Create a wonderful scented oasis

15/06/2008

Fill the air with romance and trigger sweet memories with fragrant flowers. Putting them close to the patio adds an extra dimension to outdoor entertaining, especially when the sun goes down.

ROSES
Crate a rose garden using a mix of Hybrid Tea, Floribunda and Grandiflora varieties. And donÕt forget that essential seat! Roses need around six hours of sunshine each day to flourish and well-nourished soil.

GOOD IDEA:  Add extra interest by training climbing roses like fragrant New Dawn to create curtains of cascading flowers.  

HOW MUCH? Fragrant Rose Collection (five plants) costs £29.  

MOCK ORANGE

Philadelphus Virginal is the most popular variety of mock orange, bearing sweet orange-blossom scented, double white blooms between June and July. It needs plenty of room to flourish and is easy to grow - suitable for poor soils and resistant to disease and urban pollution.  

GOOD IDEA: Philadelphus are not only powerfully fragrant, but are drought-tolerant once established and can survive the coldest winter.  

HOW MUCH? £3.80 (www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk, 01782 502741).  

HELIOTROPE
Heliotrope smells like cherry pie, vanilla ice cream and sweet violets - and for some people like a freshly-talced baby's bottom! It grows wonderfully in containers on a patio and in cottage style borders and can be overwintered if moved to a frost-free spot. It's easy to grow from seed and flowers come in white, violet, dark purple and blue.  

GOOD IDEA: It makes a good cut flower so grow some in rows in rich soil in full sun where it can reach its potential and grow 2ft tall and produce heavy flower trusses 4-6in in diameter.  

HOW MUCH? Six different varieties £4.90 (www.readsnursey.co.uk, 01508 548395).  

HONEYSUCKLE
Honeysuckle flowers will flood the evening air with an intoxicating sweet honey scent, which is nectar to butterflies and bees. It will grow in sun or partial shade.  

GOOD IDEA: Golden Honey, the first true yellow variety, has been tamed into a perfect patio specimen. Serotina will give you a multi-coloured display of red, pink and yellow blooms.  

HOW MUCH? Three young plants for £8.99 (www.plantoffers.com, 0844 573 2020).  

NICOTIANA
As evening falls, let the delicate jasmine scent of tobacco plants or nicotiana fill your summer garden. They perform best in dappled shade.  Deadhead regularly and they will last right through to the first frosts.  

GOOD IDEA: Combine nicotiana with phlox for a garden filled with lovely sweet, floral notes. Plant them in a sheltered spot.  

HOW MUCH? Plants from around £3.50 from  garden centres.  

LAVENDER
Lavender makes a delightful low hedge and will release its calming fragrance when you lightly brush against it, The smaller varieties such as Hidcote and Munstead require little pruning.  

GOOD IDEA: The spikes of lavender can be collected just as the florets are opening and hung to dry. When the spikes are completely dry the flowers can be rubbed off and stored for use. HOW MUCH? Plants start from £2.50 (www.downderry-nursery.co.uk, 01732 810081)  

PINKS  
FROM late spring to autumn the flowers provide colour and scent. Mrs Sinkins is considered to be the most scented of all Pinks.  

GOOD IDEA: Pinks are good companions for lavender and need a position with direct and unrestricted light.  

HOW MUCH? From £1.70 (www.hopleys.co.uk, 01279 842509).  

LILIES
Grown for its heady perfume, the tall trumpet lily Lilium regale is best grown in pots planted close to seats.  

GOOD IDEA: The glistening ivory white blooms, which are flushed with pink, look good when planted with roses and agapanthus and clouds of bronze fennel foliage.  

HOW MUCH? Costs £5.95 (www.crocus.co.uk, 0870 787 1413).