July 16th, 2026Beetham’s Botanicals

Well here I am again penning another article for you, the reader, to enjoy…
This time I’ll be featuring five plants with scented foliage for the garden and listing several others you might like to try and track down.

1. Backhousia citriodora (lemon-scented myrtle) is a medium to large tree that belongs to the botanical family of myrtaceae (think bottlebrushes, eucalypts and tea-trees) and has highly scented leaves which may be used in teas, syrups and sauces etc. The essential oil distilled from the leaves has a strong lemony aroma.
As you can see from the image it also has large heads of attractive bee-attracting white flowers. One important thing to note is this species is only tolerant of light frosts so best planted in a sheltered spot in the garden.

2. Citrus hystrix (kaffir lime) is a small tree prized for its amazingly powerful scented foliage that is a must for dishes such as authentic curries and the like. My tree growing in Hepburn is in the open and seems to retain a healthy green colour all year round – the image posted here shows the intense purple-tinged emerging leaves which are an ornamental bonus. Like all citrus they respond well to regular fertilising.

3. Drimys winteri (winter’s bark) is also a small tree not well known in cultivation that originates from the forests of Argentina and Chile and was first discovered by John Wynter (the captain of the ship Elizabeth) in 1578 when he went ashore while sailing through the Strait of Magellan.
The almost fleshy leaves of this species have a peppery fragrance when crushed and both the bark and leaves can be distilled to make an essential oil. The image shows not only the attractive foliage but maturing fruits.

4. Illicium anisatum (Japanese star anise) is usually seen growing as a medium-sized shrub which sports highly fragrant leaves that smell like somewhere between aniseed and cardamon. Interestingly, Japanese Buddhists revere this plant as its leaves are a natural insect repellent. The primitive-like flowers seen in the image are certainly a bonus and although rare in gardens I think it’s worth having a go.

5. Laurus nobilis (bay tree) is included in my list not so much for its famous scented leaves used for a variety of culinary purposes but for the gorgeous display of yellowish flowers (see image) that stay in bud for what seems like forever, before relinquishing to the onslaught of spring weather.
Long cultivated, this densely foliaged tree can be planted as a specimen or hedge and will tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions.

Here are some more species with scented foliage to consider planting: Agonis flexuosa (willow myrtle), Corymbia citriodora (lemon-scented gum), Darwinia citriodora (lemon-scented darwinia), leptospermum petersonii (lemon-scented teatree), Pelargonium tomentosum (peppermint-scented geranium), prostanthera spp. (mint bush) and, of course, the classics such as basil, lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme and, for Asian cuisine, Vietnamese hot mint.
So here endeth the lesson as they say…and it’s nice to hear that many botanic gardens around the world are creating sensory gardens to encourage awareness of the importance of the cultivation of scented foliage plants for both culinary and medicinal needs.

Cheers John Beetham (Trading as Trees in Australia | 0418 375 708)

Next time: Ornamental fruiting plants for the garden.

Scan the QR code for JB’s instagram post.