When I show off plants to people in the nursery, I invite customers to crush and rub certain leaves in their hands and inhale the scent.  The smell of Illicium floridanium, Florida Anise is one of the cleanest smelling plants I know.  The flowers are quite beautiful, but the aroma of the crushed leaves is my favorite.  Recently I was in central Florida and drove through a citrus grove that was in full bloom.  The air was heavy with the sweet smell of orange blossoms and I had to slow down and enjoy the aroma.  At the Purple Martin, we have a customer who is visually impaired and seeks out plants solely by their scent.  Pretty flowers do not always mean pretty smell and many of the modern gardening plants we use today have limited fragrance or none at all.  The Knock Out rose is a good example. On your next visit to the nursery, take the time to stop and smell a variety of plants and shrubs that will add an aromatic dimension to your garden.

Florida Anise, Lemon Eucalyptus, Thyme, Rosemary, Pittosporum, Pineapple Sage, Tea Olive, Citrus, Alyssum, Petunia, Lemon Grass, Fennel .Viburnum, Eleagnus and so many more.