12 Fragrant Evergreen Shrubs That Will Make Your Garden Smell Incredible From aromas of honey to citrus, these evergreens produce beautifully scented flowers. Close Credit: nickkurzenko / Getty Images When it comes to making your landscape look great, few plants have more mileage in the garden than evergreen shrubs. The foliage lasts for multiple seasons and during the growing period, many evergreens produce beautiful flowers that bring color to the landscape. Beyond color, some of these shrubs form blooms that smell incredible. From honey and citrus to spice and peaches, these fragrant evergreen shrubs will make your garden smell amazing—and look great year-round. Linda Langelo horticulture specialist at Colorado State University Seth Pearsoll, creative director for The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Adrienne Roethling, garden curator for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden 11 Fragrant Indoor Plants to Make Your Home Smell Like a Garden Year-Round 01 of 12 Hardy Thorny Olive Credit: Created by Elena / Getty Images Hardy thorny olive (Elaegnus pungens) is a densely branched evergreen shrub with small, bell-shaped, creamy white flowers that bloom in axillary clusters from October through November. The blooms smell like a sweet gardenia-scented perfume. "It is a vigorous shrub that you need to keep in bounds by pruning unless it is out in an open area," says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. "It is fast-growing and may spread by suckers." Zone: 7 to 9Size: 12 to 15 feet tall x 15 to 18 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil 02 of 12 Fragrant Tea Olive Credit: saraTM / Getty Images An upright evergreen with oval glossy green leaves, fragrant tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans) produces beautiful white flowers that bloom in clusters during spring and sometimes summer and fall. The plant has a rich, sweet aroma of honey and peaches that also smells like apricots to some, says Langelo. "In warmer summer climates, it is best to place this plant so that it can receive some afternoon shade," she says. Zone: 8 to 11Size: 10 to 15 feet tall x 10 to 15 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil 03 of 12 Japanese Skimmia Credit: Eve Livesey / Getty Images Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica) has leathery leaves that form fragrant white or pink flowers during spring. Female plants also produce red berries, says Seth Pearsoll, creative director for The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Zone: 6 to 8Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wideGrowing conditions: Part sun; well-draining, fertile soil 04 of 12 Daphne Credit: Japan, Asia and othe of the world / Getty Images The reddish-purple flowers that grow from daphne (Daphne odora) have a delicate, spicy-sweet fragrance with a pop of citrus. "Plant it where you permanently want it to be in the landscape," says Langelo. "It does not like to be disturbed once planted. It is slow to establish." Zone: 7 to 9Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, humus-rich sandy soil that is well-draining If you're growing daphne, plant it in a permanent location from the start to avoid disrupting its slow establishment process. Consider the layout of your garden carefully before deciding on its planting spot. 05 of 12 Gardenia Credit: Aschen / Getty Images This beloved evergreen shrub gives way to waxy white blossoms in late spring or early summer that have a spicy scent. If you grow a gardenia shrub (Gardenia jasminoides) in your garden, be sure to fertilize the plant in late June to encourage flowering, says Langelo. Do not fertilize gardenia in the fall. Zone: 8 to 11Size: 5 to 6 feet tall x 5 to 6 feet wideGrowing conditions: Part shade; moist, humus-rich soil with an acidic pH 06 of 12 Mountain Laurel Credit: LFO62 / Getty Images Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) has a rounded dense habit with terminal flowers that emit a grape-like smell. "Flowers bloom in a corymb and each of the flowers in the corymb are 5-sided cup-shaped flowers with rose to white to purple markings inside each flower," says Langelo. Prune the shrub to promote bushy growth and remove flower clusters after they bloom. Zone: 5 to 9Size: 5 to 15 feet tall x 5 to 15 feet wideGrowing conditions: Part shade; well-drained soil 07 of 12 Paper Bush Credit: LITTLE DINOSAUR / Getty Images Paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) has become increasingly popular in the last decade. Clusters of yellow, upside-down tubular-shaped flowers resembling a honeycomb shape form on the stems. "The fragrance is gardenia-like and should be planted close to an open window," says Adrienne Roethling, garden curator for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. Zone: 7 to 9Size: 8 feet tall x 8 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full sun to full shade; average, well-drained soil 08 of 12 Fragrant Sweet Box Credit: seven75 / Getty Images As the name implies, fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca ruscifolia) is an evergreen shrub with a sweet smell. "It has leathery sharp-pointed ovate, glossy deep green leaves with creamy white flowers in axillary racemes," says Langelo. Zone: 7 to 9Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wideGrowing conditions: Part shade to full shade; well-drained soil 09 of 12 Prague Viburnum Credit: Richard Radford / Getty Images Prague viburnum (Viburnum ‘Pragense’) forms white flowers that produce berries in early fall that go from red to glossy black. "The foliage is evergreen in the south and the north unless it is damaged by cold winter temperatures," says Langelo. Plant this shrub in an area it can receive protection from winter winds. Zone: 5 to 8Size: 10 to 12 feet tall x 10 to 12 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full to part sun; average, well-drained soil with medium moisture 10 of 12 Mexican Orange Credit: anankkml / Gettty Images Fill your garden with the smell of fresh oranges with this evergreen shrub. Mexican orange (Choisya ternata) forms star-shaped white flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. "The flowers have a fragrance like orange blossoms and the leaves when crushed smell like oranges," says Langelo. Once the plant is established it can handle a slight period of drought, but should be protected from winter winds. Zone: 8 to 10Size: 4 to 8 feet tall x 4 to 8 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full to part sun; average, humus-rich, moist, well-draining soil 11 of 12 Sweetshrub Credit: Tonya Staab / Getty Images Native to North America, sweetshrub (Calycanthus) is semi-evergreen in certain regions, and has sweetly fragrant flowers that last for several weeks in spring. The flowers almost smell like melon, Roethling. There are a few varieties of sweet shrub that come in a range of colors, from burgundy to yellow. Zone: 6 to 9Size: 6 to 8 feet tall x 6 to 8 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full to part sun; rich soil 12 of 12 Banana Shrub Credit: magicflute002 / Getty Images Banana shrub (Magnolia figo) has multiple seasons of appeal. It has evergreen leaves, fragrant and showy flowers, and cinnamon-colored buds. "The shiny green leaves accent the fuzzy buds, which open in May," says Roethling. "The flowers smell like bananas and need to be planted close to an open window or doorway." Zone: 7 to 9Size: 10 to 15 feet tall x 6 to 8 feet wideGrowing conditions: Full to part sun; average soil Explore more: Garden Flower Gardens