what tree/shrub has the most powerful scent???

[Stevetoad]

im looking to pop in either a small tree, shrub or bush that will produce flowers that have a VERY strong scent ( a good smell) ... i get a couple of light frosts a year. any sugestions would be great...

[MattyB]

Michellia for starters.

[Mandrew968]

My sweet acacia is very strong, come December(actually starting to fill up with blooms now)--anyone want it???

[dalmatiansoap]

Bay Laurel

very usefull to

[paulgila]

michelia is awesome. brugmansia is also good. there is a succulent that is related to dragon fruit that blooms at night that is super-fragrant!

[Stevetoad]

i do like the idea of a tree that looks good smells good and has edible fruit.

[war_eagle]

The blooms of Michelia figo (banana shrub) have a wonderful sweet banana-like smell that is strong enough to fill a large patio or porch area when in bloom.

[paulgila]

i do like the idea of a tree that looks good smells good and has edible fruit.

the night-blooming succulent i mentioned doesnt actually have fruit if thats what yer talking about,steve

[Stevetoad]

i do like the idea of a tree that looks good smells good and has edible fruit.

the night-blooming succulent i mentioned doesnt actually have fruit if thats what yer talking about,steve

whats it called paul? i wonder if i could get it to climb my patio...oooooo i should do that with one of my dragon fruits too!!!

[fastfeat]

Elaeagnus pungens

Pittosporum undulatum

Acokanthera oppositifolia

Cestrum nocturnum, C. parqui

Carissa grandiflora

Osmanthus fragrans

Citrus spp.

Macadamia spp.

Magnolia figo

Acacia farnesiana

[MattyB]

i do like the idea of a tree that looks good smells good and has edible fruit.

the night-blooming succulent i mentioned doesnt actually have fruit if thats what yer talking about,steve

whats it called paul? i wonder if i could get it to climb my patio...oooooo i should do that with one of my dragon fruits too!!!

I think Paul is refering to his Cereus.

[paulgila]

yes,& i am not kidding(serious).

hahahahaha

[Stevetoad]

i have C. jamacaru..... its never bloomed for me but if or when it does are the fruits edible???

[fastfeat]

Elaeagnus pungens

Pittosporum undulatum

Acokanthera oppositifolia

Cestrum nocturnum, C. parqui

Carissa grandiflora

Osmanthus fragrans

Citrus spp.

Macadamia spp.

Magnolia figo

Acacia farnesiana

Also:

most Brugmansia spp, cvs.

Brunfelsia americana

[Kim]

A few more fragrant odds & ends:

Narcissus bulbs/paperwhites -- they will naturalize, coming back year after year. Kind of stinky.

Hedychium gardnerianum/Kahili ginger -- fragrant ginger, will come back after cold spells

Jasminum polyanthum/pink jasmine -- masses of white flowers with pink reverse, fast growing smallish vine

Stephanotis floribunda/Madagascar jasmine -- very slow-growing vine, waxy white flowers

Trachelospermum jasminoides/star jasmine -- easy, bushy vine, glossy green foliage, reliable heavy bloomer

Gardenia jasminoides/common white gardenia -- grow in some sun, not shade, which is the usual mistake

Lonicera hildebrandiana/giant Burmese honeysuckle -- large vine

I think you can grow these, but not certain. Strongest scent I think will be the Osmanthus fragrans ff mentioned, though it's not much to look at, makes a good background plant.

[JasonD]

Brunfelsia jamaicensis (likes it cool)

Pittosporum tobira

Eriobotrya deflexa

Trachelospermum jasminoides

[kahili]

I would do a couple of different plants in your environment because most of them bloom at different times and stop in between. Michelia alba and Cestrum nocturnum are some of the strongest scents, and some of the brugmansia are also strong (although some are not). I would definitely try to smell them before you plant them though in case you find that you don't like one of them. I love Cestrum nocturnum (night blooming jasmine), but I know a lot of people think its too sickly sweet. Most of the strongest scents bloom at night. For day scents-I love the sambac jasmines

[ariscott]

I find that jasmine is the most fragrance and rangoon creeper, if you like vines. You can smell them miles away....

[Daryl]

Don't forget Murraya paniculata. I used to have a Cestrum nocturnum, whose fragrance is great from a distance. However, it can get overpowering to the point that you want to throw up. Don't plant too close to the house with that one!

Daryl

[waykoolplantz]

Surprised no one has mentioned Canaga Odorata...Ylang Ylang. I saw a cute dwarf at Randy's (palmisland)

[Kim]

Some of these more tropical plants mentioned won't make it where Stevetoad lives. I'd be surprised if Cananga odorata or Michelia alba would survive there, let alone thrive.

[Stevetoad]

hows about annona cherimola? i know the fruit is amazing but how are the flowers as far as smell goes???

[fastfeat]

hows about annona cherimola? i know the fruit is amazing but how are the flowers as far as smell goes???

Some scent up close, but not that strong.

Macadamia 'Dr. Beaumont' has a very haunting scent in the winter. Had a decent-sized tree upslope of our patio in Laguna Hills for years. During several weeks in winter/spring, scented air flowed down hill as cool air sank. Opening windows in the morning filled the house with perfume.

Another excellent, tough one (that grew near that Mac) was Gardenia thunbergii. Survived (still there) for 20+ years on rainfall alone.

[daxin]

I am a big fan of fragrant flowers and here are a few more suggestions:

1) Daphne odora, variety 'Aureomarginata' is the old standby. 'Leucanthe' is said to be more vigorous. 'Maejima' has extra wide leaf variegation. Some argue that pound for pound this is the most fragrant plant.

2) Lonicera fragrantissima, This is a big semi-evergreen shrub with flowers that smell very similar to Daphne odora, good for a sunny area.

3) A lot of Hybrid Tea roses are very fragrant. There are different fragrance profiles. A personal favorite is 'Double Delight'

4) Chimonanthus praecox, waxy yellow winter flowers with powerful clean fragrance on a large deciduous shrub.

5) Boronia megastigma, small Australian shrub with extremely fragrant flowers, very hard to keep alive long term though.

6) Magnolia laevifolia, evergreen shrub with profuse blooms in spring.

7) Magnolia coco, This will need a little protection in winter, but the summer flowers have strong fruity smell. It is rare even in botanical gardens, but Chinese nurseries in El Monte have it.

[fastfeat]

Rangoon creeper and ylang ylang won't make it in the ground in SoCal.

I used to regularly use Murraya paniculata (and cv 'Exotica') in landscape designs years ago. But I was generally disappointed in it being a big fragrance-maker in SoCal. Grew OK, but hardly with the ease and floriferousness of Florida-grown specimens. Now also a host for Asian citrus psyllid.

[Trava]

Loquat-Eriobotrya japonica is very nice tree,nice fruit and good smell of flowers too.It is now time of blooming.

[Palm crazy]

Two tree I have to say that are very Powerful when it comes to fragrance is Acacia for late winter blooms, Acacia do reseed a lot.

And Cytisus battandieri blooms mid spring for 6 weeks and smells like pineapple and cistrus, flowers are 3" to 6" long. The leaves are soft and fuzzy. Both trees are extremely drought tolerant.

You can smell them both 20' away.

Lemon thyme is great for pathways between stepping stones.

Edited November 2, 2011 by Palm crazy

[Eric in Orlando]

Sterculia foetida !!!

[fastfeat]

Sterculia foetida !!!

Female Ginkgo biloba.