Transform your garden into a soothing sanctuary with the Fragrant Flowers collection, a curated mix of native perennial plants chosen for their aromatic qualities, seasonal beauty, and pollinator support. Blending the refreshing scent of mint with the soft sweetness of vanilla, this collection creates a peaceful outdoor environment that also serves as a vibrant habitat for butterflies, bees, and other essential pollinators.
Ideal for part-shade areas with moist, well-drained soil, these plants bloom from spring through fall and help deter mosquitoes naturally with their mint-scented foliage. Whether you’re designing a wildlife-friendly garden, adding texture and scent to your shade border, or simply looking for a low-maintenance planting that brings multiple sensory benefits, the Fragrant Flowers collection offers both functionality and charm.
Included in this collection:
- Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum): Known for its refreshing mint-scented foliage and clusters of white flowers, this plant attracts a wide range of pollinators while helping to reduce mosquito activity in the garden.
- Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum): Tall stems support showy mauve flower heads with a subtle vanilla fragrance. A favorite nectar source for butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects.
- Downy Woodmint (Blephilia ciliata): A compact plant with lavender blooms and aromatic leaves that support pollinators and thrive in part-shade environments.
Key Benefits:
- Fragrant flowers: Features calming mint and vanilla scents that enhance the sensory experience of your garden.
- Pollinator support: Attracts and sustains butterflies, bees, moths, and beneficial insects.
- Natural mosquito deterrent: Mint-scented plants offer a low-impact way to reduce mosquito presence.
- Three-season blooms: Provides continuous floral interest and pollinator activity from spring through fall.
- Low-maintenance: Once established, requires minimal watering and care.
- Deer resistant: Naturally deters deer and remains visually appealing throughout the season.
- Pollinator-safe: Grown non-GMO and free of harmful neonicotinoids, promoting a healthy ecosystem for pollinators and wildlife.
Available in collections of nine, 18, or 27 plants to suit spaces of all sizes.
Planting Tips:
- Location: Choose a part-shade location with moist, well-drained soil.
- Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to help plants establish. Once established, they are drought-tolerant and require little maintenance.
- Maintenance: Minimal care required. There's no need to deadhead the flowers, as allowing them to go to seed provides a valuable food source for birds. Leaving grasses and stems standing in the fall provides shelter for fireflies and overwintering insects. If desired, cut back the stems in late spring after pollinators have emerged.
For more information on planting, view our How to Plant Your Native Plants guide and other planting tips in the Garden for Wildlife Learning Center.
The Fragrant Flowers collection is a thoughtful and sensory-rich way to create a pollinator-friendly garden that balances natural beauty with ecological purpose. Let this collection bring fragrance, wildlife activity, and seasonal color to your landscape.