Mignonette
Reseda odorata
Mignonette was introduced to ornamental gardens in Europe about 1725 and its popularity grew steadily on both sides of the Atlantic through the 19th century because of its sweet fragrance both as a garden plant and as a cut flower.
In 1803, Anne Cary Randolph wrote to her grandfather, "we were so unfortunate as to lose the Mignonete entirely although Mama divided it between Mrs. Lewis Aunt Jane & herself but none of it seeded." Jefferson noted the planting of this extremely fragrant annual in an oval bed on March 22, 1811, yet he included it among the seeds "which I do not now possess" in a letter to Bernard McMahon the following year.
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.
When you're here...
Between April and October, all house tours come with a free guided Garden Tour, or you can explore the grounds on your own with the Bloomberg Connects App
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Heirloom Seeds and Plants from the Monticello collection
Plant history in your gardens with seeds and plants from Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants.
