Fragrant plants for Louisiana

Sweetspire
Plant these in damp soil. They require little maintenance and do fine with either sun or shade. These plants bloom in late spring to early summer. Their flowers remind me of fireworks when they bloom and are lightly scented.

---

Banana Shrub
These flowers on this shrub actually smell like bananas, but don't eat them! These shrubs can be planted as a hedge row, much like ligustrums. They are slow growers so either be patient or buy them full grown. They prefer well drained soil that leans to the acidic side.

---

American Wisteria
This variety of Wisteria is far less aggressive than the Chinese and Japanese varieties while still providing the smell and blooms your want. Be sure to plant this variety where it can climb, because climb it shall. Be careful planting this one where pets or children will play since ingesting the seeds or the seed pods can be deadly.

---

Nightblooming Jessamine
Also known as Cestrum nocturnum, this plant opens its blooms only at night. It has a sweet aroma. Take care when planting this as it has been classified as an invasive species in some countries so you will have to keep an eye on it and maintain it often. Some people have actually removed it for having too great a smell in large quantities.

Almond Verbena
Strongly scented, its downfall is it tends to attract insects. I'll deal with it though since it smells great! Almond verbena will bloom throughout the summer and lose it foliage in the winter. It does great and full sun but will also survive in partial shade. When used in a mass planting, almond verbena will provide a wonderful sensory experience. They can also be used to border pathways so their scent can follow you as you go.

---

Southern Magnolia
This is a large tree with large wonderful smelling blooms in spring and sometimes fall. These trees can get 90 feet tall and 60 feet across, so plan before you plant. If you want the flowers without taking up all of the space, there are other varieties of magnolia that can fit a smaller space such as the "little gem" variety.

---

Confederate Jasmine
One of the most recognizable sweet smells of the south. Confederate Jasmine has the type of smell that will make you want to leave your windows open or just relax outside all day. This scent is a close second favorite of mine.

---

Sweet Olive
Also known as Osmanthus fragrans, sweet olives can grow up to 20 feet tall. If you prefer a shrub with a nice clean cut look, this will not be the shrub for you as it prefers a naturally bushy look. The blooms from this plant provide a sweet smell between spring and summer. There are many different varieties of sweet olives will provide not only a different height, but also a different strength of smell and flower color as well.

Scented Geraniums
These have some of the most unique scents of all the plants listed. They have thick leaves and flower. Their only downside is you must bring them inside to winter them unless you live in New Orleans and further south.

---

Heaven's Scent Gardenia
This particular variety of Gardenia has a wonderful scent, but pick any of the varieties from your local nursery and you will love the smell of it every year when it blooms. These bloom only once a year for about a month but the smell is worth it. Probably my favorite scent ever. Additionally you only prune these once a year between spring and summer after they are finished blooming. Very easy to maintain.

Butterfly Bush
Also known as Buddleja, it is the perfect plant to attract beneficial insects, hummingbirds and (of course) butterflies.  It is very hardy considered invasive in some areas. The flowers are also fragrant. One thing you must do is remove dead flowers since they will never fall off on their own.

---