• Using HS-SPME-GC–MS, 77 volatiles were detected in the five Lagestroemia taxa. • The primary volatiles were terpenoids, benzenoids/phenylpropanoids, and aliphatics. • The numbers and types of floral volatiles differed significantly among the taxa. • The components of hybrids' fragrance were more similar to L. 'Tuscarora' when compared with L. fauriei. • • L. 'Tuscarora' had a great potential for breeding aromatic Lagerstroemia germplasm. Floral scent plays an important role in plant reproduction and has esthetic implications. However, in the genus Lagerstroemia , taxa with distinct fragrances are rare, which limits their economic value. This study used headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) to analyze the floral scent components of L. fauriei (♀), L. 'Tuscarora' (♂), and their fragrant hybrids. Overall, the numbers and types of volatiles differed significantly among the taxa. Seventy-seven volatile compounds were putatively detected, mainly terpenoids (48.05%: 67.82% in L. fauriei , 41.65% in L. 'Tuscarora', 80.29% in L. 'Ningxiang 1', 60.27% in L. 'Ningxiang 2', and 43.84% in L. 'Ningxiang 3'), benzenoids/phenylpropanoids (29.87%: 27.61%, 47.93%, 7.45%, 24.12%, 47.40%), and aliphatics (15.58%: 1.13%, 9.14%, 7.72%, 10.15%, 4.12%), including (±)-2,3-dihydrofarnesol, α-farnesene, benzaldehyde, (+)-δ-cadinene, (Z)-β-farnesene, cis-nerolidol, geraniol, citral, anethole, phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, (E)-2-hexenal, 4-methylanisole, methyl geranate, farnesal, eugenol, linalool, (E,E)-farnesal, phenylethyl alcohol, β-caryophyllene, and farnesol. L. ' Tuscarora ' and the hybrids shared 36 (83.72%) volatiles: 25 (58.14%) with L. 'Ningxiang 1', 28 (65.51%) with L. 'Ningxiang 2', and 31 (72.09%) with L. 'Ningxiang 3', while L. fauriei shared 20 (65.52%): 19 (65.52%) with L. 'Ningxiang 1', 18 (62.07%) with L. 'Ningxiang 2', and 15 (51.72%) with L. 'Ningxiang 3'. This indicates that the components of hybrids' fragrances were more similar to L. 'Tuscarora' when compared with L. fauriei. Unlike from the parents, 9, 14, and 2 unique compounds were identified in the hybrids of L. 'Ningxiang' 1 to 3, respectively, which might contribute to their specific floral scents. Our findings laid a foundation for further understanding the genetic rule of Lagerstroemia floral scent components and provided guidance for its fragrant germplasm breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]