These 8 Heaven-Scented Evergreen Plants Add Fresh Fragrance and Beauty to Winter Gardens

Winter can be a tough time for gardeners. Your garden is sleeping, mostly. What about evergreens? If you plan your outdoor space strategically, you can enjoy greenery even in winter. And if your climate is warm enough, you might even get some flowers.

To add another element to the winter garden, consider choosing evergreens with fragrant aromas. From broadleaf evergreens that bloom in winter with sweet-smelling flowers to classic piney foliage on trees and shrubs, give your winter garden a chance to come alive to the senses.

1. Sweet Box (Sarcococca spp.)

Fragrant sarcococca, or sweet box, is a broadleaf evergreen bush native to China and hardy in zones 6 through 9. Sweet box grows up to five feet (1.5 m) tall and wide, but some types are much smaller. An attractive, dense, and rounded shrub, what really makes sweet box special is its creamy white winter flowers. They look pretty against the glossy green leaves and give off a sweet vanilla smell.

2. Winter Daphne (Daphne odora)

Winter daphne goes by several names, including dwarf bay and fragrant daphne. It is a medium to tall evergreen shrub that grows up to six feet (1.8 m) tall and is native to Southeast Asia. You can grow winter daphne in zones 7 through 9 in moist but well-drained soil. You’ll enjoy its spring and winter blooms, which are showy and come in shades of lavender, pink, and white. They are also intensely fragrant, smelling sweet and a little bit like citrus.

3. Winter-Flowering Mahonia (Berberis x hortensis ‘Winter Sun’)

Previously called Mahonia x media, ‘Winter Sun’ has been reclassified, but is the same stunning, winter-blooming evergreen shrub. Winter mahonia is a cross between Asian species and can be grown in zones 6 through 9. In late winter, it erupts with yellow blooms on dramatic, tall flower spikes, making the shrub up to ten feet (3 m) tall. The pretty aroma of the flowers is similar to lily-of-the-valley with a hint of honey and lemon.

4. Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

Several species of juniper have fragrant foliage. There's great variety in this genus, so you can choose among low-lying shrubs, larger bushes, and trees. Most grow well in zones 3 through 9, but check hardiness for specific species before planting. Pfitzer juniper is a low-growing shrub with a good aroma when the foliage is crushed. Blue Pacific grows higher and is ideal for coastal areas and sandy soils. For a fragrant tree, try eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana).

5. Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata)

For fragrant evergreen bushes that do double duty, choose Mexican orange blossom. Native to the southwest and Mexico, it grows between 4 and 8 feet tall (1.2 and 2.4 m) and makes a dense privacy hedge. Appropriate for zones 7 through 10, Mexican orange blossom flowers in winter with sweet-smelling blooms. The leaves also give off a sweet fragrance when crushed.

6. Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)

Japanese skimmia is a small to medium-sized evergreen shrub native to Japan and Taiwan. When crushed, the leaves give off a delightfully spicy aroma. Only the female shrubs bloom (in spring) with a nice fragrance, and to get berries, you’ll need a male and female shrub. Skimmia has a narrow ideal growth range and is appropriate for zones 7 and 8 in the U.S.

7. Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

While most any pine species will give you the classic pine smell, scotch pine (or scots pine) is the best example of the Christmas tree scent. The piney aroma of this species is fresh, crisp, and slightly sweet. Native to northern Europe, scotch pine can grow as tall as 60 feet (18 m), so be sure you have room for it in the garden. You can grow it in zones 2 through 7.

8. True Firs (Abies spp.)

True firs belong to the Abies genus and are native to much of North America. The aroma of true fir foliage is strong and Christmasy, although unique and different from pine. The smell is similar to pine but often with notes of citrus and astringency. If you like the smell of fir, you have several options. Balsam fir is a popular Christmas tree and grows up to 90 feet (27 m) tall. Fraser fir is a little smaller and produces a lot of resin. Concolor fir is a good alternative to blue spruce which, although popular in the landscape, now suffers from many pests.

Fragrant evergreen shrubs and trees like these are great ways to add dimension to the winter garden. Along with green foliage all year, you get sweet, spicy, and crisp aromas from flowers, leaves, and needles.

Tree and Shrub Essentials