Tag: flowers

Create a Floral Paradise in Your Garden

Written by coldev on 15/05/2025. Posted in Garden Ideas, Plants, Top 10 Lists.

Create a Floral Paradise in Your Garden With These Plants

We’ve heard from a little birdie that you’re in need of some more flowers in the garden and we just so happened to stumble upon a beautiful garden that is sure to inspire you. We even made a whole video about it!

You can watch that here, but read on to learn more about these flowers.

Grab a quick sneak peek, JUMP STRAIGHT TO the plants we’ll be discussing today:

1. Clematis ‘Madame Julia Correvon’
2. Salvia ‘Mexican Bush Sage’
3. Bartlettina ‘Purple Mist Flower’
4. ‘Princess Diana’ Peruvian Lily
5. Rose ‘Shady Lady
6. Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’
7. Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’
8. Tricyrtis ‘Blue Toad Lily’
9. Fuchsia Fuchsita® ‘Blush Violet’
10. Persicaria Fascination Red Bistort
+ 8 More

Maybe you’re creating a garden from scratch and feeling overwhelmed by all the plant choices you need to make. Maybe you already have a garden but it’s in need of some pops of colour. Maybe you just moved into a place that only has a balcony and you’re looking for some potted colour.

We got you. We’re going to be breaking down the 18 flowers from this wonderful garden, and telling you all about their individual strengths, applications and how to best take care of them.

Now a quick note before we get into it, not all of these will be blooming right now. If you are more interested in flowers you can have in autumn, then be sure to check out our article The 10 Best Plants For Autumn Flowering in Australia.

Clematis ‘Madame Julia Correvon’

We’re starting strong with an award winning flower that has both incredible beauty and is easy to grow. You will see quickly why it earned the Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.

The first thing you’ll notice is the intensity of colour and uniquely shaped petals on Madame Julia Correvon. We love how the petals come out flat but with some time they start to curve and twist in unusually beautiful ways. It’s like each petal has a life of their own, giving the whole flower a dynamic movement to it.

Madame Julia Correvon doesn’t skimp on flowers, with masses of those beautiful star shaped flowers creating an incredible show. It also blooms for a very long time, from early summer to early autumn, meaning you get to enjoy those gorgeous flowers for ages.

They also make for excellent cut flowers so you can bring a slice of that beauty indoors too.

This is a plant you choose when you want a flowering climber as they look best when trained to climb up a fence, trellis, wall or any surface. The vines are nice and strong, making it easy to grow up your preferred garden structure.

This particular variety of Clematis is more heat tolerant than others so can take more sun. They intermingle well with many plants, climbing up them in a wonderfully symbiotic way. You can even grow them along short hedges!

Please note that this plant is toxic to dogs, cats and horses so if you have one of these furry friends consider another plant on this list.

In terms of how to best take care of this wonderful plant, you want to make sure to do the following things:

Keep it in moist, well-drained soil
Keep it’s ‘head in the sun and feet in the shade’ meaning the roots should be in a cool and shaded area and the top part of the plant with the flowers in the sun.
Prune it in late winter or early spring making sure to cut back hard to a pair of strong buds.
Use a Rose Fertilizer every three months or so to make them absolutely thrive.

We unfortunately don’t stock this exact variety just yet, but are working hard to get it in.

In the meantime we can offer you another type of Clematis that is just as stunning. In fact, Clematis are just an incredible flower family that have a rich diversity of colours and tolerances.

The Clematis we recommend is Clematis montana ‘Rubens’ a light pink flower that is deliciously fragrant and is both drought and frost hardy. Learn more about it here.

Salvia ‘Mexican Bush Sage’

For our next option we’re going with a classic, the Mexican Bush Sage, which has been a garden favourite for many years. This is the plant you choose when you have a sunny spot and want something that’s hardy and long flowering.

It’s also a great choice for those needing a good medium sized hedge that can be planted at the front as a feature or used as a layering plant towards the back of a gardening bed.

Mexican Bush Sage is an evergreen shrub that bears tall erect flowers of either purple or white. The flowering period stretches from late summer/early spring to late autumn, and in the right climate it can actually flower all year round.

It grows to a height of 0.8 – 1.2metres tall and wide with grey-green foliage that contrasts nicely with other greenery in the garden. The flowers gracefully arch and bend in interesting ways above the foliage, creating a dynamic and interesting display.

Now although this is a hardy plant that can handle dry conditions, what you don’t want to do is put it in a shady area. A little bit of shade is fine, but extended periods of shade will leave the flowers scraggly and desperately trying to stretch towards the sun.

Mexican Sage Salvia prefers a deep watering once a week when hot but be mindful that hot and moist/wet conditions are not suitable. If you live in a tropical area, it’s best to choose another plant. It works in most soil types.

Although mild frosts can be tolerated by established plants, it’s best to protect young plants for the first few years. If you live in a particularly cold area, then it’s a good idea to plant it in a pot and you can even bring that inside if the weather gets particularly bad.

Pruning isn’t necessary but if you find the flowers are starting to sag and break off then a light prune may be required. Also general pruning can help promote bushiness if you want a fuller looking shrub.

Unlike other Sages, Mexican Bush is actually very good as a cut flower because of the way the fuzzy purple calyces stay on the plant even after the petals have fallen.

Bartlettina ‘Purple Mist Flower’

When you’re looking for something whimsical and fragrant, you can’t go past the Purple Mist Flower. The aroma is described as an intoxicating mix of lilac and honey that attracts bees and butterflies.

The large, veined leaves make for a beautiful display that gets elevated in spring when large clusters of flowers emerge. The flowers have a very distinctive fluffy look that is both playful and striking – they look quite like fluffy pom-poms!

If you are after a large shrub/bush and have dappled shaded area than this is the perfect plant for you. Purple Mist Flower reaches a size of 3 metres tall and 2.5 metres wide.

Purple Mist Flower can be used in a number of different ways, either as a focal feature in the middle of a garden bed, a layered piece underneath trees or mixed in with other plants to add vibrancy.

In terms of care you want to plant it in a spot that doesn’t receive hot afternoon sun, Purple Mist Flower instead thrives in light, dappled shade. The ideal soil is moist yet well-drained, a good tip to retain moisture is by applying a good layer of mulch.

If you want compact growth, then it’s best to prune it by about a third after flowering. If you live in a frost prone area, then it’s best to choose another plant.

Alstroemeria ‘Princess Diana’ Peruvian Lily

For a truly striking multi-coloured display consider the Princess Diana Peruvian Lily. They have the most delightful combination of orange, red, yellow and cream with brown markings that instantly draws the eye.

Princess Diana Peruvian Lily is an excellent choice for those needing a border plant that is long flowering and low maintenance. They produce flowers for almost 9 months! From mid spring to late autumn you can enjoy those stunning flowers. What’s amazing as well is how great they are as cut flowers – they last for over two weeks in a vase!

If you have a smaller sized garden, these are the perfect flowers for you as they only grow 20-30cm tall and 24-60cm wide. They also do very well in containers so you can have them out on your balcony or patio.

They are a reliable easy to grow plant that is drought tolerant, frost tolerant and generally disease free. Butterflies and bees love them, but they may get damaged by slugs.

To best care for your Princess Diana Peruvian Lily plant it in a full sun or light shade area with fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Make sure to avoid dry soils and choose a spot that is sheltered from the wind.

If you want to promote new blooms, then pull the stems from the base instead of cutting them. Just be careful with the flowers as they can cause skin irritants.

Rose ‘Shady Lady’

If you have a shady spot and you’re searching for something vibrantly coloured to brighten it up, here’s ‘Shady Lady’ Rose. It has gorgeous semi-double blooms of hot pink surrounded by glossy green foliage.

As you can see from this list there are quite a few flowers that can’t handle any shade, or only a little bit of shade. What makes Shady Lady so great is the fact that it can tolerate considerable shade.

Shady Lady flowers from early spring to early summer and has a mild fragrance. You can choose between the garden bed or a large pot, they look fantastic planted in a massed effect or a single specimen.

To take care of Shady Lady be sure to water it well in the hottest months of the year but avoid the foliage. The reason being that roses are prone to moisture loving fungus so don’t water from above.

Prune hard each winter to make way for new growth, cutting above an outward-pointing bud and cutting the stem on an angle.

Now we are currently working on trying to add this wonderful flower to our range but are unable to get it for the moment. What we can offer is the fantastic New Dawn, a blush pink semi-double rose that also tolerates shade well. Find out more about it here.

Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’

Mona Lavender is the plant to choose when you’re looking for a fast growing neat shrub that can be planted in a full sun to part shade location. Also funnily enough, Mona Lavender has also received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society in the UK!

Those gorgeous spikes of bright purple flowers emerge in late summer and bloom through autumn. The dark green leaves perfectly compliment these beautiful flowers.

Mona Lavender can of course be planted in the garden but also does great in a container on sheltered patios. It’s a great solution for low light spaces in the garden such as under decks or trees. They also make for a great border plant!

To best take care of your Mona Lavender plant it in moist but well-draining soil and fertilise it will a slow release fertiliser during early spring. If you want a neat shape and dense foliage then give it a light pruning after flowering. Mona Lavender doesn’t tolerate frosts so be sure to give it protection if your area is susceptible to frosts.

Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’

Here’s a truly unusual, yet striking, choice. It’s also the plant to go for when you need something that is tough as nails. The flowers are vastly different to any on this list, or most flowers in general. Ascot Rainbow also provides you with year round colour through its variegated foliage.

Those strange flowers are small and tubular with a red eye and grow in colourful bracts above the foliage. They appear from late winter through spring.

Ascot Rainbow is very hardy with an extreme tolerance for hot and dry conditions, as well as a tolerance to frost and coastal conditions. It’s compact habit makes it perfect for any sized garden, or even in a pot on the balcony or patio.

Plant it in almost any type of soil with good drainage as Euphorbias don’t like wet feet. To make Ascot Rainbow thrive give it a slow release fertiliser in spring. You don’t need to prune it but if you would like a bushier habit then you can cut back spent flower stems to their base. If you do cut it, avoid skin contact with the milky sap as it can be irritating to some people.

Tricyrtis ‘Blue Toad Lily’

Here’s a beautiful rarity to add an exotic touch to your garden – the Blue Toad Lily. With orchid-like blooms that are speckled with soft blue and purple dots, Blue Toad Lily is truly a beautiful addition to any garden. We particularly love them in woodland gardens.

Those exquisite flowers appear from late summer into fall, adding colour at a time where most of your perennials are ending. Blue Toad Lily likes partial to full shade areas – even flowering in deep shade.

It reaches a height of about 45-60cm and don’t require much maintenance beyond regular watering to keep the soil moist.

Fuchsia Fuchsita® ‘Blush Violet’

For another intricately and multi-coloured flower consider the Blush Violet Fuchsia. The mix of coral pink and mauve make for a glamourous and striking show. You want to keep it out of the hot sun as it doesn’t do well in Aussie summers. Instead plant it in a half shade half sun area.

Blush Violet Fuchsia attracts butterflies and bees and flowers from early summer to autumn. It’s great for pots and baskets and grows to a max size of about 40cm in height and width. Keep the soil nice and moist, but don’t overwater it.

Persicaria Fascination Red Bistort

Fascination Red Bistort is a real tough plant that can grow in almost any location. It isn’t bothered by sun or shade, soil type, or exposed places. You just need to get it established and then you can pretty much just leave it be.

But for such little effort you get a gorgeous show of vibrant pink flowers surrounded by slender arrowhead leaves. Fascination Red Bistort starts flowering in summer through to the first frosts.

Plant it in sun or part shade and although it can grow in most soils, it will thrive the most in loamy rich moist soils. Fascination Red Bistort grows to a size of about 1.2 metres in height and 0.7 – 1 metre in width. Be sure to trim it for fresh new regrowth and an extended flowering season.

Unfortunately we currently don’t hold stock of this plant, which will hopefully change soon. In the meantime we recommend the wonderful Agastache ‘Orange’ – a perennial plant that is similar in appearance to Fascination Red Bistort. Learn more about it here.

The Eight Other Plants

Here are eight more plants we recommend listed below. We hope we’ve inspired you for all the wonderful flowering plants you can have in your garden!

Fuchsia ‘Coralle’
Angel Wing Begonia – Begonia ‘Pink Flowering Polka Dot’
Geranium ‘Big Red’
Plumbago auriculata
Lavandula ‘Silverado’ Lavender
Pompon Dahlia – Dahlia Lubega® Power ‘Red’
Japanese Anemone
Salvia Black and Bloom

Be sure to follow our socials and check out our other blog posts for more inspiration!

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:

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Pink chrysanthemums with text overlay: "10 best plants for Autumn flowering in Australia." Perfect for solving garden design problems with vibrant colors and seasonal blooms.

The 10 Best Plants For Autumn Flowering in Australia

Written by coldev on 15/04/2025. Posted in Garden Ideas, Plants, Top 10 Lists.

We all know about beautiful autumn foliage, the fiery reds, deep purples, striking golds and vibrant oranges. We’ve written extensively about these plants, from the big, towering trees, to the small shrubs anyone can fit in their garden.

But what we haven’t written about yet is the beautiful plants that provide colour in different ways during autumn – with their flowers.

Jump straight to the 10 best plants for autumn flowering:

1. Japanese Anemone Windflowers
2. Sedum Autumn Joy
3. Camellia sasanqua
4. Dahlia
5. Mexican Bush Sage Salvia
6. Chrysanthemums
7. Hellebores Winter Roses
8. Begonia
9. Kangaroo Paw
10. Marigold

Now, you should definitely still have plants with stunning autumn foliage in the garden too. Here’s all the articles we’ve written about that to help you pick the best one for your tastes and needs:

Overall Best Plants For Autumn Colour
Top 10 Best Autumn Shrubs
Top 10 Autumn Trees

We’ve got a beautiful range here of autumn flowering plants so let’s jump right into it.

Japanese Anemone Windflowers

These delicate poppy-like flowers are perfect for someone looking to elevate the elegance in their garden for little effort.

Here are some of the things we love about Japanese Anemone Windflower:

Low maintenance and resistant to pests
Upright growing habit makes it perfect for any sized garden
Versatile and can be mass planted, grown in a pot or planted as a border
Can choose between pink, purple and white shades for suits your garden best
Can grow in full sun or part shade
Attracts bees and butterflies

Sedum Autumn Joy

With a name like that, how could this gorgeous succulent plant not be on our list? Sedum Autumn Joy is what you pick when you want something that is cottage style, you have a very sunny spot and not a lot of time to take care it.

Here are some of the positives about Autumn Joy:

Thrives even with minimal care
Drought tolerant and can grow in many soil types (but not soggy soils)
Large deep pink flowers that deepen into a bronze hue in autumn
Attracts bees and butterflies
Interesting type of foliage with fleshy green leaves

Camellia sasanqua

If you’re looking for a privacy screen that will add elegance to your home, look no further than Camellia sasanqua. You can also plant them as a tall feature.

Other reasons you should choose Camellia sasanqua are:

Range of colours you can choose from including pink, white, red and purple
Can grow it in a sunny or part shade position
Also flowers in winter giving you colour during the greyest times
Glossy lush foliage that looks great all year
Can grow up to 5 metres tall or pruned to keep smaller

Dahlia

These are some real show-stopping flowers with an extraordinary range of colourways and are perfect for those looking for something really striking in the garden.

Let us tell you a bit more about Dahlias:

Some varieties are multi-coloured which creates even more visual interest
Flowers are large in size
Grows best in full sun and well drained soils
Attracts birds, butterflies and bees.
Perfect for cut flowers
Regular deadheading and fertilising will prolong the flowering

Mexican Bush Sage Salvia

For those wanting a good sized hedge that is very easy to grow and has flowers for ages, Mexican Bush Sage Salvia is the plant for you.

Here are some other things we love about Mexican Bush Sage Salvia:

It is fast growing so you can save money and buy a small plant and let it grow big
It also flowers throughout winter so you can have those stunning purple flowers for months on end
It is drought resistant and thrives in full sun
Makes for fantastic cut flowers
Rabbits ignore it, but butterflies love it
Can be grown in containers, as a border, or a hedge
Are also other varieties of Salvia that bloom in autumn if you’re looking for something slightly different

Chrysanthemums

Get the classic autumn colours of yellows, reds and oranges with the stunning multi-petaled Chrysanthemums. This is the plant to choose when you want something that is truly striking and will solicit many compliments from others.

There are so many reasons we adore Chrysanthemums, here are some of them:

A huge range of colours to choose from including yellow, orange, red, pink, white or purple
Can choose between the garden bed or a pot to grow it in
Love full sun and well-drained soil
Wonderful as cut flowers
Pest and disease free
Are quite low maintenance

Hellebores Winter Roses

Now these may be called the Winter Rose, but they make for incredible autumn flowers. If you love the delicate beauty of Japanese Anemones but want slightly larger flowers, these are perfect for you.

Read on for more reasons to love Hellebores:

Choose between white, pink or purple shades
Cup shaped flowers that add a whimsical touch
Great for partially shady spots with moist rich soil
Perfect for mass planted under trees
Dark green glossy leaves

Begonia

When you have a partially-shady spot that needs filling and want flowers for ages in the garden, Begonia is a great choice for you.

Here are some more wonderful things about Begonias:

They flower from late summer through autumn
Can be grown in dappled light or partial shade
A wide range of colours available including pink, white, orange, red and yellow
Are quite low maintenance as long as they have well-drained soil
Great for pots on balconies or patios

Kangaroo Paw

Kangaroo Paw is the perfect plant for when you have a Native garden but still want stunning autumn flowers.

Even if you don’t have a native garden, here are some reasons to plant Kangaroo Paws:

Uniquely shaped fuzzy flowers
Vibrant colours to choose from in red, yellow, black and pink
Thrives in full sun and sandy, well-draining soil
Attracts birds
Hardy, vigorous and low maintenance
Great for cut flowers
Great mass planted – can even alternate different colours for greater visual interest

Marigold

Marigolds are such a cute addition to any garden but are particularly great for those wanting to add some warmth through vibrant yellow colour.

Here’s a bit more about Marigolds:

Great border plants
Low maintenance
Repels pests
Grows in full sun to part shade with well-draining soil

In Closing

There you have it! The top 10 best plants for autumn flowering in Australia. We believe autumn is a time of great colour in the garden – it can even be more colourful than your spring or summer garden!

We hope this blog has inspired you to think outside the box when creating your dream autumn garden.

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Two people stand in a colorful garden, showcasing the many benefits of gardening. The person on the left wears a pink tutu, while their companion sports a colorful top amidst vibrant foliage and blooming flowers.

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Written by coldev on 29/03/2025. Posted in Garden Ideas, Plants.

In all his pink tutu glory, Chris took to the streets of Carlton Gardens where the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show was taking place.

We interviewed the Garden Designers, took photos with many people, made educational videos about some of the plants, and so much more! Follow us on our socials and stay tuned for all the incredible content we’ll have coming out in the next few weeks.

We wanted to take some time to express our love and appreciation for Melbourne’s horticulture industry and all the hard working people within it. We were truly so impressed by the breadth of talent and horticulture knowledge at the show (although not surprised at all).

We’ve always said that Victoria has the best horticulture industry in Australia, and its become even more apparent with the innovative garden displays at the show.

Did you know the International Melbourne Flower and Garden Show is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest floral and garden event? We went on one of the supposed ‘quietest’ days of the week, but the place was still teeming with people.

If you weren’t able to make it to the show, let us guide you through some of our favourite displays.

We started off inside with the great variety of flower bouquets for sale and chatted to Eliza about how well thought out the displays were. It’s such a great idea to have something you can take back to remember the show by, or a delightful gift you can give to a loved one.

We admired the wonderful displays inside, in particular the Growth sculpture created by Sarah Coffey using completely repurposed items from last year’s show caught our attention. It’s so important that we are taking care of our planet and being thoughtful with our purchases.

After that we moved outdoors where we fell in love with every garden display, and the themes they were conveying.

Nostalgia called back to a time of colourful cottage gardens brimming with flowers, bees and butterflies. Designed by Paul Pritchard we were reminded of the joy that can be found in taking the time to really care for your garden, and that there’s no such thing as too much colour.

Doable, designed by Jason Hodges, examined our need for instant gardens and encouraged the cheaper route of buying small plants that grow and evolve with your family. A truly beautiful sentiment that more people need to hear.

The green and white garden, Spires and Sounds, circled one of the musicians stages, creating a multi-sensory experience of beautiful visuals and beautiful sounds. It actually made us discover a plant we had never seen before! Designed by Ellen Freeman we loved the way different textures and shades of green were used to create interest and beauty.

Timeless Outdoors oozed elegance and class, but the plants themselves are actually not that expensive at all! Now we won’t speak for the paving and appliances, but the actual garden itself could be recreated for quite cheap! Designed by Aaron Leslie & Kelsey Johns, we definitely found ourself imagining a summer’s night spent sipping some wine here.

The Straightcurve Breaking Free display designed by Bayley LuuTomes Design and Bespoke Landscapes made us even more excited for autumn then we already were (which we didn’t think was possible). Already some of the trees were transforming into their fiery autumn hues, creating quite a spectacle that is only going to keep getting better as the weeks go on.

Then we stumbled upon a line of mini-garden stalls that drove home how space doesn’t stop you from having a beautiful garden.

We started with Jake McCorkell’s low maintenance garden, titled Evergreen Escape, that was filled with lush greenery of all shapes and sizes. A really great takeaway from this was layering. One reason why this garden was so beautiful and could fit so many plants was the way they used vertical space. Starting at the bottom with Native Violet, then Tractor Seat, then Bamboo and Magnolias to top it off, there was even a planter box on top of the seats to fit more greenery in the small space.

Next, we spoke to Adam Clements with his gorgeous Mediterranean inspired garden (he told us he carefully selected the word inspired so that he could also fit in some natives without getting in trouble). Appropriately titled Mediterranean Musings, this is a garden that makes us feel like we’re on an exotic getaway. We really like how this garden showed that you can create a luxurious escape in your own garden.

An explosion of colour greeted us in the next stall with the Mi Casa Es Tu Casa garden designed by Mia Zielinski. It was created out of her travels in Mexico and love for their culture. There was so much to admire in that small space but it didn’t feel cluttered at all, which goes to show how you can still have a colourful garden even if you are very limited by space.

Our final stop was appropriately the show’s winning garden designed by Rob from Distinctive Gardens, and wow, what a well deserved win it was.

We adored every detail that came together to create a lush, luxurious garden that made you feel like you were on a high class getaway. We really think more people need to put the effort into making their gardens serene sanctuaries that they can use to relax and rejuvenate in.

We hope you enjoyed this mini tour through the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, whether it was a recap on your own experiences or a peek at something you would otherwise not have had the chance to see. Be sure to follow us on our socials to see all the wonderful videos that come out from this day.

If you see any of these gardens and you’re like WOW I NEED THAT RIGHT NOW, we don’t blame you. It can be difficult knowing where to get started or how to replicate it, which is why we offer a Free Garden Design service. Book yours here.

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A woman in a black dress strolls through a field of colorful roses, their enchanting scent perfuming the air, with a grassy hill providing the perfect backdrop.

What Do Roses Actually Smell Like?

Written by coldev on 11/03/2025. Posted in Garden Advice, Plants.

It’s come to our attention that most labels of roses are blatantly lying. They claim ‘very fragrant’ but when you actually get a whiff of that rose… nothing.

It is so disappointing to pay for something and put in the effort of planting it, only for it to not live up to its label.

Jump straight to our top Fragrant Roses:

Best Fragrant Red Roses
Best Fragrant White/Cream Roses
Best Fragrant Gold Roses
Best Fragrant Climber Rose
Best Fragrant Colourful Roses
Most Powerful Fragrant Roses
Our Favourite Fragrant Rose
Weakest Fragrant Roses

Which is why we’re going to give you the lowdown on what roses actually do have incredible fragrance PLUS we describe exactly how they smell, because of course everyone has different tastes.

We’re going to give you a list of the best fragrant roses in different categories, the roses with the most powerful fragrance, which rose has our favourite fragrance (hint it’s actually not the most powerful) and point out which roses are quite weak in scent. For some people it’s actually not about the fragrance, but more the look and beauty, which is why we’re including those varieties as well.

We knew our noses alone wouldn’t suffice, so we brought in an expert.

Sonya, a certified natural skincare formulator, came with us to a rose farm in Gembrook. She is the founder of Miod Skincare that specialises in botanical, naturopath-approved skincare and body products.

They stock everything from facial cleansers to body oils to perfumes – all with the intention of creating a luxurious sensory experience. Which, of course, includes the scents. So Sonya knows her stuff. She used a rating scale out of ten to measure the strength of the fragrance for each rose.

Let’s jump right into these delicious roses.

Best Fragrant Red Roses

Mr Lincoln

Mr Lincoln is a rose both rich in colour and scent – coming in around at a 7/10. Being such a classic it is beloved by many. The scent is a rich floral with earthly tones.

This rose is quite romantic with its deep red hue and velvety petals. It’s no wonder Mr Lincoln is one of our top selling roses.

Mr Lincoln is great for mass planting, as a cut flower in bouquets and of course would look fantastic in rose and cottage gardens.

They love full sun and well-drained soil.

Oklahoma

So many people ask for red roses with beautiful fragrances so here’s another one just for you. We rate Oklahoma also at a 7/10 and Sonya describes it as having a well-rounded floral scent with earthy undertones.

It’s a beautiful rose that is a different shade of red than Mr Lincoln with dark green matte foliage.

Best Fragrant White/Cream Roses

Margaret Merril

Margaret Merril gets a good 6/10 with a sweet floral scent that has touches of lime. But did you know this rose has one multiple awards?

Yep, its won the Rome Gold Medal, the Geneva Gold Medal and the Hague and Auckland Fragrance awards. Pretty crazy right?

The blooms themselves are stunning – tall and large with prominent red stamens. They are also dainty looking and semi-double, creating a truly beautiful show in your garden.

Elina

Although Elina only gets a 5/10, its fragrance is so delicious we had to include it on this list. Sonya described the scent as a very pleasing sweetness with light floral tones.

Elina is also an award-winning rose that has many positive features such as its disease resistance, abundance of blooms, versatility in applications and toleration of many different weather conditions.

Elina’s hue is a dreamy blend of cream and soft yellow.

Pope John Paul

Another 5/10, Pope John Paul has a sweet lavender scent with mild notes of citrus. Also this rose is so elegant and beautiful that it’s grown in the Vatican’s private garden!

It has even won trophies and medals all around the world for its delicious fragrance, superior disease resistance and vigorous growth habit.

Pope John Paul is a pure white shade, making it perfect for classy style gardens such as a Green and White Garden or a Hamptons Garden.

Iceberg

This classic Melbourne rose actually gets two ratings. Sonya pointed out that a singular rose by itself is only 4/10, but when smelt together in a clump it gets 6/10. Because Iceberg flowers en mass, its more appropriate to give it a 6/10 rating.

The scent is sweet with notes of Star Jasmine. The blooms are striking white and form in tightly packed clusters, hence boosting the strength of the fragrance.

They are a thornless, hardy rose that are disease resistant and tolerant of poor soils.

Best Fragrant Gold Roses

Friesia

Friesia gets a good 6/10 rating and has a sweet touch of vanilla accompanied by subtle notes of citrus. A very delicious combination!

The roses are a strong golden-yellow hue that is instantly attention grabbing – they would be perfect for adding a pop of summery-colour to the garden. They are also double flowers, making them even more beautiful.

Friesia is an upright growing, compact bush, so its perfect for smaller sized garden.

Best Fragrant Climber Rose

Pierre de Ronsard

Pierre de Ronsard had one of Sonya’s favourite scents because of its distinctiveness and complexities. She rated it at a 5/10 and described it as having a spicy sweet ginger fragrance with floral lemony tones. Utterly divine.

Being a climber means you can get more creative in how you plant Pierre de Ronsard – cover a fence along the driveway or jazz up a pergola.

The edges of the rose are a creamy white hue that smoothly transitions into a mix of deeper and delicate pinks. Pierre de Ronsard has a long flowering season, meaning you can enjoy that divine perfume for ages.

Best Fragrant Colourful Roses

Coconut Ice

Coconut Ice came in strong with a 7/10 and was described as a powerful floral scent mixed with strong notes of citrus.

The flowers are truly stunning – the top side of the petal is a musky pink, with the bottom of the petal being a soft white. It truly looks like one of those coconut ice slices!

Coconut Ice is a neat bush that is very resistant to disease and is one of the more modern varieties of rose.

Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle received a solid 6/10 rating from Sonya, and she said it’s fragrance was earthy with light undertones of lemon and Geranium.

The colour is exquisite – a romantic shade of lilac purple that would look incredible in any garden and then popped in a vase on the kitchen counter.

Charles de Gaulle is perfect for mass planting in Rose and Cottage Gardens but would also quite suit the Hamptons Style Gardens.

Double Delight

Double Delight definitely earns its title with a rating of 8/10 and the perfume of a true classic rose with sweet citrus notes.

It’s also delightful in its dual hues of hot pink and creamy white, creating a striking look in the garden. Double Delight has large double blooms and even repeat flowers – so you’re getting PLENTY of fragrance with this rose.

They also don’t require much maintenance which is incredible to get such great beauty and strong perfume for little effort.

Firefighter

Sonya defined Firefighter as having a true rose fragrance, coming in at a 6/10 with the addition of earthy tones and slight Geranium notes.

A rose called this can only be a bright fire engine red shade, and that it is. Firefighter was also named to commemorate all the brave Firefighters in the world.

Being almost thornless means it’s very easy to pick and use as a cut flower, plus Firefighter is very disease resistant.

Heaven Scent

Appropriately named, Heaven Scent rates a 7/10 and has a sweet floral scent with touches of vanilla and citrus.

The flowers have a gorgeous hue of lavender pink and ruffles at the end making for a very cute look. Heaven Scent repeat flowers continually throughout the seasons.

Peace

Peace is a solid 5/10 rating with a mild fragrance that is very sweet and floral.

The blooms are a gorgeous mix of yellow, cream and pink and will even change in colour, sometimes fading to a softer hue, and producing a mix of different colours throughout the season. How exciting!

Most Powerful Fragrant Roses

Perfume Delight

Now there were actually no roses that received a 10/10 rating, but Perfume Delight came very close with a 9/10. Sonya states that the fragrance is very floral, very sweet and very powerful. So if you want a rose that is going to fill your entire garden with perfume, this is the one to pick.

Perfume Delight has large flowers of the most beautiful shade of deep pink and is a very vigorous grower. The flowers are on quite tall stems, so they are perfect for using as cut flowers.

Perfume Passion

Another 9/10, Perfume Passion’s aroma was defined as a slight citrus with strong earthy undertones. The flowers are a beautiful pink shade and grow in abundance on tall, almost thornless, stems.

Which make it another perfect choice for cutting off and bringing inside – or even making a bouquet for a loved one. Perfume Passion is hardy and disease resistant, meaning you don’t need to fuss over it.

Our Favourite Fragrant Rose

Elina

Was this what you were expecting to be our favourite rose? Now you may think it’s insane to put a 5/10 for strength of fragrance as our favourite rose.

But something we discovered on our expedition is that strength of fragrance isn’t actually the most important thing when it comes to rating roses.

What we loved about Elina is the incredible muti-layered affair of its fragrance, and the sweetness that was so captivating to the sense.

We aren’t the only ones that adore Elina, in 2006 it was inducted into the Rose Hall of Fame by the World Federation of Rose Society. Talk about being an esteemed plant!

We also can’t get enough of those stunning blooms that are the perfect size in butter soft hues of yellow and cream.

Weakest Fragrant Roses

Just Joey

1/10 is the tiny rating we’re giving Just Joey – you really had to take multiple whiffs and get up close to catch a hint of fragrance from it.

But where it lacks in scent it makes up for in beauty – the bright shade of apricot orange instantly draws the eye. The petals are also slight ruffled and fade to a lighter orange on the edges, creating more visual interest.

They are also one of the top picks for cut flowers because of how a single bloom grows on a long stem. Just Joey has a long blooming season and has great disease resistance.

So if fragrance isn’t all that important to you, this is an incredible rose to have in your garden.

Loving Memory

Loving Memory rates a bit higher with a 3/10 and a sweet floral citrus aroma.

But again, Loving Memory has other good qualities like its rich shade of crimson, its disease resistance, and its long flowering season. The way the flowers form makes this another great rose for cutting and putting in a vase.

Bonica

Dropping back down again, Bonica measures at only a 1/10 with very little smell.

Yet when you take a look at how pretty the blooms are, you can see why this rose is still quite loved. The blush pink flowers are very prolific, covering almost the entire plant.

Bonica is also a very hardy and reliable rose that forms a neat looking shrub. So Bonica isn’t a bad rose, just not the right choice if fragrance is your priority.

Tequila Sunrise

Same as Loving Memory, Tequila Sunrise comes in at a 3/10, with Sonya saying it had a light floral scent. However this flower really does look like a sunrise – with bold hues or orange, yellow and red.

If you want a pop of striking colour in the garden with little maintenance required, then this is the rose for you. It also is very healthy and has even won many awards including three gold medals!

Interesting Takeaways

As we smelt rose after rose after rose (you don’t want to know just how many roses we smelt in this 20 acre farm), something dawned on us.

Pretty much all of our favourite roses – the ones that made it onto this list – are the classic old roses. Almost none of the new breeds registered high enough on our scale or were interesting enough for us to bother writing about them.

If we were to take an educated guess, it seems that beauty has been prioritised more than scent, as it is very difficult to create a rose that is truly beautiful and has a rich powerful fragrance. But we thought it was something interesting to point out.

We hope this article has been insightful and helped you with your next rose purchase.