A GARDEN which is not only pleasing to the eyes but also appeals to our olfactory system is definitely something worth having as it can elevate our mood and provide some form of tranquility.
Such gardens can also help rejuvenate our mind and body.
According to Muhamad Adli Salihin Samsudin, the assistant director of floriculture section at the Department of Agriculture Malaysia, there are a variety of plant species ranging from shady trees, shrubs and climbers which will bear flowers and produce a sweet smelling fragrance that are suitable for a scented garden.
“Some of the renowned local plants which can be adopted in the scented garden are Cempaka Putih or White Magnolia (Michelia alba), Cempaka Kuning (Michelia champaca), Cempaka Telur (Michelia figo), Kenanga (Cananga fruticosa),
Akar Dani or Rangoon Creeper vine (Quisqualis indica), Jasmine (Jasminum sambac), Kesidang (Vallaris glabra), Harum Sundal Malam (Polianthes tuberosa) and Kemboja Putih (Plumeria obtusa),” he said.
Adli said while some of these plants can be planted in pots and directly on the ground like the Magnolias, the Rangoon Creepers are best left to cover pergolas which can act as a natural shade.
“If you ever notice many of the public spaces around us, along the roads and streets, cemetery, places of worships, and community centres, have always been embellished with these kinds of flowering and fragrant plants,” he told NST Property.
Adli added that a scented garden provides homeowners with a natural aromatherapy in their own living space as the organic fragrant are free from any harmful chemicals.
“Every morning and in the evening when you come home after work, your tired body can benefit from just smelling the scent of the garden. It is so refreshing after a hard day of work in the office,” he said.
Apart from their beauty, Adli said fresh flowers can be used to make do-it-yourself (DIY) potpourri and indoor household fragrance while some can be added to a floral bath.
