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Transform your patio, porch, or garden into a soothing retreat by growing these fragrant plants in pots and containers. From the sweet smell of gardenias and dianthus to the citrusy-spicy scent of mirabilis, there is a fragrance on this list for every preference. Fill a collection of pots with these flowers to create a beautiful container garden that looks and smells heavenly.
- Tabar Gifford, master gardener and partnership cultivator at American Meadows
- Adrienne Roethling, head gardener for a private estate and former curator of Juniper Level Botanic Gardens at Plant Delights Nursery
Lavender
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Lavender (Lavandula spp.) produces a calming, herbaceous scent that is often used in aromatherapy for its soothing qualities. “Compact varieties like ‘Munstead’ or ‘Hidcote’ grow well in pots, where excellent drainage is easier to maintain,” says Tabar Gifford, master gardener and partnership cultivator at American Meadows. “The scent intensifies in the heat and makes patios feel like a Mediterranean retreat.”
- Zones: 5 to 9
- Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 20 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; slightly alkaline, well-draining soil
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a low-growing plant ideal for softening container edges, says Gifford, adding that it has a lovely, honey-like scent. This trailing beauty blooms prolifically in cooler weather and reblooms in fall for multiple seasons of interest. An added bonus? Pollinators love it.
- Zones: 9 to 11
- Size: 6 to 10 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil
Cheddar Pink
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Cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus) fill the garden with the scent of sweet cloves, while their charming blooms offer a pop of color. “They form a tufted mound of grey stems and narrow grass-like leaves giving rise to sweetly fragrant, pink flowers that bloom for several weeks in spring,” says gardening expert Adrienne Roethling. These plants hate wet feet, making them ideal for containers that drain faster than in-ground beds.
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 18 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil
Four O’Clocks
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Introduce a spicy-citrusy scent to your container garden with four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa). “These bushy annuals bloom late in the day and into the evening, bringing fragrance to patios when you’re most likely relaxing there,” says Gifford.
- Zones: 7 to 10
- Size: 24 to 36 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; average to rich, well-draining soil
Hyacinth
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Hyacinths (Hyacinthus) typically bloom in mid-spring, but it’s common to force these bulbs to bloom earlier by growing them in containers. The thick leaves give rise to hundreds of sweetly scented bell-shaped flowers. “Gardeners love to place them in containers near a doorway or indoors in a cool sunroom or near a bright window,” says Roethling.
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Size: 8 to 12 inches tall x 4 to 6 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil
Sweet Woodruff
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Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) has a unique, hay-like, and subtly vanilla fragrance that’s especially potent when the flowers are dried. “For gardeners with a shaded area, this sweet, dainty flower thrives in shaded containers and produces a lush green mat with dainty white blooms,” says Gifford, adding that it’s also great under shrubs or trees.
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full to partial shade; moist, loamy soil
Anise Hyssop
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A pollinator powerhouse, Gifford says anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) blooms nonstop with licorice-scented flowers from midsummer into fall. “Its upright habit, edible leaves (great for tea!), and resistance to deer and rabbits make it both functional and beautiful,” she adds.
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Size: 24 to 42 inches tall x 12 to 16 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full to partial shade; dry to average, well-draining soil
Violas
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Violas (Violas spp.) are resilient plants that can survive unexpected frosts and various soil conditions. “Violas thrive in part shade and offer long-lasting, cold-hardy blooms that bring cheerful color and fragrance to small spaces,” says Gifford, who notes that these blooms have a light, sweet, floral scent. Deadhead violas regularly to keep them prolific.
- Zones: 4 to 9
- Size: 6 to 10 inches tall x 8 to 12 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full to partial shade; rich, moist, well-draining soil
Gardenia
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An evergreen shrub available in various shapes and sizes, gardenias (Gardenia spp.) are a staple across the South. “The leaves of gardenia are emerald green, showcasing their bright, white flowers,” says Roethling, adding that the fragrance is unmatched. Gardenias can thrive in containers for years if they’re well taken care of.
- Zones: 7 to 9
- Size: 2 to 8 feet tall x 2 to 8 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full to partial shade; rich soil amended with fine pine bark
Tuberose
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Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) is a beautiful cut flower that flourishes in containers, filling them with stunning blooms throughout summer. “Their grass-like leaves emerge from the ground in May, giving rise to 2-foot-tall stalks of white, pink, or yellow, funnel-shaped flowers,” says Roethling. “The flowers are intense and provide a crisp, perfume-like smell.” Tuberose will multiply over time and can be dug up and stored for the winter months.
- Zones: 7 to 10
- Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full; rich soil amended with fine pine park
Chocolate Vine
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As the name implies, chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) has a warm, chocolatey fragrance. “Chocolate vine is a vigorous climber when planted in the garden,” says Roethling. “However, it can be controlled and maintained to a container-sized plant.” It produces burgundy or white flowers in spring that bloom for six weeks. After flowering, prune back the stems hard, and it will rebloom the following year.
- Zones: 5 to 8
- Size: 20 to 40 feet tall x 6 to 9 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil
Jasmine
Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is a perennial vine that grows well in containers so long as you use a trellis for the stems to grow up, says Roethling. In spring, this vining plant gives way to numerous clusters of white, star-shaped flowers that have a sweet, welcoming fragrance. Prune it as needed to control its size.
- Zones: 7 to 9
- Size: 15 to 30 feet tall x 7 to 15 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
Sweet Peas
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The sweet pea flower (Lathyrus odoratus) is an annual vine that performs best during cooler seasons, like spring and fall. Its ruffled blooms are sweetly fragrant and come in many colors. “Seeds need to be soaked in water for one day before placing them in a potted container,” says Roethling. “Once seeds germinate, allow them to grow 2 to 4 inches before planting them in their permanent pot.” Most plants will have finished their life cycle by June or July.
- Zones: 2 to 10
- Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
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