I took my 2-year-old son to a nursery recently, and he was absolutely enchanted by the scent of some hyacinths! He couldn't get enough of them and was smelling every flower he could find afterward. I want to create a garden filled with fragrant flowers and plants for him to enjoy exploring. We're already planning to grow culinary herbs and have some roses coming in, but I could really use more suggestions, especially for perennials. Our garden is in zone 7a or 7b, and I'm also looking for fun textured or colored plants, like angel wings or coleus. Safety is a concern, so I'd like to choose plants that are non-toxic since I know I'll need to keep an eye on him while he's exploring.
3 Answers
The tuberose is a star for fragrant flowers, used a lot in perfumes! They can be a bit finicky since I have to dig them up before winter, but they’re totally worth it. Some peonies are really fragrant, while others aren't as much. If you're looking for a fragrant annual, nicotiana is a good option too—it has a scent similar to jasmine!
Anise hyssop is a fantastic choice—it smells lovely and tastes great! You might also consider dill and fennel for their feathery texture. Marigolds can add a vibrant touch to your garden. If you want something unique, borage has iridescent flowers that look beautiful and the young flowers taste like cucumber. Definitely worth a try!
I’ve always wanted to try borage! I’ve seen seeds popping up too, so it’s a good time to start looking! I'd love to find some recipes to use it in as well.
You can't go wrong with fragrant herbs! Lavender, rosemary, basil, and thyme all smell amazing and attract pollinators. Parsley is great too; it doesn't have a strong scent but brings in swallowtail caterpillars, which is super exciting for kids. Common milkweed has a lovely fragrance and also attracts various cool insects. Roses smell great, but keep in mind the thorns with a little one around. You might also want to check out Dianthus for their pleasant smell and pretty blooms. Joe Pye weed is a later bloomer with a lovely scent and also draws in great bugs. Plus, don't forget salvia—it's fragrant and popular with pollinators!
Great list! You'll love seeing the variety of pollinators that come with those plants. Good luck!
Thanks for the suggestions! We're set with a few types of mint and plan on adding more herbs soon. I think we have milkweed growing in our field, so that should excite him! I’ll definitely look for Joe Pye weed seeds since I haven't seen them available locally.
I can't believe I almost forgot about peonies—definitely adding those to my list! Thank you for the heads-up about nicotiana too!