Top 7 Scentsome Hedge Plants to Maintain a Fragrant Yard Throughout Summer and Future Seasons
Transformation:
Garden hedges ain't just practical, they're flippin' stunning! With these seven fragrant alternatives, you can transform your boring ol' backyard into a bloomin' ol' fragrance paradise. And the best part? They'll still maint'ain your privacy. So, put on your gardening gloves and let's dive into the list, ya'll.
Choosin' the Right Stuff
Pickin' a fragrant plant for your hedge is like addin' the final touch to your masterpiece. Since these suckers are gonna surround your yard, even a subtle scent can drift through and create a beautiful ambiance. This is especially powerful if your garden lacks flowers, as most fragrance comes from 'em.
Many of these plants will only give off their aroma during their flowerin' months, so you can mark the summer with a special scent.
The 7 Best Stinky Shrubs for Your Hedge
1. It's all about the Viburnum
Viburnum offers a variety of species to choose from, perfect for all kindsa hedgin' needs. With some reachin' 20 feet and others just 6-8, you can control the exact height you want for maximum privacy.
2. Lilac: That classic aroma
Lilac is known for its pretty, perfumed flowers and comes in a variety of colors – pink, purple, and white. Lilac may not seem like a hedge plant, but its dense growth makes it ideal for creatin' a barrier. You can even prune it to shape it into what you want.
3. Mock Orange: Gets its name for a reason
Mock orange smells just like orange blossom, but it's native to North America. It has vibrant green leaves that can create a textured wall, while the blooms come out in spring and early summer, with a white aroma and yellow stems. Shadow this bad boy in full sun or partial shade.
4. Winter Daphne: Fragrant even in the cold months
Winter daphne blooms in late winter, but it keeps lookin' good all year. The glossy, deep green leaves are often ringed in yellow, and the shrub produces clusters of white, pink, and reddish blooms with a tubular shape. Daphne prefers warmer climates, but can still survive in regions with frost.
5. Abelia: Blooms like a motha
Abelia is an evergreen shrub that blooms in the summer months. If you plant 'em about 3 feet apart, you can create a continuous hedge. The leaves are dense and green, and the large, white tubular blooms last for weeks, attractin' pollinators and hummingbirds to the garden.
6. Fragrant Olive: A tropical twist
Fragrant olive is native to warmer climates, like zones 9 to 11. The leaves are evergreen, lastin' all year, and reach up to 15 feet in height. The flowers are small and yellow-orange, with a subtle scent reminiscent of apricots. Grow this bad boy in full sun or partial shade, in plenty of moist soil.
7. Sweetshrub: Underused, but oh-so fragrant
Sweetshrub is hardy in zones 5 to 9, and can handle a variety of growin' conditions, from full sun to shade. It grows into a large bush if left untrimmed, and its unique, spider-like blooms can last for several weeks in various colors. The scent is supposed to smell like all sortsa fruits, like banana, pineapple, and strawberry. Perfect for markin' your territory in a fragrant way!
Other Gardening Goodies
- Amazing Stuff for You Garden Gloves (2-pack): $9 at AmazonThese garden gloves are made of nylon and nitrile and come in three sizes – small, medium, and large. They offer excellent non-slip properties, are comfy around the wrist, breathable, and machine washable. We recommend these as the best overall gardening glove.
- Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals, and helpful tips.
- Incorporating a fragrant hedge made from the Viburnum, Lilac, Mock Orange, Winter Daphne, Abelia, Fragrant Olive, or Sweetshrub could elevate your home-and-garden lifestyle by transforming your backyard into a blooming fragrance paradise, serving both as a practical privacy barrier and enhancing your lifestyle with an enjoyable aroma.
- To further enrich your home-and-garden lifestyle, consider adding gardening accessories such as the Amazing Stuff for You Garden Gloves (2-pack), which are not only comfy and machine washable but also offer exceptional non-slip properties, making them an ideal choice for maintaining your fragrant home-and-garden hedge.