Flower Bulbs for Fragrance

When it comes to gardening, having an aesthetically pleasing place to look out over provides a real sense of calm, but have you ever considered the aromas your garden gives off? For gardeners looking to fill their space with stunning scents, bulbs are a great place to start. We have put together this guide on some of the top bulbs for fragrance, and how to look after them so they bloom for maximum effect.

Top Fragrant Bulbs To Plant

Let’s start by looking at some of the best bulbs for fragrance, before we move on to the best ways to plant and look after your new bulbs.

1. Hyacinths

Renowned for not only their pretty colours, but their intense, sweet fragrance too, hyacinths are a strong favourite when it comes to bulbs with a lovely aroma. They bloom in early spring, and come in a variety of pastel shades including blue, white and pink. It is best to plant them in autumn, ready for them to bloom and spread their aroma in March or April. They can add a lovely touch of fragrance to beds and borders in your garden.

2. Narcissus (daffodils)

You may not associate daffodils with fragrance, but there are a couple of varieties including ‘Cheerfulness’ and ‘Avalanche’ which are particularly fragrant. One of the great things about daffodils is that they are incredibly low-maintenance and thrive in most soil types. Their bright yellow colour when they bloom also helps to deter other pests too.

3. Freesias

Freesias are well known for their citrusy, fresh scent and they tend to thrive in sunny, well-drained parts of the garden. They are best planted in the spring for summer blooms, or during late autumn for a display the following spring. Freesias are very versatile and can be planted in beds, borders or containers and they also make great cut flowers - fantastic for floral arrangements due to their strong fragrance.

4. Lilies

Oriental lilies such as the ‘Stargazer’ produce beautiful, large flowers that have a stunning fragrance. They do take a little more work than most bulbs though, as lilies prefer well-drained soil and need to have good air circulation around them too. Lilies also need consistent watering, particularly during dry periods.

5. Bluebells

English bluebells add a real sense of charm to any garden, as well as providing a sweet, slightly musky fragrance that even bees can’t get enough of! Bluebells flower between April and June and enjoy cool, shaded areas with rich, woodland-type soil.

Gardening Tips for Continuous Fragrance

To ensure your garden provides a lovely scent throughout the year, here are a few seasonal tips.

Spring:

● Start preparing the soil for summer bulbs such as lilies and freesias, ensuring the soil is well-drained and rich in organic matter.

● Mulch around any spring bulbs you have to keep them nice and moist.

Summer:

● Lilies and freesias bloom in the summer months offering intense aromas, but make sure you deadhead them regularly to encourage further blooms.

● Summer bulbs will also need watering during dry spells to encourage growth.

● You may also need to add slow-release fertiliser to the soil in the summer months to support flowering bulbs.

Autumn:

● This is the best time to plant spring bulbs including hyacinths, bluebells and daffodils.

● If you want your garden to start being fragrant in spring, plant hyacinths in containers indoors and keep them in a cool, dark place for 10-12 weeks to encourage early blooms.

Winter:

● Tender bulbs such as freesias need to be protected from the frost in winter, so dig them up and store them in a cool, dry place until they are ready to be planted again next season.

● Now is the time to plan and purchase bulbs for the upcoming seasons, ensuring you have a continuous supply of fragrant flowers.

Caring For Fragrant Bulbs Post-Bloom

After your fragrant bulbs have flowered, be sure to let the foliage due back naturally as this will provide extra nourishment to the bulbs for next season. For hardy bulbs like hyacinths and daffodils, there is no need to remove them from the soil, simply leave them in the ground and they will reappear next year.

By selecting a mix of spring, summer and autumn bulbs for fragrance, you can enjoy a scented garden throughout the year. For advice on selecting the best bulbs for fragrance, contact our knowledgeable team at Boston Bulbs on 01775 769333, or email sales@bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk. We have a wide range of bulbs available, with options to suit both novice and avid gardeners.

The Boston Bulb Company has over 40 years of experience in supplying only the finest quality horticultural products from farmers and growers throughout the UK and Europe.