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Flowers That Smell Like Melons

Flowers brighten up homes and add an attractive aspect to landscapes throughout the world. Scents have a way of awakening the senses and reviving memories. Many species of flowers have appealing fragrances that mimic foods such as fruits. Melon is a fruity aroma that brings to mind ripened sweetly scented honeydew or watermelon fruit. Several types of evergreen and deciduous flowering plants including shrubs and trees develop blossoms with melon-perfumed blooms.
  1. Carolina Allspice

    • Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus) is a native deciduous shrub to the southeastern regions of the United States. Standing at 4 to 7 feet tall with an upright formation, the Carolina allspice has irregular branches. The foliage is a deep green hue that turns to yellowish-green in the fall. During the months of May through July, this shrub blossoms with dark brown to maroon flowers 2 inches in diameter. The flowers have a fragrance of melons enhanced with spicy cinnamon, according to North Carolina State University. This Calycanthaceae family plant thrives in full sun and moist, rich soil. Landscapers use the Carolina allspice as a border and foundation plant.

    Mr. Lincoln Rose

    • Mr. Lincoln rose (Rosa "Mister Lincoln") is a hybrid tea rose with a strong melon fragrance. This Rosaceae family member grows to heights of 3 to 5 feet with long 18- to 20-inch stems. The urn-shaped double-blooming flowers have 25 to 40 petals per blossom. Mr. Lincoln roses are a deep red hue, which contrasts with the leather-like dark green foliage of the shrub. This plant is a prolific bloomer, producing flowers all summer until fall. This evergreen hybrid tea rose shrub prefers full sun and a hot, dry atmosphere.

    Fried Egg Tree

    • Fried egg tree (Oncoba spinosa) is a large shrub or small tree that belongs to the Salicaceae plant family. This deciduous plant is indigenous to Africa; the fried egg tree is a naturalized plant in Florida. Spring through summer, the fried egg tree blossoms with large, showy white flowers with yellow stamens. These flowers have a light melon aroma and only last a day. The leaves of the fried egg tree contain 1 1/2-inch long spines along the base of each leaf stalk. This tree likes dry to poor soils and is a drought-tolerant plant.

    Venus Sweetshrub

    • Venus sweetshrub (Calycanthus "Venus") is an 8- to 10-foot tall shrub with deciduous leaves. This hybrid sweetshrub from the Calycanthaceae plant family has a rounded configuration. The foliage of the Venus sweetshrub is a lustrous green tone that develops into a deep buttery yellow during the fall. Venus sweetshrub flourishes with 3-inch wide showy white flowers enhanced by purple-colored center markings in summer through fall. The blossoms have a subtle melon-strawberry scent. This low-maintenance shrub enjoys full sun to partial shade.