Question
i live in north jersey and would like to know the most fragrant plants for containers for my deck i want to figureout the plants first then design the planters/flower boxes around them
since this will be a yearly process

thank you

Answer
Hello Ryan -

Here is a list of New Jersey (zone 6A & 6B) patio-friendly fragrant plants.

Of course, the shrubs can be trimmed back, so don't get too alarmed with the overall sizes.

Calycanthus floridus -  sweetshrub, strawberry bush (6-10 ft. shrub)
Chamaemelum nobile ?chamomile (.5 - 1 ft)
Clematis virginiana ?virginsbower (vine)
Clethra alnifolia ?summersweet (6-10 ft. shrub)
Clethra alnifolia - pink summersweet (6-10 ft shrub.)
Convallaria majalis - lily-of-the-valley (.5 - 1 ft)
Dianthus caryophyllus - carnation, clove pink, divine flower (1-2ft)
Filipendula ulmaria - queen-of-the-meadow, Meadowsweet (2-4ft)
Hyacinthus spp. ?hyacinth (.5 - 1 ft)
Lavandula angustifolia ?lavender (2-4 ft)
Ligustrum ovalifolium - California privet (15' patio tree)
Lobularia maritima ?alyssum (.5-1 ft)
Lonicera japonica 慼alliana' - Halls Japanese honeysuckle (bushy vine)
Lonicera tatarica - tatarian honeysuckle (10-15' spreading vine)
Nicotiana alata ?nicotiana (1-2 ft)
Paeonia lactiflora ?peony (2-4 ft)
Philadelphus coronarius - mock orange (6-10 ft shrub)
Prunus laurocerasus - cherry laurel (15' patio tree)
Rhododendron austrinum - flame azalea (6-10 ft shrub)
Syringa patula - Manchurian lilac, Korean lilac (10-15 ft shrub)
Syringa vulgaris - common lilac (15-25 ft tree/shrub)
Viburnum carlesii - Korean spice viburnum (4-6 ft)
Wisteria sinensis ?wisteria (woody vine)

Availability, even in 揟he Garden State?may be tough.  It would be best to see if your local nursery can get them before you get your hopes up too high with the 損erfect?patio plant.  If you don't see anything that looks like it may work, try this link: http://www.flowerscentgardens.com/plantcatalog.htm

Also, since you're just at the starting point, for cool patio ideas, check out this site from Better Homes & Garden:  http://www.bhg.com/home/Deck-Designs.html

Hope it helps. -Marc