Magnolia Syringa and Peony for Scented Gardens
Grow a Collection of Fragrant Blooming Plants in a Flower Garden
May 15, 2009
A plant grouping of a deciduous tree, large shrub, one woody tree peony and one herbaceous peony will create a scented garden. Choose types and varieties of plants that provide strong fragrances and require similar growing conditions. Added summer annuals will extend a succession of flower color well into autumn.
The Magnolia, Syringa and peonies collection will require a large planting bed in full sun and well-amended soil. These plants will attract pollinators and provide flowers for cutting, in addition to the pleasant fragrances.
Fragrant Deciduous Woody Plants
Magnolia ‘Toro’ is a large tree that grows 10’ – 12’ tall and 8’ wide within 10 years. It is a very strong grower, hardy in zones 4 – 9. The large fragrant spring blooms are held upright in rosy red that are gradually lighter at the petal's margins. This cultivar was bred with Magnolia acuminata by well-known hybridizer Phil Savage.
Syringa vulgaris ‘President Poincare’ is a large upright lilac shrub, also growing 10’ – 12’ tall and wide within 10 years. This classic looking French hybrid lilac has deep-magenta double flowers on large heavy panicles. It is very tolerant of climates in zones 3 – 7. Lilacs are a late spring blooming plant.
Magnolias and Syringas bloom on what is called old wood. This indicates these plants should be pruned immediately after blooming; later pruning will not kill a spring flowering plant but will remove buds that are setting for next year’s flowers.
Scented Tree Peonies
Also a deciduous woody plant like the Magnolia, spring blooming tree peonies are dramatic for gardens. The tree peony ‘Royal Robe’ is a fragrant semi-double flower with lavender and purple shade coloring, the petals have ruffled edges. Tree peonies are hardy in zones 4 – 8.
A plant described as deciduous woody means the plant will drop leaves in winter and woody stems remain alive throughout freezing temperatures and snow covering. Northern gardeners value attractive tree and shrub branching for the winter interest.
Fragrant Herbaceous Paeonias
Paeonia ‘Phillippe Riviore’ is a 30” tall classic peony with traditional double petaled flowers. This deep red peony, from France, will bloom in mid summer and is very hardy tolerating zones 2 – 8.
Gardeners planting a scented garden should look for herbaceous or tree peonies with fragrant cultivars; some are more appropriate than others. The classic, gold medal selection by the American Peony Society, Paeonia ‘Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt’ is another herbaceous peony to consider. Its buds open mid season producing fluffy-looking light pink double blooms.
Summer Color with Annuals Plants
In a planting bed with trees and shrubs that flower early in the growing season, adding annual plant groupings will continue color until fall. Gardeners should choose scented plants that require the same growing conditions. Flowers can be grown in containers and set under trees or in planting beds; caution should be taken when digging around tree roots.
Creating a scented flower garden is easy with all the plant choices available. Some plants have specific cultivars that have more appealing scent. Gardeners can build a scented garden by starting with a tree, a shrub and other deciduous and herbaceous plants.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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