Bulbs are the stars of the winter and spring garden. While much else is dormant, you can rely on early flowering daffodils, hyacinths and tulips to add a splash of color. Bulbs, I think, are a quick, easy and affordable way to create spectacular displays.
While we all know that most bulbs produce colorful blooms, perhaps less well-known are the scented species and varieties. As a former professional gardener, I have planted many bulbs in different gardens across the UK, yet I think it is hard to beat some of the best fragrant bulbs listed here. Planted together in a bulb lasagne, who wouldn't swoon over musk-scented hyacinths or sweetly-perfumed Daffodil 'Pipet' during the cold, darker months of the year?
Taking a small amount of time to order, plan and prepare in the fall will ensure that your displays are something special. So, if you are looking for winter and spring bulbs to plant in fall that have an unrivaled fragrance, our expert-approved list has some inspiring and unusual options.
When to plant fragrant bulbs
Knowing when to plant spring bulbs is less important than you might think. While it is generally advised to plant them in the fall (typically from October through until December, depending on your US hardiness zone), some species can be planted much later. I have planted tulip bulbs in January and even as late as February in previous years, although this would not be suitable for early flowering winter bulbs such as daffodils.
While the gardening handbooks will tell you that timely planting achieves the best results, late planting should not damage your bulbs too much, it might just result in a late display. My advice: get your bulbs in the ground when you can, but don't worry if you are a little later than what is advised on the packaging.
1. Narcissus 'Campernelle Double'
For cheerful, colorful bulbs, it is hard to beat growing daffodils. 'One fragrant daffodil species I love is the 'Campernelle Double' variety,' says Vanessa Elms, bulb expert and owner of Old House Gardens.
'With such a heavenly fragrance, these daffodils can perfume your home and garden,' Vanessa continues. 'With even just a few stems in a vase or a pot, you will be sure to smell them when walking nearby.'
Growing best in US hardiness zone 6 to US hardiness zone 8, 'Campernelle Double' should be planted in a 'sunny to lightly shaded site,' Vanessa advises. 'Full sun is best in northern regions, but opt for a partially shaded bed if you garden in the south.'
This variety usually reaches no more than 10 to 15 inches in height, so would be ideal for use in a container display or bulb lasagne. When planting bulbs, I prefer to use a hori hori knife, which can help to make a slight, small gap in the soil to place each bulb. Hori hori knives are available from Amazon.
One common bulb planting mistake is shallow planting, so be sure to get your bulbs as deep as possible. For 'Campernelle Double', aim for twice or three times the depth of the bulb, typically around six to eight inches deep. Many hori hori knives have engraved measurements on the blade, which can prove useful when bulb planting in pots or in the ground.
2. Hyacinths
Hyacinths are some of the most popular spring bulbs, and fortunately, all hyacinth varieties are fragrant. Hardy down to US hardiness zone 4, hyacinths can survive freezing winters to then put on a dazzling spring show, blooming in shades of lilac, white, maroon and peach.
Some of my favorites are the deep, rich purple varieties, that look particularly striking during the early weeks of spring. 'Purple Sensation' hyacinth bulbs are available to order from Walmart.
'Hyacinths can be pretty big bulbs,' says Megan Foster, perennial and bulb expert for American Meadows. 'I always recommend digging deep enough so that the bulb will sit about three times deeper than its own size.' Planting deeply is also a way to stop squirrels from digging up bulbs.
'Hyacinth bulbs will not do well in waterlogged soil,' Megan continues. So, if your backyard is damp and suffers from poor drainage, why not try 'using attractive pots for your bulb displays.'
As Megan suggests, hyacinths are ideal plants if you are looking to create a fragrant bulb lasagne in a pot. Consider combining with early flowering croci and late flowering tulips, such as Tulip 'Creme Upstar' which has beautiful peach blooms and a delicate sweet fragrance.
This bulb planter tool will make easy work of your many hundreds of tulips, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs that need planting in the fall.
3. Narcissus 'Pipit'
For those seeking unusual bulbs, 'Pipit' has a unique color gradation changing from lemon yellow at the outer petals to white in the center. This fragrant daffodil is one of my favorite bulbs to grow in a container, typically reaching 10 to 12 inches in height.
For impact, I recommend filling one, two (or several) pots with 'Pipit' bulbs combined with white hyacinths, ensuring that you have successive blooms in the springtime. Why not position these pots by your front door for a cheerful and perfumed entryway?
Growing best in US hardiness zone 3 to US hardiness zone 9, each flowering stem tends to produce two to three blooms, creating a spectacular fragrant display in mid to late spring.
Narcissus 'Pipit' bulbs are available to order from Amazon.
4. Tulip 'Ballerina'
For late-spring planter ideas, tulips are the obvious choice. With so many tulip types and such an array of colors and shapes, you are sure to find one to suit your needs and preferences.
Tulip 'Ballerina' ticks all the boxes. With slim, elegant orange flowers that have lily-like pointed petals, this variety not only looks the part but also has a wonderful fragrance.
Growing best in US hardiness zones 3 to 8, plant Tulip 'Ballerina' in a full-sun position in your garden borders. I would caution against planting in pots (unless you have large containers) as this variety can reach 12 to 24 inches in height.
Tulip 'Ballerina' bulbs are available to order from Amazon.
5. Paperwhites
If you are looking for winter flowers for scent, paperwhites are a superb pick. Many gardeners use these bulbs indoors for Christmas displays, and positioning one or two pots as part of your winter table decor is certainly a nice touch.
I recommend planting paperwhite bulbs in early October for a dazzling Thanksgiving display, or, for Christmas scent plant in the second or third week of November. Paperwhite bulbs are available to order online from Amazon. Planting them slightly later in December is perfectly fine, it will just mean later blooming in the New Year.
In my experience, paperwhites are best treated as annual bulbs, flowering once and only once. These bulbs are not cold hardy, and so for those us gardeners in cooler regions below US hardiness zone 8, paperwhites must be grown under glass otherwise they will not survive until the following year. These bulbs need hot, dry summers, and so are only really considered perennial in southern regions such as Texas and Arizona.
These pure-white musk-scented flowers are hard to beat. I prefer to grow paperwhites in a small pot, placed on a table as a centerpiece during the festive season.
FAQs
What are the best fragrant bulbs for a small container garden?
All of the above selections can be grown as part of a fragrant pot display on a terrace, patio or balcony. Hyacinths have an unmistakable scent and with such an array of impactful colors, from pink to purple and red to yellow, there is sure to be a variety to suit your tastes. Consider planting hyacinths as part of a bulb lasagne alongside other miniature bulbs, such as scilla, muscari and crocus, which can all be grown in small to medium-sized pots.
Freshly planted bulbs are a tasty snack for mice, squirrels or deer, who are particularly attracted to tasty tulip bulbs. If you do have a pest problem, opt for daffodils and hyacinths, which are generally considered to be one of the best deer-resistant spring bulbs. I would also recommend planting as deep as possible (at least twice the depth of the size of the bulb) to give your spring blooms the best chance against hungry garden visitors.
