My brother (he lives in Washington, D.C.) called a few days ago to thank me for the ‘Casa Blanca’ lilies I had given him and his wife for their garden last year. He said he enjoys a whiff of their perfume every time he walks in or out of the house. (they planted them in a mixed border next to the steps that lead to their front door.) This reminded me of how much I look forward to the many sweet scents of summer. For as long as I can remember I have been drawn to plants with fragrant flowers and foliage. As a young child I loved the gardenias that my grandmother grew in her south Florida garden and since then I have grown several selections of this old fashion favorite. Over the years I have expanded my repertoire of fragrant plants to include a wide range of types that delight with their intoxicating scents. An added bonus with growing many of these is the butterflies and hummingbirds they will attract to your garden.
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'
Even novice gardeners will find the formosa lily, Lilium formosanum, easy and rewarding to grow. Blooming after the Casa Blanca lilies, in late July or August, these heat-loving beauties produce large white trumpets, similar to an Easter lily but even more fragrant, atop 5-7′ tall stalks and, they don’t need staking. Both varieties of lilies will be happiest in full sun or part-shade. For a carefree companion, I like Calamintha nepeta nepeta , calamint. This late blooming perennial is covered for months with white to pale blue flowers with a strong minty scent.
There are many summer beauties that not only look good but smell good too! Two large shrubs (they can also be trained as small trees) that offer handsome foliage, fragrant flowers and striking winter bark are Japanese clethra, Clethra barbinervis and the native cinnamon clethra, Clethra acuminata. For smaller gardens Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ grows 5′ tall and 3′ wide with spicy flowers that start out ruby-red in bud and open to dark pink. This native likes full sun or part-shade and a moist soil but will also tolerate a swampy site.
Familiar to many is the butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii and its many selections. Not only does it bloom for months, acting as a magnet for butterflies, this drought tolerant shrub comes in a wide range of colors and more recently sizes. I am testing a recent introduction in my garden called Buddleia ‘Blue Chip’ or Lo & Behold. With fragrant nonstop blue to purple-blue flowers this compact selection is supposed to mature at 24 to 36 inches tall and 30 inches wide. If it proves a good performer this butterfly bush will make an excellent choice for small gardens and containers. (I’ll get back to you) While a typical butterfly bush may grow as high as 8 to 10′ in a single season, the English series is being promoted for plants that will be more manageable, maturing at 4 to 5′ tall and 3′ wide. Look for Adonis Blue with blue purple flowers; Peacock with pink flowers ; and Purple Emperor with purple blooms.
A native understory tree that makes a handsome ornamental in the landscape too, the sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana var. asustralis tree is found along streams and in bottomlands from Texas to Virginia. The green foliage with silver backsides and the white lemon- scented flowers that begin in late spring and continue on and off through the summer add up to a real charmer.
Erica’s Pick
Japanese clethra
Botanical name: Clethra barbinervis
Clethra barbinervis in full bud
About the plant: This large shrub or small tree grows 15 to 20′ tall and is covered with white fragrant flowers in late July to August. The striking winter bark, peels to expose patches of white, gray and reddish brown.
Use in the garden: Plant this clethra against a backdrop of evergreens, in the woodland or in a small courtyard garden. Make sure to select a location where you can appreciate its fragrance.
Planting and care: Full sun or part shade and a moist well-drained soil is best.
Source: McMahan’s Nursery, 5727 Cleveland Hwy., Clermont, GA 30527, 770-983-3666, www.mcmahansnursery.com
