Flowers That Do Not Smell

The Phillippine Amesiella

• The Philippine amesiella is a variety of orchid with no scent. As the name implies, it is native to the Philippines, where it grows wild in forested areas. The large white flowers grow in groups of two to three blooms per each 4-inch spike, making it one of the smallest orchid plants. It blooms in the spring in very shaded areas.

Firecracker Plant

• Aesculus pavia L. is more commonly known as a firecracker plant, or a scarlet buckeye. It is a shrub-type plant that carries clusters of bright red or yellow flowers, appearing in the spring. These flowers make a showy display of 6- to 10-inch clusters of flowers that resemble fireworks, giving it its common name. After the flowers fade, well before the first frost, the leaves of the shrub will turn yellow and then fall. The seeds and leaves are poisonous to humans; however, pioneers used the roots of this plant as soap when no other types of soap were available.

Tulips

• Tulips are a spring-blooming perennial that have been part of Netherlands culture since the 16th century, although the flower is actually native to southeast Asia. Tulips were brought to the United States by pioneers wanting to cultivate a little of their homeland beauty in their new gardens. In warmer climates, it is best to treat tulips as an annual and dig the bulbs to store in a refrigerator away from fruits and vegetables, and then replant them the following spring. They come in a wide variety of colors, including pink, yellow, orange, white and combinations of these hues.

Dahlias

• Most dahlias do not have a scent; however, some varieties, such as the orange star variety called "Sophie Taylor," do possess some fragrance. Dahlias are large, showy flowers, with smaller varieties available for smaller spaces. They grow well in both containers and beds. They prefer well-draining soil, but they can tolerate less than desirable soils as well. In cooler climates, they may not be perennial, but you can dig the bulbs for winter storage and replant them in the spring.