10 Best Flowering Shrubs for Your Yard

 Fragrant indoor plants 

Houseplants add beauty to any room, but few provide a wonderful fragrance with their leaves or flowers. From sweet and floral to warm and spicy, these are highly fragrant houseplants to fill your home with sweet aromas.

1. Angel's Trumpet

In full bloom, angel's trumpet is nothing short of spectacular. The large flowers are stunning, and at night, their strong fragrance fills the air. This tropical tree can be grown outdoors year-round (zones 8-10). Elsewhere it must be brought indoors for the winter. Be warned, though: All parts are highly toxic if eaten, so keep it away from pets and small children.

2. Arabian jasmine

The stars of Arabian jasmine, the pure-white fragrant flowers bloom year-round, creating a soft, floral fragrance. Its flowers are used in Hawaii to make jasmine tea and flower necklaces. You can let this shrub vine grow long stems and grow it on a trellis or trellis.

3. Citrus

Certain varieties of oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits can make good houseplants if you give them enough light. They will reward you with the sweet scent of their flowers. If you are patient, you can enjoy home grown fruits. If you grow citrus from seed, your plants may take years to flower, and they tend to have sharp spines. Your best bet for citrus as a houseplant is to buy a named, grafting variety.

4. Corsage Orchid

Also known as cattleya orchids, showy corsage orchids are so beautiful to look at, you might forget to smell them. You can even find the names of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and first ladies like Jackie Kennedy. Water and fertilize orchids in spring and summer; Keep them dry and cool in the fall and winter.

5. Cuban oregano

Boasting a distinctive spicy aroma, Cuban oregano is an easy-to-grow relative of Swedish ivy. (Interestingly, neither plant is native to the places from which they derive their common names.) You can cook with the succulent, fuzzy green leaves or brush them to release their aroma. Cuttings from this plant root easily in potting mix, so it's easy to propagate and share these fragrant plants with friends.

6. Eucalyptus

Although most gardeners don't think of eucalyptus as a houseplant, this fast-growing plant makes a beautiful indoor tree in a brightly lit location. It offers blue gray foliage with a distinct scent when you rub it. Prune your eucalyptus back once to keep it full and bushy.

7. Gardenia

Renowned as one of the most fragrant flowers around, gardenias make a beautiful, but tricky houseplant. Its single or double white flowers emit a strong, floral scent. In the spring and summer, apply a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants like azaleas. Also, this plant should be protected from hot and cold drafts.

8. Hoya

Commonly known as the wax plant, the hoya is a no-fuss, old-fashioned houseplant that's coming back into style. It has waxy, sweetly scented pink or white flowers and dense, glossy, dark green leaves. Hoyas can take a while to bloom. If you haven't seen a flower in a year or two, try giving it more light.

9. Oncidium Orchid

While corsage orchids are more attractive, oncidium orchids are easier to grow than orchids and make great houseplants. They offer bloom colors and sizes, as well as bloom times. Their smell varies according to their color and size. For example, Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' has a distinct chocolate scent; Twinkle 'Fragrance Fantasy', on the other hand, has a more herbal scent.