Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

fragrant ground cover plants

If you dream of a garden where every step releases delightful perfume, fragrant ground cover plants are the perfect solution. Not only do these versatile plants provide a lush carpet of foliage and flowers, but they also fill your outdoor spaces with wonderful aromas. Suitable for paths, borders, and tricky spots where you crave both beauty and fragrance, these ground covers thrive in a variety of New Zealand garden conditions. Read on to discover top-performing fragrant ground cover plants, tips for successful planting, and how to choose the best varieties for your garden.

Gardenia radicans

Gardenia radicans is a compact, low-growing shrub prized for its glossy green foliage and intensely fragrant white flowers. Blooming from late spring through summer, it adds a sweet perfume and lush texture to NZ gardens.

Buy Gardenia radicans

From $16.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 40 cm

Spread: 70 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Cottage, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical, White

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a versatile, evergreen climber renowned for its glossy green leaves and masses of highly fragrant white flowers in summer. In New Zealand, it thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers well-drained soil.

Buy Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)

From $15.50

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Climbers

Height: 50 cm

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Arches, Borders, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical, White

Top Fragrant Ground Cover Plants for Kiwi Gardens

The best fragrant ground covers offer both stunning scents and reliable coverage. Some tried-and-true favourites for New Zealand gardens include:

Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile)

Chamomile forms a low, dense mat of fine, aromatic foliage and cheerful daisy-like flowers. When planted between pavers or along a garden path, Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile) releases a sweet apple scent with every step, making it a favourite for sensory and cottage gardens.

Gardenia radicans

Known for its classic, creamy-white blooms and irresistible perfume, Gardenia radicans is a ground-hugging form of gardenia ideal for mass planting. Its glossy green foliage and fragrant flowers add elegance to sunny patios and shaded corners alike.

Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweetbox)

One of the most delightful winter-blooming groundcovers, Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweetbox) brings a spicy, sweet fragrance to even the shadiest spots. Its compact growth makes it perfect for under-planting trees or lining shaded paths.

Gardenia Fragrant Star

If you love intoxicating fragrance, Gardenia Fragrant Star offers a profusion of large, perfumed blooms throughout the warmer months. This ground-hugging variety will quickly fill your beds with glossy foliage and that classic gardenia scent.

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

For a native option that doesn’t compromise on beauty or scent, Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter' is a standout. Its delicate, pale blue flowers emit a gentle perfume and provide important nectar for pollinators, all while creating a dense, attractive ground cover.

How to Grow Fragrant Ground Cover Plants

Planting fragrant ground cover plants is a simple way to transform problem areas in your garden into sensory paradises. Choose a position suited to your chosen plant’s needs—many, like gardenias, prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil and filtered sun or partial shade. Keep roots cool and moist, especially during the first season, and mulch well to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

For extra fragrance, consider planting different varieties together to achieve a tapestry of scents and textures. Regular feeding and occasional trimming after flowering will keep your ground covers lush and healthy.

Add Scent and Beauty to Every Corner

From the sunny pathways lined with chamomile to the shaded nooks brightened by sweetbox, fragrant ground cover plants bring life and aroma to all areas of your garden. Whether you’re after year-round scent, native options, or elegant blooms, our carefully selected range has something for every space. Browse our collection to discover fragrance, beauty, and easy-care solutions for your garden.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

fragrant ground cover plants

Gardenia radicans

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)

Did you find what you are looking for?