Northside Plant Walk: Aromatic Additions for your landscape

By Matt S., Pitt County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent

On Friday April 12, 36 interested gardeners gathered for our second 2024 Northside Plant Walk: Aromatic Additions for your Landscape.  

The tour began under our green roof shelter as usual, where we discussed the first of four vines on the walk, Bignonia capreolata, Crossvine, so named because the vascular tissue inside the stems forms the shape of a cross. It’s multicolored flowers, yellow-orange in throat and pink in the outer corolla, are mildly fragrant and smell of mocha. This is a native evergreen vine with twining tendrils it uses to attach to structures as it propels itself upward. Flowers are similar to trumpet vine, which it is often confused with, though the deciduous foliage of trumpet vine is quite different than that of crossvine.

Bignonia capreolata, Crossvine. Form on tree in summer in Moore County

Dianthus gratianopolitanus Firewitch

Crab Apple Malus Form in bloom in May

Crossvine flowers also bear some similarity in shape and color to the second vine discussed, trumpet honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, though honeysuckle’s flowers are much smaller. While L. sempervirens is not as fragrant as other Lonicera species, it is another native and less invasive than Lonicera japonica. Like Crossvine, flowers are popular with hummingbirds and butterflies.

Dianthus ‘Firewitch’, the 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year, is a low growing, spreading perennial with bright pink flowers in spring and greenish gray evergreen foliage throughout the year. Its scent is similar to carnations, its close relative, though the stalks on this cultivar are much too short for cut flower use. Plant in mass or use in borders, edging, along paths, or in rock gardens. Just avoid especially wet soils.

Crabapples are members of the Malus genus, relatives of apples, but producers of smaller, far less delicious fruit.  That fruit can be attractive, though messy if planted in the wrong location. Gardeners plant crabapples in their landscapes because of the flowers, however, which create a vibrant show in mid-spring.  Though there is some variability depending on the cultivar, crabapples often have rosy pink buds that open to reveal pale pink or white flowers with a light apple scent.

Chionanthus virginicus, aka Fringetree, is a small deciduous tree with long-petaled flowers in spring that smell like vanilla. The blue-black fruit that arrive later in summer support birds and other wildlife. Fringetree is native and suitable for a variety of soil types, and tolerates shade though it will flower best in full sun.

Philadelphus coronarius, aka Mockorange is a tall shrub with arching branches. Flowers resemble citrus flowers in size, color, and shape (hence the common name Mockorange), but smell like sweet perfume. It can be difficult to fit the standard Mockorange into modern landscapes due to its size, but more compact cultivars such as ‘Snowbelle’ are easier to fit into smaller spaces.

Fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus, flower and leaves

Chocolate vine, Akebia quinata

Illicium parviflorum, Hardy anise
Form (Wake County, NC)-Late Winter

Akebia quinata, Chocolate vine, is another evergreen vine and one that gets its name from the scent of its flowers, which are said to smell like chocolate. One could argue they look a bit like chocolate as well, as the burgundy-purple color is about as close to the color of chocolate as flowers get. Though the flowers have passed already for this year, the plant will form purple sausage-shaped fruit that split open when mature to reveal creamy white insides and black seeds. Chocolate vine is not native, and in fact is considered by many sources, including the NC Invasive Plant Council, to be invasive.

Illicium parviflorum, Hardy anise, is notable not for the scent of its flowers but of its leaves, which smell like the culinary spice anise (which is actually derived from a different Illicium species) or licorice. Illicium is a tall evergreen shrub with unique flowers. It performs well in shade.

Syringa ‘Penda’ BLOOMERANG Form - April - Wake Co., NC

Clematis armandii, Climbing with support

Syringa ‘Penda’ BLOOMERANG is a reblooming lilac shrub that forms flowers on old growth in spring and new growth in late summer or fall. Slightly more compact than the typical Syringa vulgaris, this still packs a fragrant punch, and is slightly more resistant to powdery mildew though good air circulation is key.

The final plant we visited, and our fourth vine, was Clematis. Many of the hybrid Clematis cultivars, along with other species such as Clematis armandii and Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn clematis) have wonderful fragrance to match their stunning bloom. This hybrid clematis is a herbaceous perennial suited for growing on small structures like mailboxes, lampposts, fences or small trellises. Flowers are 4-10 inches wide and long lasting. Keep clematis roots cool by planting other plants around its base.

Mark your calendar now for Friday, May 10th for the next Northside Plant Walk featuring Plants with Historic or Cultural Significance.

Photo credits: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu  or iStock
Bignonia capreolata, form on tree in summer in Moore County, Susan Strine CC BY 2.0
iStock Dianthus gratianopolitanus Firewitch, Sondra P
Crab Apple Malus Form in bloom in May Bruce Marlin, CC BY 3.0
Chionanthus virginicus  Flower and Leaves Jim Robbins, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
iStock Chocolate vine, Akebia quinata, iStock , igaguri
Illicium parviflorum, Hardy anise, Cathy Dewitt, CC BY 4.0
Syringa ‘Penda’ BLOOMERANG Form, Cathy DeWitt, CC BY 4.0
Clematis armandii Climbing with support, Barbara Goodman, CC BY 2.0