One of the great things about planting up hanging basket with fragrant flowers and foliage is that they are a fantastic way to bring delightful scents into your garden at head height. These plants are perfect for a fragranced hanging basket so you can enjoy the heavenly aromas whenever you pass by.
1. Begonia odorata
The showy flowers of Begonia odorata are a classic hanging basket perfumed pick. Not only do they smell great, but the show flowers will put on a spectacle as they cascade out of the basket. With red, pink, and white flowers to choose from, they are sure to liven up your doorways, fences, or even window boxes.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy through most of the UK, store frost free over winter
- Grows up to 25cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun or partial shade
- Sheltered
2. Lobularia maritima (sweet alyssum) ‘Snowdrift’
These fragrant favourites have rounded heads of white flowers in summer that have a delightfully sweet smell. The bushy growth is suited to growing in containers including hanging baskets, where the masses of flowers will give the appearance of a fluffy cloud.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK
- Grows up to 50cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed or sheltered
3. Petunia Tumbelina Priscilla
Next is a trailing petunia that have wonderfully fragrant frilly flowers. The lilac-purple flowers grow on stems that can reach 90cm long, so having a wonderful waterfall effect in a basket. As tender annuals, they do not survive being frozen, so should be overwintered under glass.
- Flowers in summer
- Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen
- Grows up to 50cm tall
- Well-drained
- Full sun
- Sheltered
4. Lantana ‘Calippo Tutti Frutti’
Not only can you enjoy these exotic looking flowers, but they are popular with pollinators such as bees and butterflies too. The bursts of orange, pink, and yellow flowers have a lovely effect in containers. They would be a great addition to a Mediterranean style garden or a garden with retro-style plants.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy
- Grows up to 30cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Sheltered or exposed
5. Pelargonium ‘Angel Eyes’
The lavender, purple marked flowers are a pretty addition to a hanging basket with compact, bushy growth. The small leaves are evergreen, and the flowers are produced in masses. Not only can this plant be used to bring fragrance to your garden, but as a houseplant or conservatory plant too to add some height as well.
- Flowers in summer
- Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen
- Grows up to 30cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Sheltered
These perfumed plants are great contenders for a fragranced hanging basket. Adding fragrance, height and flowers to your garden is a marvellous way of increasing interest as well as making you smile whenever you walk by.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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