep reddish brown to maroon, and about 2" in diameter, opening in May and sporadically through the summer. The flowers are quite fragrant but highly variable from individual to individual, and also from year to year. At best the fragrance is sweet, sometimes described as strawberry/melon/banana, but is often more of a vinegar or cider mill smell. There are a number of cultivars, such as 'Michael Lindsey', and 'Edith Wilder', and a yellow-flowering form, called 'Athens', which have a more consistently sweet fragrance. The cultivars, 'Michael Lindsey' and 'Athens' tend to be slightly smaller, maturing at 4 to 5' high. There is a new hybrid, called 'Venus', developed by Tom Ranney at North Carolina State University's J.C.Raulston Arboretum; this variety is a cross between C. 'Athens', Sinocalycanthus chinensis, and C. occidentalis, with large white flowers streaked with maroon, and reported to be highly fragrant. Unfortunately, mine have yet to bloom. Calycanthus is a trouble-free plant easily grown in any garden.

A fairly recent introduction to the American market, and still relatively unknown, is Leptodermis oblonga, a small Chinese shrub. So unknown is it that no common name seems to exist as yet. Mature height seems to be anywhere from 15" to 3', and, although hardy to at least Zone 6, does suffer some dieback in some winters here. The clustered, axillary, small tubular lavender pink flowers, resembling those of Daphne, begin to open in June and continue through the summer, even into the fall. The fragrance is very sweet, although not overwhelming, being similar to the fragrance of lilacs. This plant needs full sun and a warm, dry soil, and is tolerant of both wind and drought, but not wet soils. The small, oblong, opposite leaves emerge quite late in the spring, requiring patience on the part of the gardener.

One of the most fragrant summer-flowering shrubs is the native Summersweet or Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), found in the wild from Maine to Florida, and hardy to Zone 4. Late to leaf out in the spring, the alternate, serrated leaves are deep green and lustrous, turning a golden yellow in the fall. Flowers emerge in July to August in upright racemes from the tips of new shoots, in colors ranging from white to light pink and deep rose pink. The fragrance is exquisitely sweet, and attracts large numbers of bees and butterflies. Plants tend to sucker, producing a rounded shrub, often wider than tall, to about 6'. Best growth is achieved in moist humusy soil on the acid side in full sun to part shade. They seem to flower as well in shade as in sun. In the wild they have been found in wet soils, but under cultural conditions seem to languish in such conditions. Often growing in seashore situations, they can tolerate a modicum of salt. There are a number of cultivars available. White forms include; 'Anne Bidwell' has multi-branched, irregular, inflorescences on a more compact shrub to about 4'; 'Creel's Calico' is a variegated form; 'Hummingbird' is a compact form to about 2', which in my opinion tends to be straggly; 'Sixteen Candles' is a better compact form. Pink forms include, 'Rosea', which opens a light pink, but fades to white; 'Pink Spires', also a light pink which does not fade; 'Fern Valley Pink', with longer racemes and a deeper pink; and 'Ruby Spice', with probably the deepest pink color, but somewhat smaller racemes. The flowers fade to a dry stalk, which persists all winter, and resembles the fruit of the pepper spice. The Mountain Clethra (C. acuminata) is not as fragrant and much more difficult to grow than Summersweet. The Japanese species (C. barbinervis) is also quite fragrant and grows much taller, to about 10'; its flowers hang down and tend to last longer; moreover, a mature C. barbinervis has interesting exfoliating bark, similar to Stewartia. Overall, Summersweet is perhaps one of the best native shrubs for summer fragrance, good foliage, clean habit, and ease of growth.

The placement of fragrant shrubs is an important consideration. In order to enjoy the fragrance, consider the time of year when the bloom appear, and what part of the garden is most visited at that time. At the edge of paths, or around sitting areas and patios, is generally a good choice. If windows are left open in the summertime, planting under the window is a good place to consider. Some fragrant shrubs bloom in the early spring or winter, when gardens are less utilized; in this case, consider cutting flowering stems and bringing them in the house. Be aware that many pollinating insects, including bees, often visit fragrant flowers. If you are allergic to bees, you might want to reconsider the location. In general the fragrance is most pronounced on warm, sunny days, and often in the early evening. Wherever you plant, scented flowers add another, subtler, dimension of smell to the horticultural palette.