Aromatic plants of the house
With two large dogs in the house, I am always looking for ways to keep the air nice and fresh in the house. I love scent oils burned in lamps, but oil is not cheap! I also spray the filter in the vacuum cleaner with a fragrant oil, but the scent only lingers for a short time after I finish vacuuming.
Scented house plants offer a continuous scent and is the natural (and by far my favorite) way to keep your home fresh. All tastes are different. I prefer a spicy, woody, or musky scent, while others are drawn to sweeter, floral scents.
Below is a list of fragrant houseplants. Try some at home and in the office! To help you find your favorite, as long as you have included information that describes the possible fragrance:
Aglaia odorata (Chinese perfume plant) – In dwarf form, it is an easy shrub to grow that produces fragrant yellow flowers, as small as a grain of rice, with a very strong perfume. The fragrance is exceptional!
Allamanda cathartica (golden trumpet vine) – In Surinamese traditional medicine, the roots are used against jaundice, complications of malaria and an enlarged spleen. The flowers act as a laxative. The yellow allamanda also has an antibiotic action against Staphylococcus.
Alpinia (Ginger) – Its thick and fragrant rootstocks resemble the scent of ginger.
Araujia sericofera (Cruel plant) – Fragrant white flowers in summer and fall in clusters 2-4 inches long. This vine is also called “Cruel Plant” as it attracts and traps moths on flowers at night, then releases them when the flower opens in the morning.
Begonias – Some of the hybrids are slightly fragrant – ‘Honeysuckle’, ‘Jim Wyrtzen,’ Lenore Olivier, ‘Tea Rose, are at least two species. Solananthera and venosa, have a stronger aroma.
Bouvardia ternifolia (Jasmine Plant, Scarlet Trumpetilla) – Ideal for a sunny windowsill. Intense jasmine fragrance and long tubular white flowers at night evoke intoxicating evening pleasure. A sun-loving Mexican plant that blooms intermittently throughout the year.
Brugmansias (Angel Trumpets) – Most brugmansias are fragrant except for sanguinea and some of its hybrids.
Brunfelsias (yesterday, today and tomorrow) – Lovely fragrance and smaller flowers that start in dark purple and turn to a paler light blue.
Buddleja (butterfly bush) – They have honey-scented flowers and bloom in winter indoors.
Bursera – Bursera is a small American genus related to frankincense and myrrh. Its wood is very fragrant and, on occasions, the natives collect its sap.
Carissa macrocarpa (Natal Plum) – white, fragrant flowers, scarlet fruits
Cassia didimobotrya – The leaves smell like buttered popcorn! Many types of these plants produce leather tanning agents, cough medications, and tobacco flavorings. Senna is also produced, it is a laxative obtained from the foliage and pods of several varieties.
Cedronella canariensis (false balm of Gilead) – The aromatic leaves are dried for use in potpourri with a musky woody scent.
Coffea arabica (coffee) – Coffees are beautiful foliage plants that produce fragrant white flowers and are especially decorative when they bear their red berries, which resemble blueberries.
Coleonema pulchra (Heaven’s breath) – While the flowers are unscented, the small narrow linear leaves are pleasantly aromatic when crushed or brushed.
Chaplet valentina – This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. It has flowery leaves and a profusion of yellow flowers that smell like peaches.
Cryptocereus anthonyanus (Rick-Rack cactus) – This is a night bloomer and its flowers last only one night. It is common for some specimens to rarely or never flower, but when they do, they produce many white, pink, and garnet flowers with thin, star-shaped petals. The flowers begin to open just after dark, releasing a pleasant fragrance intended to attract nocturnal pollinators.
Heliotropium arborescens (cherry pie) – They produce very pretty and wonderfully fragrant flowers that smell like cherry pie! The flowers are grouped up to 8 inches wide. They can be a deep violet blue to violet, lavender, or almost white.
Jasmine – Jasmine essential oil has a sweet, exotic and rich floral aroma and the oil is deep orange-brown in color. The aroma of the small white star-shaped flower is more intense at night.
Michelia (banana bush) – It is covered with small, bright green leaves and has clusters of large, white flowers, sometimes with purple stripes, with a powerful and sweet banana aroma.
Pandanus odoratissimus (screw pine) – They do not produce flowers when they are small, but are often grown for their ornamental foliage. They are easy to grow and are pretty houseplants. The fibers of various types of Pandanus are used to make ropes, baskets, fans, etc., and the natives use the fruits for food.
Passiflora (incense) – is a deciduous plant with fragrant, purple-mauve, lacy-shaped flowers that are nearly 5 inches across. The outer ring of the “Flower of the Passion” consists of 10 tepals, said to represent the ten apostles who witnessed the crucifixion of Christ. Within this circle of petals there is a ring of filaments, which alludes to the crown of thorns. In the center, there are five stamens representing His wounds and three stigmata representing the nails. The leaves and whip-shaped tendrils represent the hands and lashes of the persecutors of Christ.
Pelargoniums (scented geraniums) – The foliage is varied and very attractive and when crushed it gives off a strong and aromatic smell reminiscent of rose, cinnamon, mint, lemon, coconut and others. The fresh leaves can be used in baking to add flavor to fruit cups, or in drinks or finger bowls to add an interesting aroma. The dried leaves are used in teas, herbal teas, potpourri and sachets. Those commonly grown are somewhat woody perennials with round leaves on short stems and bright flowers in large clusters produced on the upper parts of the stem. Other species are annual or can have a surprising succulent shape.
Pereskia aculeata (lemon vine) – Climbing cactus with lemon-scented flowers. The fruits that are formed are edible.
Plectranthus (spur flower) – The fragrance of plectranthus is especially remarkable. Most types have a warm, sweet fragrance. Cuban oregano is reminiscent of oregano or thyme. The strongest aroma comes from the Vicks plant. Some herbalists use its leaves as an aromatherapy for colds and congestion.
Pogostemon hyeanus (patchouli) – This fragrant herb, with smooth, opposite, egg-shaped leaves and square stems, grows 2 to 3 feet tall, giving the peculiar and characteristic smell of patchouli when rubbed.
Psidium (Guava) – most varieties have scented white flowers, lightly scented leaves and edible fruits.
Quisqualis indica (Rangoon Creeper) – This plant blooms throughout the summer with fragrant flowers that open white, darken to pink, and eventually turn red.
Reseda odorata (Mignonette) – This perennial is generally treated as an annual and is grown from seed each spring. It is grown primarily for the lovely scent of its flowers, which grow in thick clusters up to 2 inches wide. The tiny flowers can be greenish-white with yellow or orange reflections. The elliptical to spatulate leaves grow 2 to 3 inches long.
Sinningia tub flora (Gloxinia) – Florist’s Gloxinia has been created to emphasize the large flared blooms that now come in most colors, whether they are plain, spotted, or with pillory edges. The leaves are in a rosette that provides a backdrop to the spectacular flowers.
Stephanotis floribunda (Madagascar Jessamine) – Slender, twisted vine, easy to control. Clusters of white, waxy, clustered flowers are highly fragrant from spring to fall, and are commonly used in bridal bouquets, known as “Bridal Veil Vine.”
Tecoma stans (yellow bells) – Shrubby types are easiest to form into a medium-sized shrub that produces yellow flower sprays two to three times a year.
Tillandsia (Air Plants) – Some air plants have scented flowers: crocata, duratii, straminea
Trachelospermum (Confederate Jessamine) – Strong and wiry climber with clusters of strongly fragrant star-shaped flowers. The leaves are glossy, dark green or variegated.
Verbena – Upright or trailing plants with widely divided leaves. Flowers in clusters of many flowers.
Viola odorata (sweet violet) – The heart-shaped leaves a few inches (5 cm) long almost hide the violet flowers that are about an inch (2.5 cm) wide.
Zingier (culinary ginger) – Some species have scented leaves and rhizomes.
