Alternate titles for this episode: (1) Plants That Stink or (2) Smell This Episode. Kidding aside, lovely smelling plants are a bonus that every garden deserves. We all spend so much time on making sure our gardens look good, we seldom think about how they smell. And we’re not just talking roses here, people. On today’s episode we feature a plethora of perennials and even a couple of shrubs that make us think of root beer, vanilla, and all sorts of sugary confections. Steve got hungry halfway through, so please forgive the few minutes of dead air while he tracked down the nearest donut.

Expert testimony: Julie Lane Gay is a garden designer and former nursery owner in Vancouver, British Columbia.

This episode is sponsored by Bluestone Perennials

Steve’s Plants

‘Eden’s Perfume’ peony  (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Eden’s Perfume’, Zones 3–8)

‘David’ garden phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘David’, Zones 4–8)

‘Hidcote’ English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’, Zones 5–9)

‘Magnifica’ coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens ‘Magnifica’, Zones 4–8)

Danielle’s Plants

Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii, Zones 4–8)

‘Fragrant Delight’ heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens ‘Fragrant Delight’, Zones 10–11)

‘Guacamole’ hosta (Hosta ‘Guacamole’, Zones 3–9)

Variegated winter daphne (Daphne odora ‘Aureo-marginata’, Zones 7–9)

Expert’s Plants

Julie Lane Gay is a garden designer and former nursery owner in Vancouver, British Columbia.

‘Winter Beauty’ honeysuckle (Lonicera × purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’, Zones 6–9)

‘Painted Lady’ sweet pea (Lathyrus ‘Painted Lady’, annual)

‘Apricot Sprite’ hyssop (Agastache ‘Apricot Sprite’, Zones 6–9)

‘Brunette’ baneberry (Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’, Zones 3–8)