Flora and Fauna: Five Flowers to Include in Your Garden

It’s a fragrant time of year in the South right now. I am constantly stopped in my tracks because of the fragrances knock me off my feet. Between the jasmine and the roses that have been cropping up everywhere, it’s full-on sensory overload here in the South and it’s giving me flashbacks of nostalgic days spent outside until the sun went down growing up in the ‘burbs. If I had the green thumb that my mother does, I would be sure to add these five flowers in my own backyard Southern garden oasis. 

Gardenias 

One of the most essential flowers of the South, these Asian transplants are some of the most recognizable fragrance and are quintessential when capturing the essence of the South. Their fragrances are known to permeate throughout mid to late Spring when the blossoms are fully bloomed and do well with partial sun. Photo via this post here. 

Cape Jasmine 

You might not have heard of Cape Jasmine (or even noticed this evergreen bush turned floral explosion) as their bloom period is very short but their permeating fragrances are none to miss! A relative of a traditional gardenia, these bushes easily grow to 7 feet tall with proper care and produce a sweet, floral scent more potent than other jasmine varieties. This is a good alternative for when you want a jasmine plant but don’t have room for the entire climbing vine.  

Confederate Star Jasmine

Unlike their bushed counterparts above, Confederate Star Jasmine needs someplace to go: up and out preferably! When you can build a trellis for this Southern favorite, it makes a stunning display of green and white that will keep your yard fragranced with the most delicate of scents. Catching a whiff of this on the wind almost causes you to forget you’re in the middle of the city entirely. They do well in humid climates, so it’s no wonder why this lovely vine has taken strong hold in the Southern states. 

Crepe Myrtles 

If there is one thing that is true about Crepe Myrtles it is that you either love them, or you hate them. If you love them, then you love them because of their beautifully bloomed tops, their smooth spindly trunks, and they add an explosion of color to any garden. My experience with them has always been pleasant as they are the indication of soon-to-be-Summer as they bloom just before the heat starts settling in. Colors range from white, to pinks of all variety and lovely purples. However, Crepe Myrtles do have a reputation for being very dirty trees. Their buds and flowers create what we affectionally adorn “southern snow” as the petals leave their trace everywhere in the wake of their bloom. 

Pink Multiflora Rosa

This lanky, sturdy limbed vine rose is a lesser known garden secret with a delicate fragrance and impressively elegant blooms. Typically grown along a fence for support, they can reach great heights of 10 feet plus with proper pruning. A nice alternative to a knockout rose, with more variety in color, these are sure to pique the interest of your guests and garden goers.