Clicky

22 Most Fragrant Trees to Make Your Garden a Scented Paradise

Last Updated:
Photo of author

Expert Gardener & Horticulturist in Training

This article may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links. Learn more.
Home » Flowering Trees » 22 Most Fragrant Trees to Make Your Garden a Scented Paradise

Imagine stepping into a garden where the air is filled with the sweetest aromas.

We show off some of the most fragrant trees, each with its own unique perfume, transforming your garden into a haven of tranquility and sensory bliss.

Which is your favorite?

Enhance Your Landscape with These Beautiful Perfumed Trees

1. Apple Trees – Malus domestica

Apple trees are a lovely addition for anyone looking to bring a sweet fragrance to their garden, with their blossoms spreading a delightful perfume in the spring air.

This charming scent not only adds to the beauty of your outdoor space but also promises the joy of homegrown apples to come.

They’re a perfect choice for creating a serene and fruitful garden oasis.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3-9 depending on variety
  • Average Size at Maturity: 10-20 ft tall, 10-20 ft wide depending on variety
  • Flowering Season: Late Winter Spring
  • Flower Colors: White & Pink

Compare Prices:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills, My Perfect Plants or Starkbro’s

2. Black Locust – Robinia pseudoacacia

Black locust trees are a wonderful choice for those who adore a garden filled with sweet scents, as their lovely white blossoms emit a delightful fragrance in the late spring.

This enchanting aroma can make your garden feel like a fragrant haven, perfect for relaxing afternoons.

Besides their intoxicating scent, black locusts are also appreciated for their quick growth and hardiness, offering both beauty and shade with ease.

If you want to upgrade to purple flowers, the Purple Robe Locust is the way to go.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
  • Average Size at Maturity: 70-80 ft tall, 25-30 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: White

Available at:

Nature Hills

3. Blue Chinese Wisteria – Wisteria sinensis

Blue Chinese wisteria trees are a magnificent selection for their stunning showers of blue-violet flowers that fill the spring air with a delightful fragrance.

This lovely scent makes any garden a serene retreat, perfect for enjoying a cup of tea or a good book.

With their graceful, flowing blooms, these trees add a touch of elegance and charm, making them a beautiful centerpiece for any garden lover’s outdoor sanctuary.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
  • Average Size at Maturity: 10-15 ft tall, 10-12 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring – Summer
  • Flower Colors: Lavender – Blue

Available at:

Nature Hills

4. Cedar – Cedrus

Cedar trees are a wonderful addition if you’re looking to fill your garden with a comforting, evergreen fragrance all year long.

Their lush foliage releases a lovely, soothing aroma, creating a serene haven right in your backyard.

With their grand appearance and vibrant greenery, they not only offer privacy but also serve as a beautiful, natural backdrop for your garden gatherings or quiet moments.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3-9 depending on variety
  • Average Size at Maturity: 25-70 ft tall, 15-40 ft wide depending on variety

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees or Nature Hills

5. Cherry Plums – Prunus cerasifera

Cherry plum trees are a great pick for adding a splash of fragrance and color to your garden.

As spring unfolds, they’re adorned with lovely white or pink flowers, whose sweet perfume is a joyful herald of the season.

Not only do these blossoms delight the senses, but the trees also bear beautiful, edible plums, offering both a feast for the eyes and a treat for the table.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3-9 depending on variety
  • Average Size at Maturity: 5-30 ft tall, 5-25 ft wide depending on variety
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: White or Pink

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees or Nature Hills

6. Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica

Crape myrtle trees are a delightful choice for adding a flourish of color and a whisper of fragrance to your garden.

Their lovely blooms, ranging from delicate pinks to rich purples, grace the summer and autumn months with enduring beauty.

The gentle scent of their flowers, paired with their distinctive bark and elegant leaves, makes crape myrtles a charming and picturesque addition to any outdoor space.

Some Crape myrtles are more fragrant than others and my favorite is the Natchez Crape Myrtle as it is one of the strongest smelling varieties.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-10 depending on variety
  • Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 ft tall, 10-15 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Summer
  • Flower Colors: White, Purple, Red, Lavender, Pink

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills or My Perfect Plants

7. Crabapple Trees – Malus

Crabapple trees are a lovely choice for adding both beauty and a sweet scent to your garden.

Come spring, they are adorned with fragrant flowers, blooming in shades from snowy white to rich pink, that perfume the air with their delightful aroma.

These trees also bring a splash of color in the fall with their attractive fruit and leaves, ensuring your garden remains a point of interest and joy all year long.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 2-9 depending on variety
  • Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 ft tall, 15-30 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: White, Pink

Compare Prices:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills, My Perfect Plants or Starkbro’s

8. EucalyptusEucalyptus neglecta

Eucalyptus neglecta, or Omeo Gum, is a wonderful addition for those who appreciate a garden that’s both lovely to look at and delightful to smell.

This sturdy tree is cherished for its full, round leaves that give off a refreshing, minty scent when touched, adding a unique fragrance to your outdoor sanctuary.

It grows swiftly and is quite adaptable, making it an excellent choice for anyone wanting to add evergreen beauty and a hint of the unusual to their garden.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7-10
  • Average Size at Maturity: 60 ft tall, 60 ft wide

Available at:

My Perfect Plants

9. Fragrant Tea Olive (Sweet Osmanthus) – Osmanthus fragrans

Sweet osmanthus trees are a delightful pick for anyone wishing to fill their garden with a deep, enchanting fragrance.

In the autumn, these trees bloom with tiny, delicate flowers, their sweet, apricot-scented aroma floating through the air, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

Beyond their captivating scent, sweet osmanthus trees add a touch of evergreen beauty, offering charm and color all year round.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 8-11 Outdoors, 3-11 patio
  • Average Size at Maturity: 10-12 ft tall, 6-8 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Fall – Spring
  • Flower Colors: White, Yellow, Orange

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees or My Perfect Plants

10. White Fringe Tree – Chionanthus virginicus

White fringe trees are a lovely choice for anyone who appreciates delicate beauty and a gentle, sweet aroma in their garden.

Come late spring or early summer, these trees are adorned with fragrant, airy, white blooms that resemble a delicate lace, creating a breathtakingly beautiful display.

They’re wonderfully easy to care for, thriving in many types of soil and conditions, making them a perfect blend of simplicity and elegance for your garden.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
  • Average Size at Maturity: 10-20 ft tall, 10-15 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: White

Available at:

Nature Hills or My Perfect Plants

11. Golden Chain Tree – Laburnum anagyroides

Golden chain trees are a beautiful addition, perfect for bringing a splash of color and a hint of fragrance to your garden.

In the warmth of late spring, they drape themselves in chains of bright yellow flowers, each bloom releasing a delicate, sweet aroma.

This tree’s charming appearance and its ability to draw in friendly pollinators make it a delightful choice for anyone who loves to see their garden come alive.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-7
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-25 ft tall, 15-25 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: Yellow

12. Japanese Lilac – Syringa reticulata

Japanese lilac trees are a wonderful selection for adding a touch of elegance and a delightful fragrance to your garden.

Come early summer, they gift us with lush clusters of creamy white flowers, each carrying a sweet and spicy aroma that perfumes the air.

These trees are not only a joy for the senses but also hardy and adaptable, making them a lovely and fuss-free addition to your outdoor space.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3-7
  • Average Size at Maturity: 20-25 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Late Spring – Early Summer
  • Flower Colors: White

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees or Nature Hills

13. Japanese Snowbell – Styrax japonicus

Japanese Snowbell trees are a charming pick for anyone looking to fill their garden with gentle fragrance and enchanting visuals.

As the warm days of late spring and early summer arrive, these trees are adorned with dainty, bell-shaped white flowers, each one emitting a soft, sweet perfume.

With their modest size and graceful silhouette, they’re perfect for adding a touch of serenity to smaller spaces or cozy nooks in your garden.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
  • Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 ft tall, 20-25 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Late Spring – Early Summer
  • Flower Colors: White

Available at:

Nature Hills

14. Kwanzan Cherry – Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’

Kwanzan cherry trees are a magnificent selection for adding a flourish of color and a whisper of fragrance to your garden.

Come spring, they burst into bloom with extravagant double-pink flowers, transforming into a breathtaking canopy of vibrant beauty.

Their delicate, sweet scent is just as enchanting, making these trees a cherished choice for anyone who loves to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-25 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: Pink

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills or My Perfect Plants

15. Linden Tree – Tilia americana

American linden trees are a lovely pick for anyone wishing to blend the cool comfort of shade with the sweet pleasure of fragrance in their garden.

As the warmth of early summer unfolds, they offer clusters of tiny, yellowish blooms that share a honey-sweet scent, drawing in bees and perfuming the air.

These graceful trees not only gift us with a leafy refuge but also enchant our senses, making them a cherished presence in any garden.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
  • Average Size at Maturity: 75-90 ft tall, 40-45 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Summer
  • Flower Colors: White – Pale Yellow

Available at:

Nature Hills or Starkbro’s

16. Magnolia’s – Magnolia

Magnolia trees are an excellent choice for anyone looking to infuse their garden with both stunning beauty and a heavenly fragrance.

With their grand flowers, blooming in hues from snowy white to rich pink, they release a sweet, lemony perfume that enchants the air in spring and summer.

Their lush, green leaves add to their charm, making Magnolias a captivating centerpiece for any garden, delighting the senses with their visual splendor and delightful scent.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 4-10 depending on variety
  • Average Size at Maturity: 10-50 ft tall, 7-30 ft wide depending on variety
  • Flowering Season: Spring – Summer
  • Flower Colors: White, Pink, Yellow

Compare Prices:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills, My Perfect Plants or Starkbro’s

17. Mimosa – Albizia julibrissin

The Mimosa, or Silk tree, is a delightful choice for those wanting to bring a bit of exotic charm and a sweet fragrance to their garden.

Its soft, pink, feathery flowers bloom in summer, creating a beautiful spectacle and emitting a gentle, inviting scent that draws in hummingbirds and butterflies.

With its graceful, fern-like leaves offering dappled shade, this tree adds both beauty and a sense of tranquility, making it a lovely and aromatic addition to any outdoor space.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-10
  • Average Size at Maturity: 10-15 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Late Spring – Early Summer
  • Flower Colors: Pink

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills or Starkbro’s

18. Okame Cherry – Prunus ‘Okame’

Okame cherry trees are a wonderful selection for those who cherish the early signs of spring, offering a burst of pink blossoms that fill the garden with a soft, sweet scent.

Their vibrant display of color and gentle fragrance makes them a joyous herald of the new season.

Known for their early flowering and hardiness, these trees are a resilient and beautiful addition, perfect for welcoming spring’s first blush.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-30 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: Pink

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills or My Perfect Plants

19. Citrus Trees – Citrus spp.

Citrus trees, and orange trees in particular are a marvelous pick for adding a burst of sweet fragrance and lively color to your garden.

The enchanting scent of orange blossoms in the spring air brings a sense of joy and rejuvenation.

Plus, the pleasure of picking your own sun-kissed oranges offers a charming and tasty reward, blending the delights of gardening with the joys of fresh, homegrown produce.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 8-11
  • Average Size at Maturity: 5-30 ft tall, 5-25 ft wide depending on variety
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: White

Available at:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills or Starkbro’s

20. Purple Leaf Sandcherry – Prunus × cistena

Purple Leaf Sandcherry trees are a splendid choice for anyone looking to enrich their garden with a touch of drama and a hint of fragrance.

The deep purple leaves create a stunning scene, and come spring, they’re complemented by delicate, sweet-smelling pink flowers.

This beautiful blend of color and scent makes the Purple Leaf Sandcherry a distinctive and appealing feature, offering charm and delight through multiple seasons.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
  • Average Size at Maturity: 6-8 ft tall, 6-8 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: White & Pink

Available at:

Nature Hills

21. Strawberry Tree – Arbutus unedo

Strawberry trees are a lovely option for anyone who enjoys a garden that’s both beautiful and fragrant all year long.

In autumn, their delicate, bell-shaped flowers bloom, releasing a gentle, honey-sweet scent, while the charming, strawberry-like fruits also make their appearance.

This evergreen tree, with its eye-catching bark and green leaves, adds a layer of beauty and a touch of sweetness to the garden, making it a delightful and multifaceted choice.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7-10
  • Average Size at Maturity: 6-15 ft tall, 6-15 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Fall
  • Flower Colors: White, Pink

Compare Prices:

Fast-Growing-Trees or Nature Hills

22. Yoshino Cherry – Prunus × yedoensis

Yoshino cherry trees are a wonderful selection for adding a sweep of elegance and a whisper of fragrance to your garden.

As spring arrives, they burst into clouds of white and pale pink flowers, filling the air with a delicate, welcoming aroma.

Their graceful beauty and the fleeting charm of their blossoms make them a cherished highlight in any outdoor space, beloved for the serene atmosphere they create.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-40 ft tall, 15-35 ft wide
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Flower Colors: White, Pink

Compare Prices:

Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills or My Perfect Plants

Which one of these beautifully scented trees is your favorite?

Let us know in the comments below!

Want More?

Had your fix of sweet smelling trees and ready to move on to be wowed with some of the most stunning purple, pink, white, red, blue, orange and yellow flowering trees?

Photo of author

Fern Berg - Founder

Expert Gardener & Horticulturist in Training

Fern is an IARC certified horticulturist and has planted and currently cares for over 100 different native and exotic fruit, nut, and ornamental trees. She also cultivates an extensive vegetable garden, several flower gardens and cares for an ever-growing happy family of indoor plants. Fern has a special interest in biodynamic farming, food production and closed loop agriculture. Fern founded Tree Vitalize to help guide others with an interest in tree planting, identification and care.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.