Fragrance

Deciduous, spring-flowering magnolia, starting as a shrub and eventually growing into a multi-stemmed tree (unless trained from an early age). Soft yellow, lightly fragrant flowers emerge before the new leaves from large flower buds covered with yellowish moss-like fur. Initially the flowers are tulip-shaped. Gradually the petals open to a saucer-shape up to 20 cm wide. The yellow colour comes from Magnolia acuminata, which has been crossed with Magnolia denudata to produce a number of hybrids, Magnolia 'Sundance' being one of them. Large mid green, oval leaves. 

Prefers a sunny or partially shaded position in well-draining neutral or acidic soil. Protect from strong winds. Likes a cool root-run, which eventually will be provided by the shadow of its own canopy. At planting time, cover the soil with mulch to keep the roots cool. Frost hardy to about -15^oC, but in frost-prone areas avoid a position in morning sun to minimise the risk of frost damage to the flowers. No pruning required other than removal of dead branches and creating a good shape.

Elegant specimen tree with stunning flowers and unusually coloured flower buds.

Deciduous tree up to 10 m tall, native to central and eastern China. Low-branching habit with spreading branches. Oval to oblong mid-green leaves with downy undersides, 15 x 8 cm. Flowers within three years. Mature specimens produce masses of scented, lily-shaped white flowers on bare wood in late winter and early spring before the new leaves appear. The outside of the flowers may be flushed with pink or rosy red at the base, but most specimens have pure white flowers. 

Synonym: Magnolia heptapeta

The Chinese have cultivated this magnolia for many centuries, going back as far as the Tang Dynasty (618 AD). It is depicted as a symbol of purity and candour in ancient paintings, embroideries, on scrolls and porcelains. Magnolia denudata was the first magnolia to be introduced from Asia to the Western world (England-1780).

Prefers a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade in any well-draining neutral or acidic soil. Intolerant of overly wet or dry conditions. Frost tolerant but flower buds may be damaged by late frosts.

Magnificent specimen tree, producing exquisite flowers from an early age. 

Deciduous shrub or small tree with rounded canopy, and smothered with flowers during late winter and early spring. Native to Japan. Slightly fragrant, pure white, star-shaped, 8-12 cm wide flowers with at least 12 narrow petals emerge from large, grey, hairy flowerbuds before new leaves. Flowers are occasionally flushed with pink. There are a couple of pink-flowering cultivars in existence. Young leaves are bronze green when they first appear, turning mid to dark green on maturity, and changing to yellow just before they fall in autumn. Leaves are oval to oblong, about 10 cm long and 4 cm wide.

Prefers a sheltered position in full sun or part shade in moist, but well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Tolerates lime. Frost hardy, but flowers may be damaged by late frosts. No or minimal pruning during late summer is all that is required.

Lovely magnolia suitable for flower display in the smaller garden.

South American, twining vine with clusters of very fragrant, funnel-shaped, pure white flowers in summer. The flowers are 4 to 6 cm wide with a 3-5 cm long tube, and are followed by long, bean-like fruit pods. All parts of the plant contain a poisonous, milky sap that may cause skin and eye irritations when touched. Evergreen in warm climates, but behaves as a deciduous plant in colder climates.

Synonym: Mandevilla suaveolens.

Grows best in a position that doesn't get too hot in summer, with well draining soil where it receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Not suitable for heavy clay. The roots don't like being disturbed, so avoid digging nearby. Can be cut back hard. Tolerates light to moderate frost (zones 9-11).

Intensely fragrant flowers, especially in the evenings. May climb into adjacent trees by winding its stems around the branches, but is quite easy to keep under control. Lovely climber for archways, pergolas and fences. 

Deciduous tree with a rounded canopy and glossy foliage, native to northern and eastern parts of Australia, and South East Asia. Belongs to the Mahogany family (Meliaceae). Leaves are 2-3 times odd-pinnately compound, to 50 cm long, and consist of 3-8 cm long leaflets with entire or lobed and/or toothed margins. Foliage is mid green, turning yellow in autumn. Small, pale purple to mauve and white, fragrant flowers in loose panicles during spring after the new leaves have emerged. Flowers are followed in autumn by 1.5 cm wide bead-like fruit, smooth and green initially, wrinkled and yellow when mature, remaining on the tree for a long time during winter. Has become invasive in some parts of the world. Poisonous fruits and foliage.

Synonyms (among many others): Melia australis, Melia japonica, Melia sempervirens.

Prefers a sunny position in well-draining soil. Copes well with partial shade. Adaptable to a wide range of conditions, but sensitive to waterlogged soils. Can handle considerable drought. Prune for shape to encourage a good branching structure. Suitable for coastal areas. Melia azedarach has a shallow root system and is best planted at some distance from hard surfaces. Tolerates moderate frosts (zones 8-12).

Attractive shade or specimen tree with graceful foliage, perfumed spring flowers, and a lovely display of yellow fruit in winter. When in flower, the canopy has a beautiful soft, smokey mauve appearance. Also suitable for erosion control and timber production.

Small to medium, mostly evergreen tree with pyramidal canopy, long leathery leaves and masses of scented flowers in late winter and spring.  Dark green leaves, paler beneath, up to about 17 cm long. Leaves tend to hang. Floppy, multi-petalled creamy white magnolia-like flowers emerge from bronzy-brown, furry buds. In colder areas, Michelia doltsopa 'Silver Cloud' behaves like a semi-evergreen.

'Silver Cloud' was originally selected by Duncan and Davies in New Zealand. It has a smaller and neater growth habit than the parent species and flowers from a younger age (after 2-3 years). Michelia doltsopa itself originates from western China and eastern Himalayas.

Prefers a sheltered position in full sun and slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Keep roots cool and moist in summer. Requires little maintenance other than gradually removing the lower branches to lift the crown, and maybe some shaping of the canopy. Flowers may get damaged by frost.

Small, perennial, early spring-flowering bulb to about 20 cm tall. Slightly fragrant blue, purple or white flowers in dense 5 cm long spikes, resembling clusters of upside-down grapes. Narrow, linear leaves appear in autumn and die down in summer after which they can be removed. Reproduces by offsets from the main bulb and seed dispersal.

Occurs naturally in forests and meadows of Eastern Mediterranean regions.

Prefers full sun or partial shade and well drained soil. Generally trouble-free, but susceptible to root rot in wet sites. Divide large clumps in summer.

Looks great when planted in groups.

Repeat-flowering floribunda rose with glossy mid green foliage and old-fashioned, butter yellow flowers with an unusual sweet anise-licorice scent. Flowers have 30-45 petals, and are about 10 cm across. Neat, rounded growing habit and self-cleaning (petals of spent flowers drop off).

Registration name: Rosa 'WEKvossutono'. Bred by Tom Carruth (USA). Introduced in Australia as Rosa 'Soul Mate' and in the USA as Rosa 'Julia Child'. Master chef Julia Child selected this rose herself to bear her name. Known as Rosa 'Absolutely Fabulous' in the UK and New Zealand.

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Good mildew and blackspot resistance. Heat tolerant. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter.

Gorgeous rose for flower display, flowering prolifically throughout the season. Can be grown as a standard or a shrub in garden beds or borders, as a single specimen or en masse. Good for cutting. Suitable for containers.

Hybrid tea rose, flowering in flushes throughout the season with showy, delicately perfumed flowers and dark green foliage. Large, 10-14 cm wide, double flowers with creamy white and pale yellow petals and rosy pink edges.  

Registration name: Rosa 'MACberli'. Bred by Sam McGredy (New Zealand).

Prefers a position in full sun and any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Frost-hardy, but may need some protection from spring frosts in cold climates. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter.

Gorgeous full flowers with beautiful colour combinations. Good for sunny beds and borders. Excellent for cutting.

Repeat-flowering floribunda rose with glossy mid to dark green foliage and scented flowers. Bright, dark orange flower buds open to two-toned, 9 cm wide flowers with ruffled petals, apricot orange with yellow towards the center. Flowers are solitary or produced in clusters. Moderate citrus fragrance. Grows on its own root system.  

Registration name: Rosa 'HARwelcome', bred by Harkness (UK). Rosa 'Fellowship' was named for the Rotary movement in the UK, but was introduced as Rosa 'Livin' Easy' in the USA.

Prefers a position in full sun and any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Good disease resistance, including black spot. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune to about 1/3 height in early winter.

Free-flowering rose with gorgeous colour combinations of perfectly formed dark orange buds with lighter orange and yellow mature flowers. Suitable for flower display in beds, borders or containers. Great for cutting.

Repeat-flowering climbing rose with glossy dark green foliage and large, mildly fragrant, yellow flowers in clusters. Flowers are about 11 cm wide and have 26-40 petals. Vigorous, reliable and free-flowering.

Registration name: Rosa 'HORanymoll', bred by Colin Horner (UK).

Prefers a position in full sun. Happy in any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Excellent disease resistance.

Delightful rose, ideal for climbing against walls, fences, posts, pergolas and arches.

Vigorous, repeat-flowering hybrid tea rose with dark green foliage and large, very double, fragrant flowers with frilled petals in shades of pink, cream, peach and apricot. The flowers are 15 cm across or larger, and have more than 40 petals.

Registration name: Rosa 'TANgust'. Bred by Hans Jurgen Evers (Germany) and introduced in Germany in 1999 by Rosen Tantau as Rosa 'Augusta Luise'. Introduced in the UK as Rosa 'Rachel' (after garden writer and TV presenter Rachel de Thame) and in New Zealand as Rosa 'Hayley Westenra' (named after the New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra). Also known as Rosa  'Fox-Trot'. In New Zealand a donation to Unicef is made for every Rosa 'Hayley Westenra' sold.

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Good disease resistance.

Very attractive rose...romantic and exuberant...as roses should be. The gorgeous peony-like flowers last well on water. Excellent choice as a single specimen for fragrance and flower display, in groups for beds and borders, or grown as a container plant. Can be grown as a shrub or a standard.

Repeat-flowering floribunda rose with glossy dark green foliage and large, moderately fragrant, double flowers in clusters of 2 to 5 blooms per stem. Showy flowers, 8-11 cm wide with about 20-30 somewhat ruffled petals in shades of chocolate brown, orange, and terracotta, sometimes with a lavender sheen. Grows on its own root system.

Registration name: Rosa 'WEKpaltlez'. Bred by Tom Carruth (USA). Introduced in the USA as 'Hot Cocoa'. Also known as Rosa 'Hot Chocolate'. In Switzerland, this rose was named 'Nubya' after the singer with that name.

Prefers a sunny position in well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Tolerates light shade, but doesn't flower as well as in full sun. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Good disease resistance. Rain and heat-tolerant. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter.

Stunning rose with gorgeous full flowers in unique terracotta colourings. Imagine this in a novel combination with brown-orange grasses and lime green ground covering plants. Great for flower display as a single specimen or planted in groups. Suitable for cutting, containers, borders or beds. Plant near paths or seating areas so that you can enjoy the fragrance.

Vigorous floribunda rose with dark green foliage and clusters of fragrant flowers throughout the season. Flowers are white with a very pale pink sheen in the center and yellow stamens, up to 10 cm across, and have about 28 petals.

Registration name: Rosa 'Harkuly'. Bred by Harkness (UK). Named after the fictitious beauty adviser for Oil of Olay, Margaret Merril.

Prefers a position in full sun and any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Good disease resistance.

Stunning standard or bush rose for fragrance and flower display in garden beds or borders as a single specimen or in groups. Produces excellent cut flowers.