10 award-winning shrubs with fragrant leaves

The aromatic oils in foliage are released most strongly in full sun, making this the ideal site for many of these shrubs. Several also thrive in well-drained or even dry soil, giving gardeners flexibility when choosing a spot.

Plant them near paths, patios or doorways so you can brush or crush the leaves as you pass, releasing their fragrance and adding a subtle, lingering sensory dimension to the garden. Recognised with the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit for their reliability, these shrubs perform well across a variety of garden situations.

Sparkling with silver

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Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ and its kin are a group of silvery-leaved plants with scented foliage

Also known as wormwoods, artemisias are a group of fragrant, silvery plants that appreciate a warm, sunny spot. One of the most widely grown silver foliage plants, both in sunny borders and containers, is Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’, closely related to the tree wormwood Artemisia arborescens. Developing into a dense, bushy shrub, it makes a delightful specimen in smaller plantings, a good mixer in larger beds and an excellent companion in large containers. The leaves are divided into slender slivers. Height 60cm (2ft). Hardiness rating H4.

Easy care and autumn flowers

Caryopteris × clandonensis ‘First Choice’ brightens the late‑summer garden

Caryopteris, or bluebeard, is an invaluable small shrub that is easy to grow. The foliage is greyish-green on top, silvery-green below and has an aroma reminiscent of eucalyptus or pine. The award-winning selection Caryopteris × clandonensis ‘First Choice’, developed by Hampshire plant breeder Peter Catt, has

A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers.

Peanut butter bush

The jewel-like, starry berries of Clerodendrum make a colourful autumn display

Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii has foliage with a scent that tends to divide opinion. The jury is out, although the occasional common name ‘peanut butter tree’ gives a good indication of its intriguing aroma. Its real charm lies in the bronzed young growth and masses of white, sweetly scented late-summer flowers that are followed by bright pink and blue berries. Height 3m (10ft). Hardiness rating H5.

Heavenly lavenders

Lavandula × chaytoriae ‘Sawyers’ fills the midsummer garden with classic aromatic charm

A bushy evergreen shrub,  Lavandula × chaytoriae ‘Sawyers’ has foliage with a rich lavender perfume. This

A plant produced by crossing two distinct parents, often different species, to produce offspring that combine the characteristics of both. Hybrids can occur naturally, but crosses are often made deliberately by plant breeders to produce plants with better yield, improved flowering or vigour, or improved disease resistance.

Evergreen and ever-fragrant

Myrtus communis is festooned with white flowers in late summer

Every part of the myrtle is fragrant. It was once believed to have magical properties associated with Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of love. Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina is a dwarf type, forming a neat, glossy-leaved evergreen shrub with small leaves. It bears pink-tinted white flowers in autumn and white berries that turn bluish purple later in the season. Ideal in tubs. Height 1m (3ft). Hardiness rating H4.

Sumptuous scents

The tall stems of Salvia ‘Blue Spire’ provide welcome height and colour in late summer 

Salvia ‘Blue Spire’ is a real star in August and September. From spring, its upright grey-felted stems develop into a framework of finely divided grey foliage that is attractive in its own right. Later in the season, well-branched heads of small lavender-blue flowers appear, creating an elegant contrast with the foliage. The aroma is a gentle blend of lavender and sage. Height 1m (3ft). Hardiness rating H5.

Minty leaves

Evergreen Prostanthera cuneata gives off a fresh, minty aroma year-round

The neat evergreen leaves of the Australian Prostanthera cuneata have a powerful minty aroma. It is best grown on a warm, sheltered wall or in a pot that can be moved into the conservatory for winter. Its prettily patterned white flowers, like small violas, open on a dwarf bushy plant in late spring. Height 1m (3ft). Hardiness rating H4.

Snow-white flowers

The white, pendent flowers of Ribes sanginuem White Icicle (‘Ubric’) herald the spring

The flowering currant Ribes sanguineum is one of the most reliably prolific spring-flowering shrubs, and its crushed foliage has a distinctive and appealing fragrance. The award-winning Ribes sanguineum ‘White Icicle’ (‘Ubric’) opens earlier than most cultivars, is less vigorous and carries impressively long strings of pure white flowers with no hint of pink, giving a pristine appearance in early spring. Height 1.8m (6ft). Hardiness rating H6.

Silver sage

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With broad leaves and few flowers, Salvia officinalis ‘Berggarten’ is attractive, neat and tasty

There are relatively few cultivars of culinary sage, but for foliage effect, Salvia officinalis ‘Berggarten’ is the star. Producing very few flower spikes to detract from its attractive leaves, each leaf is broad, silvery grey and carries the classic aromatic sage scent. Forming a rounded dome, ‘Berggarten’ provides plenty of leaves for the kitchen and makes an effective small specimen shrub in a sunny place. Height 60cm (2ft). Hardiness rating H5.

Tactile foliage

Brush the scented leaves of Santolina ‘Primrose Gem’ and be rewarded with its fragrance

The appeal of Santolina, or cotton lavenders, lies in their finely dissected foliage, distinctive scent and pretty button-like flowers. In Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp. rosmarinifolia ‘Primrose Gem’, the leaves are an unusually bright green and the mass of flowers is a delightful primrose yellow. This twiggy little shrub responds well to annual spring pruning. Height 60cm (2ft). Hardiness rating H5.