13 Fragrant Outdoor Plants That Can be Grown Indoors

These wonderfully smelling plants and herbs can be taken inside to infuse your home with sweet odors.

October 11, 2021

By: Julie Martens Forney

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Photo By: ©iStockphoto.com/Gratysanna

Photo By: Logee’s Plants

Photo By: Ball Horticultural Company

Photo By: Burpee

Photo By: Logee's Plants

Photo By: Rob Cardillo Photography/W. Atlee Burpee & Co.

Photo By: Ball Horticultural Company

Photo By: Logee's Plants

Photo By: Burpee

Photo By: Logee's Plants

Photo By: Burpee

Photo By: Courtesy of David Austin Roses

Sweet-Smelling Plants

Plants are a wonderful way to bring nature indoors even during the harshest winter weather. It's even better when those plants are also deliciously fragrant. These thirteen sweet-smelling plants are some of our favorites.

Azores Jasmine

For intense fragrance, grow this jasmine. It typically flowers spring through fall but tosses open blooms in winter if growing conditions provide warmth and sun. Give it a spot near a south-facing window. The perfume is similar to gardenia. Plants may be slow to bloom in the first year. Just wait — the flower show kicks into gear as plants age.

Botanical name: Jasminum azoricum

‘Marino Blue’ Heliotrope

Vanilla honey describes the sweet scent of these pretty purple flowers. Plants flower year-round, and the blossoms are a sensory treat in the depth of winter. Stems tend to trail, so plan to support plants with a hoop-type stake.

Botanical name: Heliotropium arborescens ‘Marino Blue’

Spearmint

The fragrant leaves of spearmint release their minty scent even when they’re warmed by the sun. It’s a wonderful addition to an indoor garden — easy to grow and not plagued by pests. Give it a spot near a sunny window for the best growth. Harvest leaves as needed for tea or desserts.

Botanical name: Mentha spicata

Learn More: Why We Love Mint

Night-Blooming Jasmine

An intense and intoxicating perfume wafts from the flowers of night-blooming jasmine each evening. Plants blossom intermittently year-round and grow rapidly. Prune as needed to retain shape. Just make sure not to prune too often, since flowers form on mature stems. Give this plant a sunny southern window for the best flowering.

Botanical name: Cestrum nocturnum

'Silverdrop' Eucalyptus

Wonderfully fragrant leaves are the scented offering on this pretty plant. Silver blue-green leaves add subtle color to indoor settings. Give it high light near a sunny south-facing window.

Botanical name: Eucalyptus gunii ‘Silverdrop’

Learn More: How to Use Eucalyptus Oil Safely and Beneficially

From: Lynn Coulter

Corsican Mint

This diminutive beauty is content in even the smallest pot. Don’t let the small size fool you — this plant is big on fragrance. The leaves release a refreshing minty aroma when brushed. A sunny window yields best growth.

Botanical name: Mentha requienii

Learn More: Why We Love Mint

‘Angel’s Blushing Beauty’ Angel’s Trumpet

When angel’s trumpet blooms, the fragrance can fill a huge space. The perfume from the dangling blossoms is released at night, leading to sweetly-scented dreams. The secret to success with this beauty is to give it warmth and the brightest light you can. If flowers fail to form, use indoor plant lights.

Botanical name: Brugmansia ‘Angel’s Blushing Beauty’

Learn More: How to Plant and Grow Angel’s Trumpet

Lemon Balm

If you like lemon drops, you’ll love the scent of lemon balm. Brush or lightly rub the leaves to release the sweet lemon aroma. Pick individuals leaves for making teas or desserts. Bright light is best for shorter stems and bushy growth. Lower light yields long, lanky stems.

Botanical name: Melissa officinalis

Learn More: 4 Ways to Dry Fresh Herbs

‘Bandera Purple’ Spanish Lavender

Lavender brings a fresh, beloved scent to indoor gardens. This beauty needs high light to grow its best. Keep plants on the dry side, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Your best bet to get plants to develop blooms is to set them outside for the summer.

Botanical name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Bandera Purple’

Learn More: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Lavender

‘Fudingzhu’ Sweet Olive

Sweet olive blooms release a heady, sweet fragrance that’s almost haunting. Give plants cool temperatures during winter and a spot near a south, west or east window to encourage flowering. The natural bloom time falls from September to April, so you can count on this charmer for some winter cheer. Plants won’t start flowering until they’re 6 inches tall.

Botanical name: Osmanthus fragrans ‘Fudingzhu’

Lily of the Valley

This beautiful bloomer opens delicate bell-shaped flowers with a nostalgic perfume. Typically you’ll only get one flowering from pips (the underground plant parts these plants arise from), but it will scent your entire home with a happy aroma. After flowering, grow the leaves for a spot of greenery, then transplant them to an outdoor garden for flowers in years to come.

Botanical name: Convallaria majalis

Learn More: How to Grow Lily of the Valley

‘Crown Jewel’ Gardenia

Double blooms adorn this favorite fragrant bloomer. This is a dwarf variety that grows 2 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide. Indoors, raise plants in terra-cotta pots to help prevent root rot. Water only when soil is dry. Bright light near a south, east or western window is ideal. For best flowering, provide a temperature difference of 10 to 15 degrees between day and night.

Botanical name: Gardenia jasminoides ‘Crown Jewel’

‘Arp’ Rosemary

This variety of rosemary is beloved for its winter hardiness outdoors, but it also makes a fine indoor plant. The secret to success is to avoid overwatering (a clay pot helps) and growing it on the cool side through winter. Harvest leaves as needed to season meats and soups.

Botanical name: Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Arp’

Learn More: How to Grow and Harvest Rosemary

English Rose 'Claire Austin'

Like 'Boscobel', this English rose has a strong myrrh fragrance, with hints of vanilla, heliotrope, and meadowsweet (a perennial herb in the rose family). 'Claire Austin' bears pale lemon buds that unfurl to cream.

13 Fragrant Outdoor Plants That Can be Grown Indoors

Related To:

Shop This Look

Sweet-Smelling Plants

Azores Jasmine

‘Marino Blue’ Heliotrope

Spearmint

Night-Blooming Jasmine

'Silverdrop' Eucalyptus

Corsican Mint

‘Angel’s Blushing Beauty’ Angel’s Trumpet

Lemon Balm

‘Bandera Purple’ Spanish Lavender

‘Fudingzhu’ Sweet Olive

Lily of the Valley

‘Crown Jewel’ Gardenia

‘Arp’ Rosemary

English Rose 'Claire Austin'

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