Fragrant plants

Vietnamese Gardenia - large fragrant flowers. Easy to grow to compare with other gardenias, not so sensitive to overwatering and the most cold hardy of all tropical gardenias. Flowers are very beautiful unusual shape, extremely fragrant. Perfect for container, very bushy. Can be also planted in the ground. This pretty plant has been called "Gardenia" for long time. However, analysis shows that it is a horticultural form of Kailarsenia.
See article about this plant.

Also called "First Love" (sometimes misspelled as YAshioka), this cultivar is one of the darkest green of all gardenias, it has a 3 to 5 inch bloom so perfect, it looks artificial. It was developed by Tadaoki Yoshioka while he lived in Hawaii, and he later brought it to Florida when he moved to Ft. Lauderdale with his family in 1954. The gardenia was named after his daughter, Aimee (Aimee Hironaka), who died in a plane crash in Dallas on August 2, 1985 (Delta Flight 191). Aimee gardenia grows openly and upright and blooms twice a year and slightly later than others. Flower Size 3 - 5".
See picture of flower,
page about gardenias, their cultivation and varieties.
See picture of actual plant for sale (1-2013).

This unique hybrid is very rare and hard to find. The plant has huge double flowers up to 5-6

Golden Gardenia Kula - very rare tropical gardenia. Medium size slow growing shrub with leathery leaves and fragrant flowers that change color from ivory through yellow to orange.
It is a rare, collectible item!

This is a smaller, compact plant with small flowers which have a yellowish center. It blooms two to three times a year. Used as a pot plant as blooms can be forced. Flower Size 2 - 3

Heaven Lotus, Membrillo - very rare tree with large leathery leaves and spectacular large flowers resembling lotus.

White Ginger, Butterfly Ginger Lily. This is the most fragrant of all gingers and one of the symbols of Hawaiian Paradise. In the summer it bears fragrant flowers that resemble butterflies. It is popular in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands were it is used in leis or singly worn in the hair or behind the ear. It also makes a good cut flower great for scenting the home. It is a tough plant, a light freeze may kill the tops, but it will come back in the Spring.

Hoya macrophylla is a very unique Hoya that has spectacular trailing foliage and beautiful flowers, it produces clusters of small, pink and white flowers in late spring or early summer. The leaves often include stripes of white, yellow, or pink coloring amidst its deep green shade. This coloring, paired with its waxy leaf texture, makes the plant stand out from other Hoyas. Once mature, it is a frequent bloomer. The new leaves emerge pink from long vining tendrils, and this Hoya sure loves to climb. Like all members of the genus, it has waxy leaves, stems and flowers, which develop in fragrant clusters as the plant reaches maturity. It's easy to grow, with leaves ultimately around 5" long! It is one of the longest-lived and easiest to maintain houseplants, known for their large waxy leaves, low-maintenance, and visual appeal. During the day, the flowers are odorless. At night the flowers fill the air with fragrance when natural pollinators come out. Some claim flower fragrance is that of hyacinth.

Italian jasmine. Jasmine oil is extracted from the flowers and is imported from India. It has a rich, warm, sweet scent. It is a middle note in perfumery. Hardy to Zone 8.

Star Jasmine, very easy to grow, fast growing. Glossy, green foliage giving it a tropical effect. It is also grown for its intensely fragrant white flowers. They are up to 2 inch wide, with very strong scent. The vine can be grown on a trellis, fence, or planted in a container. Blooms from April to September.

French Perfume Jasmine, Poets jasmine - very fragrant! Essential oil of this jasmine is one of the most important components in perfumery. Grown in the perfume fields of Southern France.Semi-evergreen to deciduous vine. This vine has lots of fragrant white flowers in spring, summer, and fall. Drought and pollution tolerant. Jasmine associates nicely with climbing roses, honeysuckle or clematis, but it looks superb grown on its own. The species is hardy. It has good tolerance to a wide range of temperatures and is easily maintained in pots.

French Perfume Jasmine, Poets jasmine - very fragrant large single flowers. Essential oil of this jasmine is one of the most important components in perfumery. Grown in the perfume fields of Southern France. Semi-evergreen to deciduous vine. This vine has lots of fragrant white flowers in spring, summer, and fall. Drought and pollution tolerant. Jasmine associates nicely with climbing roses, honeysuckle or clematis, but it looks superb grown on its own. The species is hardy. It has good tolerance to a wide range of temperatures and is easily maintained in pots.

Jasminum sambac Arabian Knights (Arabian Nights). Rare variety of Jasmine Sambac with small double flowers and vining habit. Slow, compact grower.
See Jasminum Sambac Page.
See size of plants for sale.

Jasmine Sambac Belle of India - A very rare variety with long narrow petals. Everybody wants this one because it has such a fine structure and elegant flowers.
See Jasminum Sambac Page

Jasmine sambac Grand Duke - The biggest flower variety, the Grandest of all Jasminum sambac. Flowers are 1-1.5 inch wide, triple, like little carnations. Blooms profusely from April through June, then sporadically during the year. Dark green leaves are very ornamental. This variety grows as a medium size bush, very slow growing. Trim regularly otherwise it may become leggy. Tolerates shade, great container plant, can be grown as indoor plant too, providing enough light. The more light, the more flowers you will get. Keep somewhat on dry side: sambacs don't like too much water and bloom better in dry conditions. If grown indoors, watch for insects (spider mites). Fertilize once a month during warm season.

A new exciting hybrid of Jasmine sambac Grand Duke Supreme, it combines benefits of large, triple flowers with a compact, bushy growth habit! What an amazing gift for every jasmine lover. Unlike regular Grand Duke that tends to be leggy, this variety branches out much more and stays short with minimal pruning. Leaves are similar to Grand Duke Supreme - elongated and come in swirls of 3's and 4's. It is a fast grower, reaching mature size in no time, but stays compact, and produces multiple flowers on every branch. Profuse bloomer, providing lots of sun, warmth, and moderate water.
A perfect houseplant with the strongest jasmine fragrance in the world.
A must have for every jasmine collector!
See picture of 1 gal plant for sale (March, 2021)

Arabian Tea jasmine. This variety is vining and fast growing; tolerates shade.
Called pikake in Hawaii, this is the plant used to flavor the jasmine tea and making perfumes. Perfect houseplant, takes both sun or shade, Jasminum Sambac is a beautiful fragrant everbloomer for your home and garden. Maid of Orleans has single flowers of rich fragrance on woody vining shrubs with wide oval dark green leaves; considered the the easiest to bloom indoors, since it can tolerate shady conditions. It is the famous "Jasminum sambac Multiplex" in French perfume; traditionally the Chinese use this form to make aromatic jasmine tea. This variety has vining habit, and unless trimmed, can shoot several feet long branches.Collect the flowers for your morning jasmine tea!

J. simplicifolium, Wax Jasmine - nice hedge plant with waxy leaves and fragrant white flowers. A quick-growing vine with glossy, dark green foliage, can be grown on a trellis, used as a ground cover, or planted in a container. Blooms from April to September. The 1 inch wide, white, pinwheel shaped flowers with a fine sweet scent.

Pin-Mala. A small tree up to 15-20 ft, with leathery leaves and white fragrant flowers followed by showy prune colored fruit. It is very easy to grow, and is not picky about conditions, can be happy both in sun or filtered light. It is relatively cold tolerant, grows fast even in poor soils, and creates a nice shade in no time. Tolerant to most soil types, salt tolerant. Cold hardy to low 30F.

Synonym: Lonchocarpus capassa. Apple Leaf, Rain Tree, Mupandapanda. Medium-sized rare exotic tree from Tanzania and Namibia. Purple to mauve flowers in pendulous sprays are sweetly scented. Lush foliage looks very tropical. Relatively hardy tree, tolerates poor soils, grows well in sandy soils.

One of the garden favorites, this is a vigorous, evergreen or semi-evergreen vine bearing highly fragrant purple-red flowers adorned with white interiors from spring intermittently through late summer. They are followed by blue-black berry-like fruit that attract birds. This Japanese honeysuckle has a lush foliage of purple-tinged, oval leaves throughout the growing season. Native to eastern Asia. Grows up to 10-30 ft.
A part shade lover, tolerates full sun. Adapts to a wide range of soils. Drought tolerant. An ideal choice for mass plantings on banks and slopes for controlling erosion. Pest and disease free. This is a cold hardy tropical, can take some freeze once established.

Champaka, or Joy Perfume Tree, with orange / yellow flowers, is regarded as one of the most sacred trees of India and tropical Asia. Its flowers exude a divine fragrance that is exceedingly pleasing to the Gods... and women!
The flowers from this tree are used to make the world's most expensive perfume 'Joy' and smell like fruity bubble gum, you can't stop sticking your nose in this flower! In the ground, it grows to 15-20' in height, but it can be easily kept in a pot. It is a tropical tree, however established plants can tolerate light freeze. Yellow Champaca is much more cold tolerant than var. Alba.
This is hands down the best perfume tree for a Southern landscape.
See Article about this tree.

Champaka, or Joy Perfume Tree, with orange / yellow flowers, is regarded as one of the most sacred trees of India and tropical Asia. Its flowers exude a divine fragrance that is exceedingly pleasing to the Gods... and women!
The flowers from this tree are used to make the world

Michelia Figo, Banana Magnolia. Spring-blooming, heavily scented, cream flowers streaked with purple. The banana shrub is so called because of the distinctive, sweet banana scent of its flowers. The plant is cold hardy, prefers filtered light, also a good choice for container culture. See picture of the plant.