But what about the extras, those little things that might coax you to stay outside and drink in the starry sky? A glass of wine or cocktail might help you unwind, and a fire pit is nice to gather around for conversation. Candles, lanterns, or soft lighting can create a relaxing atmosphere and allow guests to stay outdoors longer but if you really want to tap into the senses, consider introducing wonderful, heavenly scents into your outdoor space. And not just with candles or incense—you’ll want to go for the real thing. Some plants, especially those that produce flowers, smell stronger and sweeter at night. Planting fragrant bloomers in beds and containers on patios, porches, and near outdoor spaces puts them up close and personal with you and your guests where you can inhale intoxicating aromas that can’t be duplicated.
Why Do Some Plants Smell Stronger at Night?
Flowering plants depend on birds, insects, or the wind to move pollen from one flower to another. While some flowering plants lure pollinators with their colors, others attract them with their scents. Plants that need to be pollinated by night-flying insects and bats smell stronger in the evening, when they are ready for pollination and when their pollinators are most active.
Landscaping Tips
Place near a porch, patio, near outdoor seating, or along a path.Stay away from combining scents that might compete or become overpowering if concentrated in a small area.Plant according to light, water, and soil needs.With research and planning, you can have a sweet-smelling garden or patio all year round by knowing what blooms when and staggering accordingly.Plants that are especially fragrant will do well in areas that receive lots of traffic, like paths, a patio seating area, or near windows.
Here are 16 plants that smell best at night.
H. ‘HCG Champion’H. ‘HCG Josef Lemper’H. ‘Molly’s White’H. ‘Gertrude Jekyll’H. odorous: some are sweet, while others smell “skunky” or have no scent
Bear’s-foot hellebore (H. foetidus) bears clusters of flowers that are light green with purplish-red edges that become foul-smelling (malodorous) if crushed or bruised. This is also known as the stinking hellebore.
