Another sense-stimulating garden design aspect is the use of scented plants. Look at the varieties of heliotrope available commercially today. Many have no fragrance at all when compared with the heliotrope of years past. I created a scented garden several years ago when my father lost his sight. In the process, I did some research on scent that I would like to share with you now as well as provide you with a list of scented plants that grow well in Wisconsin.
Scent can originate from several plant parts but is often associated with the flowers.
However, to truly appreciate aromatic plants, don t limit your selection to flowers alone. I m sure you ve smelled the musky fragrance of boxwood on a warm, sunny day. Similarly, herbs such as rosemary and thyme produce a wonderful fragrance when the leaves are crushed. Some plants release their odor when touched, while others release theirs into the breeze. Scent in plants is thought to have evolved from waste products produced by the plants through normal metabolic processes.