Fragrant houseplants: 25 fragrant plants for the home

Bouquets of flowers smell wonderful, but only have a short lifespan. One more reason to surround yourself with pretty houseplants and create small oases of scent. The strength of the fragrance can vary within the species.

With an intense fragrance

Balsam apple(Clusia)

Rubber tree-like, easy-care succulent plant
can grow up to 300 cm high as a houseplant
blooms between July and August
creamy white or pink flowers
funnel-shaped, arranged in clusters
give off an intense scent of vanilla
Let the substrate dry before watering

Tip: This plant needs a lot of light and, unlike most succulents, significantly more water.

Calamondin orange(Citrus madurensis)

shrub-like growth, 150-200 cm high, 100-150 cm wide
Foliage ovate, dark green, glossy
blooms from May to June
numerous white, strongly scented flowers
with proper care, fruit formation
Fruits round, golden yellow, edible from December
Sunny location, gravelly to loamy soil

Tip: In winter, this plant wants to be bright and cool at temperatures between five and ten degrees.

Scented geraniums / scented pelargoniums(Pelargonium)

bushy growing balcony and houseplant
Growth height varies depending on the species
Leafy scent with an intense scent
increases when touched
countless fragrance variants and nuances
most often after lemon, rose or peppermint
Flowers usually less noticeable
small white and different shades of pink
show up from June to autumn

gardenia(Gardenia jasminoides)

bushy growth, up to 60 cm high
dark green foliage
opens its buds in summer
blooms from July to October
white, bowl-shaped flowers with an intense, floral scent
prefers bright to sunny locations
no intense sunlight
slightly acidic, well drained substrate

Wreath loop(Stephanotis floribunda)

one of the most beautiful climbing plants for the windowsill
develops climbing and climbing shoots
can be four to five meters long
Leaves, dark green and leathery
the greatest ornament are the white, fragrant flowers
from late spring to late summer
bright location without full sun

Tip: The wreath loop reacts sensitively to a change of location, just turning the plant can lead to the loss of leaves and flowers.

Porcelain flower(Hoya carnosa)

herbaceous, slightly woody plant
forms meter-long, flexible shoots
well suited for trellis and arched culture
blooms from spring to autumn
fleshy texture of the flowers with a waxy sheen
small, star-shaped single flowers in racemose umbels
porcelain white to pink, with a bright red spot in the middle
sweet and heavy scent

Vanda orchid(Vanda)

upright, overhanging, 30-120 cm high
makes high demands
leafy stems, leaves green, belt-shaped
Flowering period March to November
large flowers with characteristic patterns
up to 15 flowers in clusters
Coloring varies depending on the species
some species give off an intense fragrance

Room jasmine(Jasminum polyanthum)

undemanding climber with long shoots
in the right location up to 600 cm long
small trellis or ring-shaped climbing aid recommended
from June brilliant white star-shaped flowers
strong, sweet fragrance of flowers, especially in the evening
Sunny site, well-drained, sandy-loamy substrate, tolerant of lime

Tip: With room jasmine, too, a change of location or turning of the plant can lead to flowers falling.

Room lavender(Lavandula heterophylla)

grows upright, bushy, up to 60 cm high
Fast-growing, frugal, typical lavender scent
from June to August light purple-blue flowers
Flowers and scent almost all year round
needs little light
well drained, moderately dry soil

lemon Tree(Citrus × limon)

Pay attention to indoor-suitable variety
dark green glossy leaves
smell in intense sunlight
Flowers small, white and intensely fragrant
sunny place in the south or south-west window
pour neither too much nor too little
spray regularly with water
cooler in winter
an attitude in the winter garden is optimal

Tip: Especially small varieties such as 'Piccolo' or 'Mezzo' are particularly suitable as houseplant.

Medium fragrance

Amaryllis / knight star(Hippeastrum)

perennial herbaceous bulb plant
Flowering period from December to February
exceptionally large funnel-shaped flowers
red, white or multicolored
Rest period from August to early December
Plant the onion again in autumn
bright location, mixture of flower and cactus soil

Scented orange chinotto(Citrus myrtifolia)

interesting citrus from the group of bitter oranges
one of the most attractive citrus plants
branches reaching up tightly
due to the weight of the fruit, more rounded crown shape
small, dark green, myrtle-like leaves
brilliant white, fragrant flowers, blooming several times
edible fruits, sunny, warm and sheltered locations

Orchidaceae - orchids(Coelogyne cristata)

forms many clumps with pigeon egg-sized bulbs
at the tip of each bulb two sword-shaped leaves
three- to five-flowered inflorescences at the base
large pure white flower with a chimney-like lip and orange ridges
Flowering from January to March
sunny locations without blazing midday sun
Use standard orchid soil

Tip: The flowers usually last about three weeks. In general, this orchid is quite lazy to bloom, so it can happen that it does not bloom for a year.

Real vanilla(Vanilla planifolia)

real orchid, creeper and climber
with wonderfully fragrant creamy yellow orchid flowers
year-round bright location with at least 18 degrees
in particularly low humidity, prefer a partially shaded location
Air humidity ideally at 70 percent
grows about 150 cm per year when kept optimally

Gloxinia(Sinningia)

herbaceous, bushy, compact, slow-growing houseplant
between 15 and 20 cm high
Unimagined abundance of species and colors
Leaves ovate to elongated, velvety hairs
Flowering between June and August
strikingly large, funnel-shaped, double or unfilled flowers
in the colors white, red, blue-violet or multi-colored

Plumeria(Frangipani)

one of the most expensive perfume plants in the world
belongs to the succulents
blooms from June to September
gorgeous flowers with a stunning scent
white, yellow, pink, orange and multi-colored
the sunnier the location, the better
blazing sun no problem either
Avoid drafts and waterlogging at all costs

Room cyclamen(Cyclame persicum)

upright and dense growth, forming clumps
Growth height of 15-30 cm
Leaves entire, heart-shaped, serrated
blooms from September to April
white, pink, red, dark red and purple single flowers
give off a pleasant scent
bright location without direct sunlight

Zygopetalum orchid(Zygopetalum)

extraordinary orchid with special requirements
two or more lanceolate leaves
arise from conical to ovoid pseudobulbs
always from the side axes
long, narrow, racemose inflorescences in autumn or winter
in the colors purple, green, brown, rarely also blue
pronounced stripes or spots
smell of hyacinth, vanilla, rose or apple

With a light fragrance

Bouvardie(Bouvardia hybrids)

upright, dense, bushy, herbaceous
with heights of 20-100 cm
blooms from August to Christmas
Flowers dainty, small, cluster-like, light, pleasant fragrance
predominantly red, more rarely white, yellowish or pink
all year round at room temperature
in winter at least 12 degrees

Cymbidium orchid(Cymbidium)

very demanding, not for beginners
grows upright and overhanging
Leaves long, narrow, green
Unique flower arrangement, single flowers slightly fragrant
from January to March and October to December
large-flowered varieties, cold to temperate place
Mini cymbidiums, normal room temperatures
Orchid substrate, rock wool or a mixture of peat and bark

Dendrobium orchids(Dendrobium)

two different growth types
Flowers in Phalaenopsis hybrids as flower panicles at the end of the stem
in Dendrobium nobile hybrids distributed over the whole trunk
both convince with an extremely long flowering time
from autumn to early summer
Cultivate Phalaenopsis hybrids at 15-25 degrees
Nobile hybrids a little cooler, 10-20 degrees

Tip: The water supply in the Nobile growth form is a little more complicated, as it takes a dormant phase from October to December. During this time it should stand a little cooler and not be poured.

Butterfly orchid(Phalaenopsis hybrids)