fragrant shrubs: plant in groups or distribute throughtout garden
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I am planning a fragrant garden. I have got multiple viburnums, winter honeysuckle etc. What would be best way to get good fragrance and looks. Should I plant them in groups like all spring viburnums together or should i distribiue them throughout garden like one spring viburnum on each side. Garden isnt very big (30ftx60ft)
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Tetley's advice is good. In addition, it is best to put scented shrubs upwind from the prevailing wind so you can get the maximum benefit.
Some fragrance plants are fragrant only when they are in the sun, some only at specific times of day, some are very strong and others very 'soft'. All of these would have a different answer. Ones that need the sun probably have to go fairly close together unless the whole area is sunlit. Evening scented ones are usually better close to seating areas, paths or doors and windows. A big group of very strongly scented plants could be overpowering. One little wafty plant might go un-noticed.
And not all fragrances 'go' together. You can have too much of a good thing
Thank you. This is the list of plants I have in the rough order of flowering time. I bought them as small plants and now most are like 1-1.5 ft tall. Yes ultimate height is big but they will take a while to be full size. They are distributed from Autumn to spring flowering so hopefully it will not be too much.
I have left and right side of garden border to plant. Now I am wondering should I keep like same kind of shrubs together like keep both winter honeysuckle together or plant one on each side?
elaeagnus ebbingei
Viburnum × bodnantense 'Dawn' - 2
Mahonia × media 'Charity'
CHIMONANTHUS praecox
Hamamelis mollis (witch hazel)
Lonicera fragrantissima, winter honeysuckle,
Lonicera purpusii Winter Beauty
Sarcococca - 6
VIBURNUM carlesii aurora - 2
Viburnum x burkwoodii - 4
Decidous Azaleas - 4
I think you need to move to a house with a larger garden before you plant
In the sticks near Peterborough
I did consider moving. Anyway I don't mind loosing sides of lawn. I am thinking of planting all of these and then a perennial/annual mixed border in front of them!
The honeysuckle vines and jasmines are going to far end of garden. They will definitely be too much in summer.
Left side I have a buddleia. I am thinking most of the fragrant shrubs would be of similar width, so if I remove the path, and the buddleia, I can have a hedge like line of shrubs and some annual/perennials border similar to the marigold one in front of them.
On right side of garden the shrubs would be of similar width to that rhododendron, may be bit wider. I have already widened that bed so i can again have a annual/perennial border like that geranium border in front of shrubs.
Does it look doable? May be if shrubs grow too big I will not have that flower border in a few years time.
Last edited: 15 November 2016 17:29:22
One important consideration is the future spread of your shrubs in the vicinity of those garden fences. Are the fences yours or your neighbours' or shared? What do you plan to do when your shrubs grow over the fences into your neighbours' gardens? It would be wise to keep a narrow passage (minimum half a meter) between the shrubs and the fences, to control the growth. How tall and wide is your rhododendron?
I have an Eleagnus ebbingei that must be 10foot across.
more maybe
Chimonanthus, 8-10 foot
Pink Viburnum, (like Dawn), only 8 foot across since a big prune
V, burkwoodii, 8foot
Get a bigger garden
In the sticks near Peterborough
Oh dear! Thank you. I will have to think about it
The idea of selling some sounds good. You don't need both the winter flowering Loniceras, not much to choose between them. Either V. carlesii or x burkwoodii could go. You haven't got room for 2 of any of them unless the azaleas are small. I don't know azaleas, I've never had acid soil.
But I think with your enthusiasm you'll need more garden sooner or later
In the sticks near Peterborough