Aromatic foliage
A delight in your garden.
Volatile oils in the leaves of aromatic plants may be released on a hot day or when brushing past the plant and may require crushing a leaf.
The following is a list of relatively common plants with scented foliage.
Acacia verniciflua varnish wattle, shrub 3 to 4m, yellow globular flowers in winter to spring.
Likes good drainage, and light prune to keep in a compact shape. Southern states of Australia.
Aloysia citrodora, syn. A. triphylla lemon verbena, a garden favorite, deciduous, spreading shrub, 3 to 6 feet, 1 to 2m high, white flowers in summer, autumn/fall.
Lemon-scented leaves that are edible, can be used in salads and to make tea.
Tip prune in spring to stop from growing too straggly. From northwest Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Include a piece of lemon verbena when giving a bunch of flowers.
Coleonema pulchrum pink diosma, a popular small shrub, 4 to 5 feet, 1 to 3m high.
Many small pink flowers cover the shrub in winter and spring (usually many more flowers than the trimmed specimen shown in the photograph).
Small, fine, scented leaves, from Cape Provinces, South Africa.
Corymbia citriodora syn. Eucalyptus citriodora lemon scented gum, is a very large beautiful tree for parks, do not plant it in a domestic size garden.
Attractive cream to white bark, foliage when crushed has a pleasant lemon scent.
White flowers in winter. From Queensland.
Horticulture students tell this species apart when young from the similar Corymbia maculata by the scent of the leaves.
Kunzea baxteri crimson kunzea, 6 to 9 feet, 2 to 3m tall, red short bottlebrush flowers in spring and summer.
Easy to grow but does prefer acid to neutral soil. From Western Australia.
Laurus nobilis sweet bay, evergreen tree to 20 feet, 6m tall.
The thick, glossy, oval-pointed leaves have a fine saw-shaped edge, are aromatic, and are used in cooking.
Suitable as a trimmed tub specimen and tolerate coastal garden conditions.
From the around the Mediterranean. Used in ancient times to crown heroes.
Lavandula dentata French lavender, toothed lavender, 3 to 4 feet, 1m high, blue flowers winter and spring.
Ornamental shrub with small leaves lobed on each side. Does well in warm dry sites. From the Mediterranean region.
Melaleuca lateritia robin red breast bush, shrub 3 to 7 feet, 1 to 2m high, orange-red bottlebrush flowers in spring, summer, narrow leaves.
Prefers acid to neutral soils but is easy to grow. It really does look like there is a robin redbreast bird inside the plant when in flower. From Western Australia.
Micromyrtus ciliata fringed heath myrtle, spreading shrub to 1m high, white to pink to red flowers winter and spring.
Tiny leaves are aromatic when bruised. Propagate from semi-hardwood cuttings in autumn/fall. From southern Australian states.
Myrtus communis common myrtle, evergreen shrub 6 to 12 feet, 2 to 4m high, white flowers in summer.
Dense foliage ideal for hedges, small glossy dark green aromatic leaves. Will tolerate full shade.
Pelargonium capitatum ‘Attar of Roses’ scented-leaved pelargonium or scented-leaved geranium, evergreen small low trailing shrub with scented lobed and hairy leaves.
Pink flowers in spring to summer. Full sun or afternoon shade in hot districts. From southern Africa.
Rosmarinus officinalis rosemary, an old-fashioned plant but is still a favorite with gardeners, is an evergreen shrub 4 feet, 1m high, with light blue flowers in winter and spring.
Easy to grow, tolerates hot conditions. Oil of Rosemary is extracted from the leaves. Officinalis means it was on the official list of medicinal plants. From the Mediterranean region.
Santolina chamaecyparissus Cypress cotton lavender, evergreen small shrub with whitish foliage, 1 to 2 feet, 0.5m high, many dense yellow flowers in summer.
Useful as a ground cover and as a low border around flower beds. Prefers dry conditions. Leaves have a strong scent when bruised. From the Mediterranean region.
References:
Australian Plant Study Group APSG (1980) Grow What Where(1st. ed.). West Melbourne, Victoria: Nelson. Book.
Lord, E. E. (1978). Shrubs and Trees for Australian Gardens (4th Ed.). Adelaide, S.A.: Lothian Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Book.
State flora catalogue (2022) Department of Environment and Water. South Australia. State Flora | Catalogue
