10 best scented flowers to plant now for a fragrant garden that pollinators will love

Summer is coming to a close, but the evenings are still warm and perfect for sitting out. If you want to enjoy your garden even more over the balmy summer nights, there are some steps you can take. There are several flowering plants which release their perfume in the evening, making your garden smell amazing.

Gardening expert Harry Bodell at PriceYourJob.co.uk has shared 10 of the top plants for a beautiful evening garden fragrance.

1. Honeysuckle

These beautiful climbing flowers are famous for their sweet perfume.

They can be evergreen or deciduous, and most species have two-lipped flowers filled with nectar. They can be trained to climb walls, fences or trellises and are often used in perfume and candles. They smell like jasmine and vanilla and are hugely popular with pollinators and people.

2. Angel's Trumpet

These large flowers come in shades of white, pink, yellow, orange, red and green.

Most varieties of these evergreen plants have a strong, pleasing fragrance that is most noticeable in the evening.

The fragrant flowers of the Angel's Trumpet are perfect for attracting pollinators such as moths whilst providing a beautiful scent to help you relax on a warm summer's evening. Just take care if you have pets or small children, as these plants are very poisonous if ingested

3. Evening Primrose

It's all in the name-evening primrose is famous for its nighttime blooms and striking yellow flowers. This plant is native to eastern and central North America but grows well worldwide. It has many medicinal and edible uses and smells like sweet honey, which pollinators love.

4. Wisteria

Wisteria is a very popular flowering vine in the UK that climbs over homes and trellises.

This plant's flowers are highly fragrant and come in various colours, including purple, pink, white, and lilac. They attract pollinators.

Many Wisterias are scented, but Wisteria Floribunda typically has the strongest scent at night. When grown over a pergola or against a house wall, it can form a beautiful display, allowing the scent to drift into your home through open windows. Different types of Wisteria have different scents, but typically, they are sweet or musky.

5. Night Phlox

This compact evergreen plant is covered in beautiful, scented white flowers over summer. Due to its small size, it is perfect for window boxes, flower beds, and baskets.

During the daytime, the flowers remain tightly curled up in buds, but at night, they open up into a stunning star-shaped white display. As they open up, these flowers produce a sweet almond-vanilla scent that is sure to be a hit.

6. Tobacco Plant

Nicotiana Sylvestris is a tall tobacco plant which bears elegant, long, white flowers with an intense fragrance, particularly during the evening. It typically grows to a height of 1.5 metres and features large, sticky leaves that can reach up to 30cm in length.

Contrary to its namesake, the tubular white flowers that bloom in clusters emit a pleasant fragrance that attracts pollinators. When they open up during the evening and night, they release an incense-type scent, making them a wonderful addition to any garden.

7. Regal Lily

This perennial bulb in the Lily family is native to southwestern China. Regal lilies can grow up to two metres high and tolerate most soil conditions. Their flowers are gorgeous, white, and blush pink in midsummer, and they are easy to grow. Just be careful if you have pets, as Regal Lilies are toxic to cats.

8. Dianthus

Dianthus are characterised by their distinctive fragrance and attractive starry flower blooms. Their spicy, clove-like scent is most potent in the evenings. Dianthus should be positioned in full sun and planted in well-drained soil, and you should aim to cut it back in the autumn to encourage optimal growth.

9. Star Jasmine

Also known as Trachelospermum Jasminoides, the Star Jasmine produces pretty, white, fragrant flowers from mid to late summer. It is an evergreen climber which is borderline-hardy and best grown against a wall in mild areas. It will need shelter from cold winds, well-drained soil, and full sun or partial shade throughout the day.

During blooming season, the plant produces masses of scented, star-like, small flowers, the fragrance emitted from them being most prominent in the evening.

10. Gardenia

These plants are known for their wonderful scent, lush evergreen foliage, and large, fragrant white or ivory flowers, making them a popular choice of ornamental shrub.

This plant is perfect for your garden if you love a fruity, floral scent and is also guaranteed to be a hit with night pollinators. The scent of Gardenia becomes more pronounced at night, making it particularly inviting after the sun has set and creating a calming atmosphere in the garden.