Flawlessly Fragrant

It's the end of March and old man winter still has a tight grip on us here in Maine, but the unique blooming plants in our greenhouses have no idea what the elements outside feel like! With many of them complexly fragrant each greenhouse you walk into here on the farm you are hit with a wave of perfumed warm air. We wanted to showcase them for you our friends and fans; and if you have a chance swing by and take a whiff yourself.

We are starting off with my absolute favorite the orchid pictured above maxillaria tenuifolia. This orchid smells exactly like a pina colada and immediately transports you to a tropical island with enhaling.

Stephanotis The classic wedding flower above is a native to Madagascar. Growing to 20 feet or more, it's native habitat as a woody climber with glossy, leathery oval leaves and clusters of pure white, waxy, intensely fragrant tubular flowers that smell sort of like honeysuckles.

We grow many Mediterranean plants here on the farm most of which are trained as topiaries. This variety of rosemary called 'Irene' is a prostrate form we grow onto globe trellises. Both its foliage and tiny purple-white flowers exude what else, but that true rosemary aroma.

Another herb that is trained into topiaries is the classic lavender. This variety lavendula dentata is not zone hardy and must be kept from the cold teperatures. The flowers and foliage can be harvested and dried and placed into pillows or infused with oil.

We started to under plant some of our larger lavender topiaries with this sweet honey scented lobularia 'snow princess'. Also known as sweet alyssum this dainty flowering annual is low and keeps low to the ground perfect for the edges of walkways where there scent will be released by passer byes.

We grow some scented sub-shrubs here as well like the pitisporum tobira, native to Japan, China, and Korea. Not only does this plant produce and abundance of citrus noted white blooms, the variegated foliage is just another added bonus.

Talk about fragrant flowers and one with any plant knowledge will think of heliotrope immediately. This strongly vanilla-scented purple flowering annual is outstanding in the garden or a container and will bloom non-stop all summer long!

Some of our fragrant blooms actually produce edible fruit like the myer lemon above. Super strong and spicy it oddly smells nothing like a lemon. We also have flowering limes as well and will be expanding our collection of citrus this summer for you the public.

Now for the scented showstoppers; the jasmines. Above with its ruffled 2 inch blooms is the dwarf jasmine tree or radermachera kunmin, native to south east Asia. Growing only to 4 feet it makes a perfect specimen in and mossy Snug Harbor Farm pot.

One of everyone's favorites that they are always asking for is the night blooming jasmine photographed above. Cestrum nocturum produces abundant tubular white flowers that release a powerful, sweet perfume at night. This plant should be placed on a porch or patio where you can enjoy the heavenly scent on a warm summer evening.

 

The jasmine pictured above is the ultimate classic one, jasminum sambac. The intense white flowers are used for perfumes and for making tea. It is the national flower of the Philippines, and it is also one of the three national flowers of Indonesia so it must be loved by many people around the world.

 

A more unusual beautiful plant is the Chinese perfume plant or aglaia odorata below. Tiny yellow flowers appear on and off throughout the year and have a delicate sweet fragrance. Its habit is upright and bushy, and it does well under conditions of low light and low humidity. Even with little maintenance, this is the kind of plant that becomes an enduring friend for years to come.

 

So the next time you join us here at the farm ask us to show you some of our favorite flawlessly fragrant plants. As the year goes on there will be more and more for you to enjoy so be sure to make a visit!