How to organize a garden of aromatic plants

A garden with aromatic plants is easy to design

Image – Wikimedia / Elliott Brown

Aromatic plants are those that can be used to make a garden smell great, but also to repel pests. Although those that are known as such are basically herbs and false shrubs, there are others that have flowers that smell very good, such as those of many rose bushes or jasmine.

Therefore, in this article We are going to explain how to organize a garden of aromatic plantsalso taking into account those other species that can captivate us at some time of the year.

What areas of the garden do you want to smell good?

Aromatic plants are those that smell very good

Image – Flickr / cultivar413

This is the first question you have to ask yourself, since Depending on the use that you are going to give your garden (leisure, relaxation) you may be more interested in the fact that some specific areas smell betterthose where you will spend more time, or where you walk more. Of course, you may want to smell a pleasant scent throughout your garden, in which case you would have to put some scented plants all over it, or create beds out of them.

Other options are, for example:

  • To delimit roads or trails. As their name suggests, they are areas of passage, so what better way than to walk through them and feel the sweet aroma of jasmine flowers, or the intense smell of the magnolia grandiflora?
  • Plant them in small groups throughout the garden. Thyme, rosemary, basil, parsley … You can create beautiful compositions with them. The only thing is that you have to bear in mind that those that are larger (once they are adults) have to be behind the small ones, since that way they will not take away light.
  • Use large scents (like lavender) to create alignments. When a large herbaceous or similar species is grown, it is better to plant it in more or less wide places so that it can grow under conditions. This, in addition, will allow you to have a more beautiful aromatic garden if possible, since the plants will be able to develop normally.

How to organize the garden?

Once you have decided where you are going to put your aromatic plants, now it remains to know how you are going to organize them. For it, You have to take into account that it is recommended to do by size, but also by color. It is even possible to go further, and do it according to the smell they give off.

By size

We have previously said that the larger plants have to be behind the small ones since otherwise the latter would not receive the amount of light they need. Because, it is important to know the characteristics of those we want to cultivate; since that is the only way to know in which exact place each one of them will be planted.

By color

Plants can be organized by colors

Image – Wikimedia / Jerzy Opioła

It is also a good idea to play with colors. Although they are all green, they do not all have the same hue. There are some that are also green on one side and light green or pubescent on the other. I like that the darkest green serves as the background, and that there are some plants, few, of another hue that attract a lot of attention. But, of course, if you don’t like this, you can do it in other ways, putting the dark green plants in front and the others behind, or go zig-zagging a dark green and another one of a lighter color.

The options are many and varied. Let your imagination fly And, when you have found the design that you like the most, start planting your aromatics.

By aroma

You can group them by aroma, or mix them. Or even have both groups spread throughout the garden. For instance, It is possible to plant together those that have a similar aroma bordering a path, and make mixed groups in the relaxation area; or vice versa.

If you are not sure which plants are aromatic, here is a list of the most cultivated:

All of them can be grown in small, medium and large gardens. The laurel is a tree that can reach 10 meters, but it tolerates pruning well, which is why it is often considered a low plant (2-3 meters), you can even create low hedges with it.

Don’t forget the aromatic flowering plants

There are many, many plants that have flowers that, while they don’t last long, smell great. If they are planted in very specific areas, where there is something that you want to highlight especially (it can be a garden furniture, a swimming pool, access to the children’s play area, etc.), they will be very good, for sure.

There are rose bushes with a good smell

Related article:

Aromatic flowering plants

Some of them are:

Night Lady (Chester nighttime)

The lady of the night has fragrant flowers

Image – Wikimedia / Jerzy Opioła

Also known as gallant at night, is a semi-evergreen shrub that reaches a height of 5 meters. The leaves are lanceolate, about 15 centimeters long, and its flowers are white, very fragrant, and are grouped in clusters.

It must be in a sunny place, although it tolerates semi-shade. Resists up to -4ºC.

Wisteria (Wisteria)

Wisteria is a deciduous climber

Image – Flickr / Steven Martin

Wisteria o feather flower it is a vigorous climber, reaching 30 meters long. Its leaves are pinnate and deciduous, and in spring it produces flowers grouped in hanging clusters of lilac or white.

It is a plant that grows in acidic soils. It prefers to have the trunk in shade and the branches in the sun. Resists up to -18ºC.

Jasmine (Jasminum)

Jasmine is a plant that has aromatic flowers

Image – Wikimedia / David E Mead

El jasmine It is an evergreen or deciduous climber that grows up to 1-10 meters depending on the species. Its leaves are dark green, and its flowers can be white or yellow.

It is recommended to plant it in a sunny or semi-shady place, and protect it from frost if they are very intense. In general, it only resists the weak ones (up to -3ºC), but the species Jasmine officinale supports more, up to -8ºC.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Honeysuckle is a deciduous plant

La honeysuckle It is a deciduous shrub that reaches a height of approximately 2 meters. It has green leaves, and small flowers that are grouped in terminal inflorescences of white or pink color.

It grows fast if it is put in a sunny place, although it tolerates semi-shade. In addition, it resists frosts down to -7ºC.

Magnolia (Magnolia)

The magnolia is a tree that has large flowers

El magnolia tree is a deciduous tree, except for one species, the magnolia grandiflorawhich is evergreen. They are generally large trees, which exceed 10 meters in height. Its flowers are equally large, reaching even 30 centimeters in diameter, and are white or pink.

Its growth is slow, and it also needs the soil to be acidic. It resists frosts down to -18ºC.

Do you already know how to organize your garden of aromatic plants? We hope that what you have learned in this article has been useful to you.

How to organize a garden of aromatic plants

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading