Flower Boxes: Creating a Fragrant Oasis in Outdoor Spaces

Flower boxes let you create rich, colorful displays on patios, decks, and porches. But why not delight your senses with fragrant flowers, adding a welcoming scent to your outdoor spaces? You'll create a visually appealing display with an equally appealing perfume—the best of both worlds.

Adding a few flower boxes can quickly transform your patio or entryway into a haven of beauty and aroma.

The Beauty of Flower Boxes

Flower boxes are a fantastic way to bring nature closer to home. You can accomplish that even if you live in a city apartment or have limited outdoor space.

Place a few flower boxes on your patio near your seating areas. You'll catch their sweet fragrance anytime you brush by your plants or whenever a breeze drifts by, carrying the delightful scent.

If you have a deck, you can add to your aromatic oasis by adding a railing planter or two. Over-the-railing planters, like those from Root & Vessel, make installation a breeze. And speaking of the breeze, you'll catch floral scents whenever it passes by.

You can even add flower window boxes outside your home. That way, whenever you open your window, you'll smell the calming scent of lavender or the spell-binding aroma of jasmine.

Flower boxes aren't limited to flowers. You can also take advantage of herbs with their varied smells—plant mint, rosemary, basil, thyme, sage, or scented geraniums. You'll enjoy the pleasure of their scent and add a flavor to your cooking.

Flower Boxes are Easy to Use

Flower boxes come in all sizes, typically 12 to 36 inches. So, depending on your space, you can create smaller or larger displays. The larger the display, the more readily you'll smell the sweet success of your planting.

These planters have other features that make them a popular choice among gardening enthusiasts:

• Space-Saving: They use less ground space than traditional garden beds, allowing you to fit more plants in a smaller area.
• Easy Care: Flower boxes are more straightforward to manage than regular gardens. You won't have to worry as much about weeding or dealing with pests.
• Portable: You can move them around based on the season or mood, taking your favorite plants inside during colder months. You can also adjust to sunlight conditions to keep your plants healthier.
• Stylish: They come in various shapes and sizes, letting you match your decor style perfectly.

7 Fragrant Plants for Your Planters

Let's explore some of the most fragrant plants you can grow in flower boxes or railing planters. Each has charm and scent, making your outdoor space beautiful and inviting.

Lavender

Lavender is a bushy, strong-scented perennial common in the Mediterranean. Its foliage is gray-green, with purple spiked flowers. You can select from numerous varieties, including Hidcote, French, Munstead, and Phenomenal. Most perform well in zones 5-9.

Lavender, known for its calming scent, is great for meditation spots or simply enjoying a quiet moment outdoors.

How to Grow: Lavender needs at least 6 hours of sun and well-draining soil. So, ensure your flower box has drainage holes in the bottom of the planter. Water the plant moderately and prune regularly.

Heliotropes

Heliotropes are annual or tender perennials with purple, blue, or white flower clusters. They're best suited for zones 9 and 10.

It has a vanilla-almond fragrance, adding a sweet note to your garden.

How to Grow: Heliotropes prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Prune regularly for bushier growth.

Gardenia

This small shrub is famous for its highly fragrant white flowers. Gardenias are a Southern favorite, grown in South Carolina since the 18th Century.

Gardenias are prolific bloomers, offering a robust and sweet fragrance, especially in the evening. This makes them perfect for evening walks or dinners outside. So, place your flower boxes in areas where you're sure to capture their scent.

How to Grow: It thrives from partial to full shade and requires consistent moisture. Avoid overwatering and fertilize monthly. Although Gardenias thrive in higher zones, Frost Proof Gardenias perform in zones 7-10.

Jasmine

Known for its heady, intoxicating fragrance, jasmine adds a romantic touch to any garden. In late spring, white, pinwheel-shaped flowers appear. The plant's glossy and textured leaves add to its impact.

Its scent is particularly noticeable at night, making it ideal for moon gardens or evening gatherings.

How to Grow: Jasmine prefers full sun, but some varieties tolerate shade. You can grow it in moist but well-drained soil. For best results, train it on a trellis or wall.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths are a favorite in spring. It comes in a wide range of colors and fragrances. They're perfect for adding a pop of color and scent to flower boxes or railing planters, bringing a bit of spring indoors.

How to Grow: Plant bulbs in the fall and place them in a sunny spot. Water regularly until growth appears, then reduce watering.

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet Alyssum is a perfect addition to flower boxes. Its small, four-petaled flowers grow in dense clusters and are typically white but can also be pink, purple, or lavender.

One of Sweet Alyssum's most endearing qualities is its sweet, honey-like fragrance, which is most noticeable in the evening and early morning. The easy-care plant is a perfect addition near patios or entryways where people can enjoy its perfume.

How to Grow: Sweet Alyssum thrives in full sun to partial shade. It needs at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily to produce abundant blooms. You can grow the plant annually in zones 5-8.

Nicotiana

Nicotiana produces 2-inch, eye-catching flowers that bloom until frost. Flowers are white, pink, red, purple, and lime green.

The fragrance is particularly intoxicating at night. Some plants have a fresh jasmine-scented perfume.

How to Grow: Nicotiana, or flowering tobacco, is hardy to zones 9 or 10. It performs well in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.

Caring for Your Flower Box Plants

Growing fragrant plants in flower boxes and railing planters is straightforward, but there are a few tips to keep them thriving:

• Light: Most plants prefer full sun, but check each plant's needs. Some, like gardenias, do well in part shade.
• Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix. Adding organic matter can help retain nutrients and improve drainage.
• Watering: You should always water deeply but infrequently. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings. You can avoid watering concerns with self-watering planters. The planter includes a reservoir at its bottom that stores water. It then gradually releases the water to the plant's roots through a wicking system.
• Fertilization: During the growing season, feed your plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
• Pruning: Trim back plants to control size, encourage branching, and increase the number of flowers produced.

Find Decorative Planters at Root & Vessel

A patio with the scent of lavender, heliotropes, gardenias, and other fragrant plants makes the outdoors even more delightful. Root & Vessel has self-watering flower boxes and other decorative planters to help you capture those sweet smells.

Best of all, the planters come with a one-year guarantee. If you aren't happy with a pre-paid label, you can return them within 60 days.