A garden should be a place to relax and unwind, and the best way to harness the de-stressing power of your outdoor space is to incorporate the best aromatic plants for a relaxing garden into your planting scheme.
Fragrance has many health benefits, so creating a fragrant garden is more beneficial than making your garden smell good. Well-being garden ideas and sensory garden ideas include smell because it affects our mood and physiology, especially in relieving stress.
According to a 2005 paper by Stephen Warrenburg of the University of Oxford, scents can help reduce stress and improve mood. For example, lavender has been shown in research to reduce levels of the hormone cortisol, which is released in the body during times of stress.
A garden should be a place to relax and unwind, and the best way to harness the de-stressing power of your outdoor space is to incorporate the best aromatic plants for a soothing garden into your planting scheme.
Fragrance has many health benefits, so creating a fragrant garden is more beneficial than making your garden smell good. Well-being garden ideas and sensory garden ideas include smell because it affects our mood and physiology, especially in relieving stress.
According to a 2005 paper by Stephen Warrenburg of the University of Oxford, scents can help reduce stress and improve mood. For example, lavender has been shown in research to reduce the levels of cortisol released in the body during times of stress.
The best aromatic plants for the garden
“Designing a relaxing garden means using low-maintenance plants that work hard in your garden, without tempting you to do any work,” says Penelope Smith, Wilton London Botanic Garden is the RHS garden designer of the year. Chelsea Flower Show.
We’ve got advice from Penelope, over 30 RHS Medal winners and culinary and medicinal herb garden designer and plant grower John Cullen on plants that don’t just smell good, they’re also easy to care for. for your relaxing garden ideas.
1. yrongul
“My very hardy geraniums make a great ground cover to suppress weeds and repeat color all summer long. Vibrant geranium ‘Azure Rush’ with beautiful, vibrant lavender flowers,” – recommends Penelope Hill Smith.
There are also some studies linking the aroma of geranium to stress reduction and relaxation. In clinical studies, inhaling geranium essential oil was found to have a calming effect on women in labour. So, it is fair to say that it should be an aromatic plant to relieve stress.
Where to buy geraniums online:
Suttons: For geranium ‘Azure Rush’
2. lavender
As mentioned above, lavender is a very soothing scent, but it is also easy to grow in borders or pots along with garden path ideas.
“Planting a taller Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ or Lavandula × intermedia ‘Grosso’ not only provides lots of scent and visual appeal, but also attracts pollinators, which are great to see and hear,” explains Penelope.
“Lavender can be used to great effect as a low-growing hedge along paths,” he adds. “It blends well with roadside herbs such as thyme or oregano, and the self-seeding Mexican louse, Erigeron karvinskianus, softens roadsides and ties the planting scheme together.”
Where to buy lavender online:
Saffron: For Lavandula angustifolia Munstead
Gardening Express – for different types of lavender plants
3. Pelargonium
Pelagoria is one of those fragrant flowers that looks like it smells. “A fragrant pelargonium ointment in a vase on a table in a sunny garden is a beautiful plant to look at and smell. Rub the leaves between your fingers and the soothing aroma is released instantly,” says Penelope.
Pelargonium is best for a south or west facing, full sun or full sun garden. Attar pelargonium roses are planted in well-drained soil, just watch for loose flowers.
Where to buy pelargonium online:
Sarah Raven: Pelargonium for ‘Attar of Roses’
Crocus: for various pelargonium and “Mini scented Rose”.
4. Daphne
Daphne with pink flowers
According to John Cullen, Daphne is an essential aromatic plant for the bare garden. “It’s a beautiful evergreen shrub that blooms in early spring and fills the garden with the scent of sweet spices,” he says.
Penelope agrees that this is a great fragrant plant because it requires little maintenance and is easy to care for. “Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ is an evergreen shrub with beautiful glossy foliage, but its real highlight is the fragrant white and pink flowers that appear in late winter and last until spring,” he explains.
“It requires almost no maintenance, and although it grows slowly, it will reward you for years as it produces more fragrant flowers. To inhale the sweet scent as you pass, o sing.
Where to buy Daph online:
Waitrose: Daphne Bholua for ‘Jaqueline Postill’
Crocus: For a line of fragrant Daphne
5. Rosemary
a jar of rosemary
Herb garden ideas are perfect for an aromatic garden, and growing rosemary is John Cullen’s top choice if you’re looking for an easy and relaxing way to grow aromatic plants.
Rosemary is a great plant for beginners. They don’t like to be petted too much and are drought tolerant. Just make sure they are planted with plenty of drainage; If you are using a container, then use a low-nutrient soil mix like all slow-growing grasses, unless you are using a 60% sand and 40% potting and all-purpose soil mix.
In addition to lavender, rosemary has been found in research to help reduce anxiety.
Where to buy rosemary online:
Waitrose – for various rosemary plants
John Cullen Gardens – for a variety of flowering rosemary
6. jasmine
Jasmine plant with white flowers.
Nothing beats the calming effects of jasmine. “There are many different varieties, from evergreen to deciduous and the flower colors are yellow, white and pink,” says John Cullen.
Studies have shown that the smell of jasmine can help you feel more positive and energetic. So, if you’re looking for a space to help lift your mood, consider climbing jasmine plants to cover your walls or walls.
Where to buy jasmine online:
Primrose: fragrant jasmine for climbing plants.
What is the most relaxing plant?
Overall, lavender is perhaps the most relaxing herb. Many research on fragrance have revealed that lavender decreases cortisol levels. In one research of 60 patients in critical care, breathing lavender essential oil improved sleep quality and lowered anxiety levels.
However, the answer is subjective, since it all relies on your smell preferences. For example, if you despise the perfume of lavender, no amount of scientific study can make you feel any better.
So, while deciding which plants to add to your tranquil place, concentrate on aromas you like. It’s all about finding the ones that work for you.