Antirrhinum majus ‘Double Azalea Apricot'

Did you know a Snapdragon can be deliciously fragrant? Well, not only do I think this is the prettiest snap I’ve ever seen, it emits a strong tutti-fruity scent. Both you and your gardening friends will be delightfully surprised! Nice and old fashionedly 3’ tall, the blooms are rather double, in a glorious apricot – brushed gold color. Three or more planted together make a lovely statement. I love to combine them with one or more of the following: Wahlenbergia species, Heliophila longifolia, Trachymene caerulea, Delphinium bellamosum, Nemophila menziesii, California Poppy ‘Alba’ or Omphalodes linifolia.

Dianthus superbus

One of my three favorite, long lived Dianthus, this prolific bloomer bestows a fragrance quite unlike the familiar spicy carnation scent commonly associated with this genus. It’s hard to describe, but I’ll say soft, sweet, and romantic. The 12-20” multi-branching stems bear at least 20 single and frilly lavender blooms at one time. Cut back the spent blooms and you’ll get another round. The nice, dense grassy mound of foliage looks good all season too. A must for lifting the spirits!

Cheiranthus cheiri ‘Goldshot’

All of the Cheiranthus, AKA Erysimums that we grow are fragrant, but I think ‘Goldshot’ is the most fragrant of all. Like the sweet fresh scent of Narcissus, but far longer blooming - at least throughout Spring. Grown since at least the 1500’s, “Wallflowers” are carefree perennials and extremely easy to grow

Clematis ternifolia

Clematis ternifolia creates a massive cloud of extremely fragrant, vanilla scented, white flowers for several months in late Summer to Fall - just when most other vines have long faded. A fast, reliable, easy, clematis. It forms a wall of foliage before blooming, so it looks good grown on a fence or trellis all by itself.

Gilia tricolor

The sweetly innocent Springy-fresh scent of this charming California native wildflower brings a sense of contentment and peacefulness whenever I get close to it. Though it looks somewhat delicate, it’s an easy and rugged annual, and a must have in my Spring garden. Tres-romantic with roses, and self-sows easily for lots of free plants each season. Good cut flower too.

Dipogon lignosus

When I first grew “Cape Sweet Pea” I was so surprised at its rich fragrance, of which I had never heard or seen mentioned before. A yummy, rich, grape candy fragrance! If you live in USDA zones 10-11, and need a fast, almost ever blooming vine – do try this choice vine!

Salvia clevelandii

My knees go weak whenever I’m in the presence of this attractive California native sage. I swear the aromatic fragrance casts a love-potion spell on me - and like a cat with catnip, I’m under its mysterious power. Dangerous! And then it blooms for an extremely long time too. Uh-oh!

Lathyrus odorata ‘Cupani’

The most fragrant of all sweet peas, from which all modern varieties spring. The smaller violet and purple bi-colored flowers are borne profusely and this pea is more heat resistant than the norm. Charming, romantic and self-sows!

Primula pubescens “Auricula” Primrose

I think of these wonderful, long lived, old fashioned Primulas as my pets. Here in zone 10 they bloom year around with their beautiful, velvety flowers on upright 4”-8”stems. The scent is clear, sweet, and honey-like. Unlike modern hybrids, they are very long lived and will eventually bear spherical clusters of more than eight or more blooms on several stems at a time. Just repot them into a larger container as they expand to keep them healthy and happy. Snail resistant too!