With the evenings getting steadily lighter, it’s lovely being able to extend the time we spend outdoors. To make the garden feel extra magical after dark, including fragrant florals in the mix is a must, and there are plenty of night-scented flowering plants that can be added to the garden now.
Creating a fragrant garden that looks beautiful too, rests on choosing the right plants that will thrive in your garden. ‘A night-scented garden carries the beauty of the day seamlessly into the evening, filling the air with fragrance in the summer nights,’ says Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres. ‘With the right scented plants in the right places, your outdoor space can become a sanctuary after sunset that will smell all the more sweetly too.’
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1. Star jasmine
Growing star jasmine is a great way to create a wall of scent that will smell incredible in the evening. ‘Star jasmine is a versatile evergreen vine, ideal for adding both privacy and perfume to a garden pergola,’ says Shelley Davis, plant expert at Flying Flowers. ‘Known for its distinct star-like flowers and sophisticated aroma of vanilla and musky citrus, this perennial is a favourite for those looking to create a sensory seating area that also attracts nectar-loving pollinators like bees and butterflies.’
‘Jasmine is a top choice for those who love a sweet, intense floral scent,’ agrees Emma Fell, Head of Horticulture at Hillier Garden Centres. ‘Varieties like star jasmine (trachelospermum jasminoides) or common jasmine (jasminum officinale) bloom throughout summer, filling the air with their delightful perfume. And climbing plants like these are ideal for trellises, pergolas or containers.’
While jasmine looks amazing growing up a fence to create a fragrant screen, you can all grow it up and around an obelisk. This twin pack decorative obelisk from Argos costs £16, so you can create a symmetrical look in your garden, flanking a garden bench.
Where to buy star jasmine:
Shop for plant supports
Rusted Iron Hydrangea Obelisk
Extra Strong Arch Framed Willow Trellis
2. Tuberose
‘Another fragrance powerhouse is the tuberose,’ says Shelley. ‘While the Mexican native requires protection from the frost, it rewards the effort with a creamy, opulent, and almost candy-like aroma.’
‘There is a clever reason for its intensity: because these flowers bloom at night when colours are invisible, they rely on a powerful scent, detectable from meters away, to guide their nocturnal pollinators through the dark.’
Plant tuberose bulbs in springtime after the last frosts, either in the ground or add it to your container garden ideas and plant up in pots in a warm, sheltered location.
Where to buy tuberose:
3. Night-scented stock
During daylight, stocks may look rather plain, but after dusk, their rich, clove-like scent is released into the air,’ says Julian. ‘Scatter the seeds along the edges of patios, paths, or beneath seating to enjoy their perfume up close.’
‘You can also stagger your planting to ensure fragrance from late spring to early autumn by planting a mix of annuals, perennials, and climbers to keep the scent coming for months.’
Where to buy night-scented stock:
4. Lavender
A round-up of scented plants wouldn’t be complete without a recommendation to try growing lavender in your garden borders or in pots on a patio.
‘Known for its clean, invigorating perfume, lavender is a garden classic that doubles as a natural stress-reliever,’ says Shelley. ‘The hardy evergreen shrub keeps gardens smelling fresh in every season, and is widely regarded as one of the best plants for supporting local bee populations. It’s the perfect choice for anyone looking to combine aromatherapeutic benefits with a pollinator-friendly landscape.’
‘Lavender is renowned for its calming and aromatic scent, making it a perfect choice for patios and garden borders,’ agrees Emma. ‘Lavender thrives in well-drained soil and enjoys full sun, producing beautiful purple blooms that attract pollinators. Whether planted in containers or directly in the ground, lavender provides a long-lasting fragrance throughout the warmer months.’
Where to buy lavender:
5. Scented geraniums
‘Scented geraniums offer a variety of fragrances, from lemon to rose to mint,’ suggests Emma. ‘Their leaves release a strong scent when touched, making them a great choice for patio pots where you can enjoy their fragrance up close. They thrive in well-drained soil and prefer a sunny spot.’
Wait until after the last frost before planting scented geraniums out. They’re ideal for planters, window boxes and a good choice for hanging baskets if you choose a trailing variety. They would also look particularly stylish planted up on an outdoor dining table in a frilly terracotta pot like this Argos one for £20.
Where to buy scented geraniums:
6. Nicotiana
‘Nicotiana is the ultimate companion for your patio, as its fragrance actually intensifies as the sun goes down and will make your patio smell gorgeous,’ says Shelley. ‘The longer you linger outdoors on those lighter evenings, the more you’ll be treated to its zesty, jasmine-like perfume. For a truly immersive aroma, the ‘grandiflora’ species is the best, while ‘langsdorfii’ offers a more delicate, subtle scent for a gentle background breeze.’
‘Nicotiana (also known as the tobacco plant) is a long flowering annual whose trumpet-shaped flowers open in the evening, filling the air with a lily-like perfume until sunrise,’ says Julian. ‘Colours vary widely from green, pink, white, and red, and in daylight, they provide welcome splashes of brightness while waiting to release their night-time fragrance.’
Nicotiana thrives in full sun to partial shade and can be planted in beds, borders and containers, but wait until all danger of frost has passed.
Where to buy nicotiana:
7. Evening primrose
‘A true dusk-to-dawn performer, evening primrose opens its sunny yellow flowers at night, releasing a sweet perfume that carries far,’ suggests Julian. ‘Though best known in yellow, there are also soft white and blush pink varieties. These blooms draw moths, which in turn help pollinate other plants in your garden.’
Evening primrose can grow to a height of around 1 metre, making it ideal for beds and borders, positioned towards the middle or back of the border and in full sun to partial shade.
Where to buy evening primrose:
8. Honeysuckle
‘Much loved for its heady scent during the day, honeysuckle’s fragrance deepens at night,’ says Julian. ‘Perfect for covering trellises, arches, pergolas, or fences, it softens hard lines while offering nectar for moths. Colours range from creamy yellows to flushed pinks.’
‘When growing honeysuckle, I’d always recommend positioning your plants near patios, seating areas, open windows, or along paths you’ll use after dark, so their perfume drifts naturally. Combining fast-growing climbers like honeysuckle or star jasmine with low border favourites such as night phlox or dianthus ensures fragrance is delivered at different heights.’
Where to buy honeysuckle:
Display your fragrant plants in style
Habitat
Scalloped 21cm Clay Planter
Plant up some fragrant plants in decorative plant pots that can be scattered around on outdoor coffee tables and dining tables.
Outsunny
3-Tier Metal Plant Stand
If you are short on space, but want to add more scented plants to your garden (or balcony) a tiered plant stand will capitalise on the available vertical space.
Marco Paul
Rattan Cone 14in Garden Hanging Basket
Trailing plants are the classic fillers for hanging baskets, but they can also be used to grow climbing plants from to create a dramatic cascading effect.
Are you planning on planting any night-scented flowers in your garden this summer?
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