Who is the greatest perfumer in the world? It is Nature, on my honest opinion. For example, rose's scent surpasses any luxury perfume. You can grow green gifts of Nature instead of spraying synthetic home fragrances. Today I'm going to tell you about excellent aromatic indoor plants.
Top 12 fragrant houseplants for your delight
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| A miniature rose |
1. A miniature rose.
Aromatic: flowers.
The Queen of Flowers is possessed a very nice odor, as you know. Roses are garden plants. However we can grow a miniature rose indoor. (I cultivate six roses bush on my windowsill!).
This green queen prefers bright light, regular watering and fertilizing during April to August. In winter the plant resembles a bear. Usually it dens up in cold season. Rose's "den" is a shady cool place. In February/March the bush wakes up. It requires light locus and room temperature. Unfortunately this flower hates heat and dry air. I spray my miniature roses as often as possible.
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| A myrtle... a miracle... |
2. A myrtle (Myrtus communis).
Aromatic: leaves and flowers.
Myrtus communis known as a Common myrtle. But it isn't an ordinary plant. The leaves and the flowers exhale an excellent aroma. Also this green friend cleans air in a room. Myrtle volatile production can kill pathogenic microbes.
An extra necessary condition for myrtle cultivation is a cool temperature in winter. It's 41-44,6 degrees Fahrenheit (5-7 degrees Celsius). If you locate Myrtus communis near a radiator in winter the tree may die because it doesn't bear dry air. Also this plant needs bright light all year round.
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| Sansevieria trifasciata |
3. A Sansevieria (a Snake plant).
Aromatic: flowers.
This widespread houseplant has many names. A Sansevieria is called Devil's tongue, Snake plant, Pike's tail, Saint Gergre's sword, Mother-in-low's tongue, Snake tongue, Bowstring hemp, Leopard lily etc. I like Leopard lily nickname because the succulent has charming fragrant flowers with scent of lily. A Sansevieria blooms at night.
The succulent needs bright diffused light for flowering. This plant is able to grow in the shade but it can't bloom in this case.
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| Hoya carnosa |
4. A Hoya (a Wax plant or a Porcelain flower).
Aromatic: flowers.
Hoya flowers look like baskets. It seems that these baskets contains perfumes. The flowers have a incomparable odor.
A Wax plant is a succulent Liana. It hates draught and overwetting. A Porcelain flower likes bright light, seldom watering and small flowerpots. Also a Hoya prefers a warm shower sometimes. This procedure stimulates a flowering.
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| A miltoniopsis |
5. Orchids.
Aromatic: flowers.
The Orchid Family includes many scented "green members". There are a Vanilla orchid, a Miltonia, a Miltoniopsis, a Dendrobium, a Coelogyne, a Cattleya, a Cymbidium, a Neofinetia (a Fuukiran), some of Phalaenopsis sorts etc.
What is the orchid scent? It is not a simple question. I have smelled orchid flowers with aroma of vanilla, candy, lily of the valley, wild flowers, citrus and even pepper.
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| Plectranthus fruticans |
6. Plectranthus fruticans.
Aromatic: leaves.
If you touch this charming plant you can feel a magnetic smell of mint. Plectranthus fruticans has light green leaves with a perceptible nice fragrance. They say that moth is afraid of this scent. Therefore Plectranthus fruticans can save your wool carpets and plaids.
The green friend will be grateful for bright light in winter. But a plectranthus prefers shading in summer.
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| Pelargonium graveolens |
7. A Scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens).
Aromatic: leaves.
Of course, you know this widespread grapeleaf plant. There are many Pelargonium graveolens varieties. We can buy Scented geraniums with smells of lemon, rose, apricot and even Cola.
The green friend bears dry air and the shade. Pelargonium graveolens care is not a big deal. This fragrant plant can grow indoor and outdoor as well. However the green person doesn't stand frost.
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| Murraya paniculata |
8. Murraya paniculata (Orange Jessamine).
Aromatic: flowers.
One small flower of this effective tree is able to suffuse with fragrance a big room. The houseplant also known as Orange Jessamine, Japanese emperor tree. It is a fruit plant.
The tree needs good light and room temperature all year round. If you follow the blog you know that I dedicated one of my posts to Murraya paniculata care.
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| Stephanotis floribunda |
9. A Madagascar jasmine, a Hawaiian wedding flower (Stephanotis floribunda).
Aromatic: flowers.
Bloom of this Liana has a perceptible scent of jasmine.
The green person prefers bright diffused light and humid air. In winter you should locate it in a room with temperature 57,2-60,8 degrees Fahrenheit (14-16 degrees Celsius). Winter freshness stimulates Stephanotis floribunda's blooming in summer.
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| Gardenia jasminoides |
10. A gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides).
Aromatic: flowers.
White or yellow gorgeous flowers of this plant look like roses. However a garnenia care is more difficult then a rose care, IMHO. The white princess needs room temperature only. It doesn't stand cool, heat, the shade, dry air and draught. This houseplant enjoys bright light.
Aroma of gardenia is a component of many luxury perfume compounds.
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| Eucalyptus viminalis |
11. An eucalyptus.
Aromatic: leaves.
Some kinds of these trees-giants can grow on our windowsills. As you know, an eucalyptus is a medicinal plant. Also it cleans air in our houses. The scent of eucalyptus has nice balsamic notes.
Usually plant lovers cultivate E. viminalis and E. citriodora at homes. Eucaliptus citriodora is possessed a bright aroma of citrus. As a rule, eucalyptuses doesn't bloom indoor.
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| A citrus |
12. A citrus.
Aromatic: leaves, flowers and fruits.
This tree is a real laboratory of scents. Leaves and flowers of citrus have a wonderful odor. The fruits are fragrant too. In addition, the plant improves air in a room.
A citrus needs pruning for blossoming and fruiting. This charming houseplant prefers bright diffused light.
