9 Fragrant Flowers to Plant in Spring for a Beautiful, Sweet-Smelling Garden

Korean Spice Viburnum

Also known as arrowwood (Viburnum carlesii), this flowering shrub produces beautiful clusters of white flowers. They emit "a super captivating fragrance," says Shauna Moore, director of horticulture at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. "It's really beautiful. It's kind of like vanilla and clove."

Laura Irish Hanson, a horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota Extension, cites its potential as a landscape shrub as another perk, as well as its beautiful color, which transforms from a delicate white to a deep red in the fall.

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, regular watering
  

Paper Bush

Paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) is a more unusual, rare plant; it produces beautiful yellow flowers that really stand out. As an added bonus, this dynamic flower shrub also smells wonderful—and, of course, very unique. "It has a very spicy fragrance, kind of like nutmeg," says Moore. It blooms in the early spring, but can also be planted during this interval.

• Zones: 7 to 10
• Size: 7 to 8 feet tall and wide
• Care Requirements: Partial shade, moist soil

Ozark Witch Hazel

Irish-Hansen recommends any witch hazel, but cites Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) as an "easy choice." "The yellow flowers emit an intriguing, musky, spicy scent," she says. "They're also gorgeous shrubs that attract wildlife."

She suggests pruning the plant a bit after its flowering to control spread and shape—and try and grow it in full sun, if you can.

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 8 to 15 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun is best, but can grow in partial shade; well-draining soil

Summersweet

Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) blooms in the late summer, says Irish-Hanson, but it's wise to plant it during the spring. "The fragrance is sweet with a hint of spice," she adds. "Its white flowers in late summer are followed by yellow fall color."

Pruning isn't necessary for summersweet—it's also a good choice for controlling erosion, as it can tolerate wet conditions.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: Up to 8 feet tall x 6 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun to full shade; moist soil

Lilac

"I love growing lilacs (Syringa sp.) for their showy and edible flowers, as well as for using the plants as a screen during the rest of the summer," says Irish-Hanson.

However, these lovely violet blooms are susceptible to mildew and other diseases, though Irish-Hanson notes they are otherwise quite resilient. "Many lilacs should be pruned over the course of three years, as the flower buds form in three-year-old wood," she adds. "This is called rejuvenation pruning, and should be done right after the flowers fade."

• Zones: 3 to 7
• Size: 8 to 16 feet tall x 6 to 12 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil
  

Star Magnolia

Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a slow-growing plant that produces elegant white, purple, and pink blooms. "The fragrance is very light, but it's citrusy—like a creamy lemon," says Moore. "It's a very beautiful scent."

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Size: 15 to 20 feet tall x 15 to 20 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; well-draining, moist, slightly acidic soil
  

Hyacinth

Hyacinths are a favorite for a reason. They come in a gorgeous array of colors, from saturated violet to pastel pink, and they smell absolutely delicious. "The fragrance always reminds me of a candied lilac," says Moore. "It's a little much for some people, but I think they're just gorgeous."

While hyacinths are typically grown in the fall, Moore recommends forcing the bulbs in the fall, then planting them out in the spring.

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 8 to 14 inches tall
• Care Requirements: Full to partial sun; well-drained, moderately fertile soil
  

Rose

"I'm a rose person, that's my background—I only grow roses if they're fragrant," says Moore. Her favorite? Thérèse Bugnet, a rugosa rose hybrid with a clove-like scent and gorgeous, ruffled petals. "The canes are beautiful and red, so you've got some gorgeous winter interest also," she adds. Moore recommends planting bare-root roses in the spring for best results.

• Zones: 2 to 7
• Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil
  

Buttonbush

Buttonbush's (Cephalanthus occidentalis) sweet, honey-like scent isn't just attractive to humans—it's been known to draw pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds too. The globe-shaped white flowers look absolutely beautiful in bloom, and it's a fairly low-maintenance shrub overall, says Irish-Hanson.

• Zone: 5 to 11 
• Size: 6 to 12 feet tall 
• Care requirements: Partial shade to full sun, sandy or loamy soil