There’s nothing quite like stepping into your backyard and being greeted by the sweet fragrance of flowering trees.
After years of transforming my plain yard into a fragrant oasis, I’ve discovered the perfect mix of trees that bring both beauty and wonderful scents throughout the season.
6 Fragrant Trees to Beautify Your Yard
1. American Wisteria
I fell in love with wisteria when I first saw it cascading over my neighbor’s pergola. While the Asian varieties are tempting, I learned the hard way to stick with our native American wisteria.
This beauty can climb up to 40 feet, but don’t let that scare you. With some simple training, you can shape it into a gorgeous tree form.
I’ve found it thrives best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and it handles our humid summers like a champ. For those wondering, it grows happily in USDA zones 5-9.
2. Golden Chain Tree
Talk about a show-stopper! The golden chain tree puts on one of the most spectacular displays in my garden.
Those cascading golden flowers smell absolutely divine, though I have to warn you – it’s a brief romance. Once the blooms fade, the tree becomes more of a green backdrop.
Mine does best in rich, well-drained soil in zones 5-7, and I’ve learned to plant other late-bloomers nearby to keep the garden interesting after its show ends.
3. Crab Apple Tree
If you’re looking for versatility, crab apple trees are your answer. These hardy trees come in all sorts of sizes, from cute 7-footers to majestic 20-foot specimens.
The spring display is absolutely magical – for about 10 days, my crab apple becomes a cloud of sweet-smelling blossoms. Some folks worry about the mess from fallen fruit, but there are fruitless varieties available.
I actually enjoy having the fruit – my family’s annual crab apple jelly-making tradition has become something we all look forward to.
4. Silk Tree
My silk tree is what I call my “conversation starter.” Its exotic-looking pink flowers and feathery leaves always draw attention from visitors.
Growing between 20-40 feet tall, it blooms later than most flowering trees, giving me gorgeous blooms in June and July when other trees have finished their show.
Fair warning though – this beauty needs regular pruning to keep it in check. I spend quite a bit of time managing its spreading habit, but the fragrant flowers make it worth the effort.
5. Crepe Myrtle
Looking for late-season fragrance? The Japanese crepe myrtle is your answer. Mine brings lovely scents to the garden just when everything else is winding down.
These versatile trees can grow anywhere from 8 to 40 feet tall, perfect for zones 7-9. What really sold me was its resistance to powdery mildew, which had been a problem with other plants in my yard.
The peeling cinnamon-colored bark adds winter interest when everything else is bare. It’s like getting two shows for the price of one!
6. Cherry Plum
My cherry plum tree is like spring’s early bird, bringing fragrant flowers to my garden in April before most other trees wake up.
Standing at a manageable 25 feet tall, it’s perfect for smaller yards. I’ve removed the lower branches to give it a more tree-like shape, but you can keep it shrubby if that’s more your style.
It’s pretty easy-going as long as you give it well-drained soil, and it’s hardy in zones 5-8.