Perfumed Aussie Native Garden Plants

There is a strong belief among many people, that Australian natives are nice, but do not smell. walk through the bush will dispel that rumor easy.

the smell of crushed leaves and scented blossoms can be almost overwhelming at times. But many of the natives have a subtle fragrance, you must be close to them at the correct time to appreciate the taste and smell.

Smell of the plants are often produced at different times of day or night. The perfumed flowers include many native Grevilleas (some like biternata G. buxifolia and GG have a strong honey perfume like others like this G. buxifolia have a light scented perfume), Boronias (eg B. floribunda, B. and B. serrulata megastigma) Sowerbaeas (Vanilla Lilies), Xanthoreas (Grass trees), Banksias, Eleaocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash), which has a strong scent of aniseed over, Hakeas, Pittosporum undulatum (Native Daphne) - this type of perfume can become overwhelming in the evening -, Leptospermum species (eg . flavescens L.), Homoranthus species (which has the smell of baked cookies) and Hymenosporum flavum (Native Frangipani). Many of the white flowering eucalypts, Melaleuca and Callistemon species have a strong aroma.

There are a number of especially fragrant orchid Dendrobium species: these tend to be strongest from early morning until early afternoon. While some of the Cymbidium species, such as C. bland have a good fragrance during the middle of the day). Sarcochilus species have what is best described as a spicy aroma.

The fragrance is released some plant leaves is not visible until it is disturbed, crushed or brushed against. This includes Backhousia citriodora (Lemon myrtle), which is probably the best of all native lemon scent and is also used commercially as an ingredient for cooking, and leaves B. anisata is really smelling like anise, Eremophilas, Eriostemon species Prosantheras,

Leptospermum Peterson (lemon-scented tea tree - is also good as a hedging plant) Darwinia citriodora (a light lemon scent) and some Melaleucas (Paperbarks) also smell.

Of course, you can not forget the eucalypt family with its familiar smell of eucalyptus, which is redolent of our bushland. But now many other countries grow vast plantations of them for timber, firewood and revegetation programs on every continent bar Antartica. One species, E. citriodora gives off a strong lemon-come-eucalypt scent while agonis flexuosa has a combination of eucalyptus and peppermint scent.

Calomeria elegans is used as a substitute for lavender. Some species Boronias also strongly scented leaves.

And do not forget the grass-type plants, lomandra and Grass trees, both of which give a nice smell as sweet as honey when in flower.

So why not think about using some fragrant plants in your garden. Not only will you get the benefit of your support of the local community. But you may also receive other benefits, such as attracting birds, butterflies and other wildlife in your garden.