Early Spring Fragrance in the Garden

 

There’s something magical about stepping into the garden in late winter and early spring and catching a scent on the air. When colour can still be soft and subtle, fragrance becomes the true star of the season. A sunny February or March morning can be transformed by the perfume of flowering shrubs and cheerful bedding plants just coming into their own.

Below are some of the very best plants for early spring scent along with practical growing tips for Irish gardens.

Fragrant Spring Shrubs

Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)

Photo by Zoshua Colah

Witch Hazel is one of the earliest shrubs to bloom, often flowering from January into March. Its spidery flowers in shades of yellow, orange or red release a light, spicy fragrance that carries beautifully on crisp air. 'Arnold Promise' is certainly a favourite as it is denser than most varieties, making it spectacular when in bloom. It also holds the RHS Award of garden Merit.

Growing Tips:

• Plant in full sun or light shade.
• Prefers moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
• Most Hamamelis shrubs grow to 3-4m, so you need a bit of space for this beauty.
• Avoid heavy pruning — simply remove dead or crossing branches after flowering.
• Best planted where low winter sun can illuminate the flowers.

Daphne odora (Daphne)

Photo by 阿橋 HQ, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Few plants rival Daphne for pure perfume. Its clusters of pink or white blooms fill the garden with an intense, sweet fragrance from late winter into early spring. The Daphne Bolhua is certainly even more popular. You will thrive in the sheltered spot, in full sun. The famous 'Jacqueline Postill' flowers from late winter and its plae pink blooms, in clusters, exhale a dive perfume. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Growing Tips:

• Needs excellent drainage — dislikes sitting in wet soil.
• Best in full sun or part shade with shelter from harsh winds.
• These grow between 1 and 2 metres high depending on the varieties. (There are a few dwarf varieties)
• Avoid moving once planted — they resent disturbance.
• Perfect near paths or doorways where scent can be enjoyed.

Viburnum × bodnantense

A superb winter-to-spring performer, this deciduous shrub produces clusters of pink, sweetly scented flowers on bare stems. This long flowering, large shrub is tolerant of coastal condition. Both 'Dawn' and 'Charles Lamont' hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit and are particularly exquisite.

Photo by Wildfeuer,  licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.

Growing Tips:

• Thrives in sun or partial shade.
• Tolerant of most soils if well-drained.
• Will grow up to 4 metres height depending on the variety. 
• Prune after flowering to maintain shape.
• Excellent for mixed borders or as a backdrop shrub.

Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paperbush)

Photo by Claire Sauvin

An architectural shrub with silky buds that open into clusters of tubular yellow flowers, releasing a rich, honeyed fragrance in early spring. This less known shrub is becoming an increasingly  popular plant in Ireland, in the coastal gardens. It will require a sheltered position but is otherwise very esy to grow and generally pest and disease free. 

Growing Tips:

• Plant in sheltered, partial shade.
• Needs well-drained, humus-rich soil.
• Will grow up to 1.5 metres high and wide. 
• Protect from strong winds and severe frost.
• A wonderful focal point near seating areas.

Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box)

Photo by Meneerke bloem, cropped,  licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.

Often overlooked visually, but never by the nose! Tiny white flowers release a powerful, sweet scent from January onwards. It is a great choice for shady spots and is tolerant of dry soils once established.

Growing Tips:

• Excellent for dry shade.
• Evergreen and low maintenance.
• Grows to 1.5 metres high and wide, but can also be clipped to make an informal hedge.
• Ideal under trees or along shaded pathways.
• Light trim after flowering if shaping is needed.

Fragrant Bedding & Herbaceous Plants

Erysimum (Wallflowers)

Photo by Wyxina Tresse

Wallflowers bring warm, spicy scent and rich jewel tones to spring borders and containers. Their fragrance intensifies on sunny days. They boast of a very long flowering season too. While 'Bowles Mauve' is one of the most popular evergreen wallflower and definitely deserves a spot in any garden, it is unfortunately, unscented. 

Growing Tips:

• Plant in full sun.
• Prefer well-drained soil.
• Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.
• Combine with tulips or daffodils for classic spring displays.

Primula vulgaris (Primroses)

Photo by William Ray

Cheerful and delicate, traditional primroses offer a light, fresh scent and brighten borders, pots and woodland areas. The primrose vulgaris is a light yellow flower but there are many other varieties of primroses that are just as beautifully scented. 

Growing Tips:

• Thrive in partial shade.
• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
• Height: 20cm
• Excellent for underplanting shrubs and for spring potted compositions.
• Divide clumps after flowering to maintain vigour.

Hyacinthus orientalis (Hyacinths)

Photo by Aubrey Odom

Perhaps the boldest and captivating fragrance of early spring, hyacinths fill the air with rich, sweet perfume and add strong colour to borders and pots. Great cut flower, it also can be grown indoors if you do not have an outdoor space. 

Growing Tips:

• Plant bulbs in autumn or get potted ones in spring
• Prefer sun or light shade.
• Height: 20cm
• Ensure good drainage.
• Ideal for containers near entrances or patios.

Designing for Spring Scent

To truly enjoy early fragrance:

• Plant shrubs near doors, paths or seating areas.
• Mix heights — shrubs for structure, bulbs and bedding at ground level.
• Choose sheltered spots to allow scent to linger.
• Combine overlapping flowering times for continuous perfume from January through April.

Early spring fragrance transforms the garden from something we simply look at into something we experience. Even on cool mornings, a single scented shrub can make the whole garden feel alive again — a gentle promise that the growing season has begun.