Sweet Peas are a fragrant spring flowering annual, native to Italy. They have one of the most enchanting flowers, delicate and fragrant, perfect in garden or admired in a vase. Learn how to grow Sweet Peas in Ipswich.
Read MorePlanting Sweet Peas
Scented Garden
Parsley
One fragrant herb I am really fond of using in the garden is parsley. t's dark green, lush, exceptionally hardy. Can handle full sun or part shade. Can handle wind and a dry out once established. It prefers nice fertile soil but will grow basically anywhere as long as you give it a good start. Plus you can eat it and if one dies in your border it's easy to replace.
Read MoreFennel
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is actually part of the carrot family. It has yellow flowers and light green feathery foliage (just like a carrot). The whole plant can be eaten. It is native to The Mediterranean but it grows easily all over the world.
Read MoreStephanotis floribunda
Want a plant that is classy, lush green, tropical looking and has a heavenly scent. Stephanotis floribunda is the plant for you.
Read MoreClove Tree
Clove trees botanical name is Syzygium aromaticum. Clove are native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, but they have naturalised in many warm countries including Mexico, Kenya and Sri Lanka. Did you know that clove comes from the Latin word 'clavus', which means nail because cloves look like little nails! It has been in cultivation since 200BC!
Read MoreAfrican Blue Basil
This is new plant to me but I am falling in love with all its qualities - African blue basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum 'Dark Opal')
This was my original plant. Two years later, this plant is two metres wide and about a metre high. I think it’s one of my favourite plants.
The story goes that in 1983, owner of the Ohio owner of Campanion Plants, noticed a basil plant growing in the pathway between two other basil plants - green-leaved East African basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum) and 'Dark Opal' basil.
The Ocimum kilimandscharicum is a large growing Perennial basil, with a beautiful camphor scent perfect for pesto making. This basil comes from the forests of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda which means it can handle some shade.
Dark Opal is know for its compact growth and dark rich purple growth. This is also known to make an amazing red pesto.
The really amazing thing about the African blue basil is that it doesn't produce seed. That's right you can only produce it via cutting.
The African Blue Basil has taken on the prettiest qualities of its parents without the failings. It grows to about 1.5m and has lush bluish green leaves with purple lines through the centre. The new growth has a slightly darker twist. The flowers are the prettiest mauve colour.
African Blue Basil grows very similar to a normal basil. Plant in fertile soil in garden or a pot. It can grow in semi shade or full sun. Give it a nice trim to enable it to grow thick and busy. Fertilise regularly with a complete liquid fertiliser, like Triple Boost and about every three months with a complete organic fertiliser, like Organic Link.
This basil is perennial so it will continuously flower but it doesn't go lanky and to seed like normal sweet basil. This beautiful plant can be used as edible ornamental as it never dies down like normal basil can. It can be killed off by heavy frosts so please put it in a protected spot.
The flowers, leaves and young stems are edible. I've read that some people find the flavour a bit too camphory, but I find it has a rich, mellow flavour. I have been told it makes the best pesto as not only does it taste great but it holds its beautiful green colour and does not go brown like crushed sweet basil can in pesto.
Now we all know I love food so anything scented and edible to a perfect addition in my garden.
Now to find someone to make me that pesto!!
Patchouli
Patchouli is a bushy herb with dark green leaves and small, slightly fragrant pale pink-white flowers. It can get to around 1m in height. It loves a warm part sunny position and dislikes cold winters (protect from frost).
Read MoreScented Magnolias
No fragrant garden is complete without the popular Port wine Magnolia, Magnolia figo, and it’s sister Magnolia Coco.
Read MoreLemon Balm
Melissa is the Greek word for "honey-bee." It was traditionally used by the ancient bee keepers. They used to rub the crushed leaves on the beehives to encourage the domesticated bees to return to their hives. They also believed that the lemon balm would also bring new bees to the hive.
Read MoreNative Basil
Coleus graveolens is commonly called Bush Basil or the Five Spice Herb! This plant is native from Cape York all way down to NSW.
Read MoreYesterday, Today and Tomorrow
The true beauty of Brunfelsia latifolia is in its flowers. Sweetly perfumed, they appear from September to late November. When they first open they are a violet colour, fading to lavender blue and then white, with the three colours present on the bush at the same time. How extraordinary that a plant can be covered in three different coloured flowers at once!
Read MoreCoriander actually has a purpose!
WHAT? Coriander actually has a purpose?
Coriander actually has two purposes, making your tastebuds zing, I’m team coriander and attracting beneficial insects to our garden.
Read MoreBackhousia citriodora
Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is an absolute delight for any garden. It is a small growing tree (around 3-5m) with leaves that release a strong lemon scent when crushed or after rain. I love breaking off a few and throwing them on the lawn before I mow. It makes mowing so much more enjoyable!
Read MoreMy Dirty Little Secret
I love the scent wafting in the air, just a hint of spring. I love getting up close and breathing deeply letting the fragrance fill me. I love how it captures me and makes me want more. Oh how glorious it would be to be surrounded by Jasmine polyanthums.
Read MoreMy Favourite Scentous Month
I find the best way to give my life some TLC especially during one of the coldest months of the year is to have a Rogiera amoena.
Read MoreCamellia Sasanqua
Camellias are amongst the world's best flowering plants. They are hardy and disease resistant
Read MoreCan you Grow your own Curry?
Curry isn't just one herb, it is a complex seasoning that varies from region to region and even from family to family throughout Southeast Asia. If you thought you could buy a Curry plant, think again!
Read MoreBest Cut Flowers
Cyclamens are the perfect indoor or shade plant for the cooler months. They have a long continuous flowering period – usually from April until October.
Read MoreRoses are Red
The rose has long been a source of fascination and meaningfulness for cultures around the world. I have never claimed to know the secrets of growing roses in a climate where for about six months of the year we have what feels like 100% humidity but here are a few of my tips.
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