Sweet Scented Borders

Scent is highly evocative and has the power to vividly recall places, people and events. Scent can take you back to your childhood or transport you into a faraway land. It is therefore surprising that frangrance is often overlooked when planting a garden, or that people think only of roses, honeysuckle and jasmine when considering scented plants. There are a number of scented herbaceous perennials that can be fitted into small spaces.

A sunny border is the pefect spot for scented plants as the heat of the sun brings out the scent. Wallflowers are an old fashioned favourite. They should be planted in groups at the front of the border as they only grow about 30cm high. Make sure you get the older varieties as they have the better scent. Most people treat wallflowers as annuals and simply replant each year.

Among my favourite summer flowers are stocks with their distinctive clove perfume. The scent of the white stocks is not as strong as the pink or mauve and you might like to plant these if you don't like your fragrance too full-on. Although stocks need to be replaced each year they are well worth the effort. You can either get young plants at the garden centre or grow your own from seed.

One of the most beautiful scented plants in the garden is the lily and there are many cultivators to choose from, but the double oriental hybrid 'Miss Lucy' is one of the finest. It is very fragrant and can be grown in pots, it is therefore excellent for the patio. Lillies like sun and plenty of water, but don't like to get their feet wet, so make sure they are well drained. Lillies should ideally be planted in April and May, but I've planted as late as July and still had flowers.

For a more delicate perfume try scented pelargoniums on the patio. The scent comes from the foliage and brushing the leaves with your hands will release the lovely perfume. The scent is quite subtle and often smells of apple, lemon, peppermint or orange. Have a good sniff before you buy because one or two smell of cat pee.

Pinks are among the old favourite scented plants in the garden and on the patio. As they are quite small it's a good idea to place them on a table or a shelf. If you are growing pinks for scent you must choose carefully as some of the modern varieties are gown for show rather than scent. Go for the old fashioned varieties and I think the old 'Mrs Sinkins' is still the star of the show. It is plain white and has the most exquisite perfume. The only drawback with old fashioned pinks is that the flowering period is short, usually just June and July.

For those with a shady garden I can recommend Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odaratum) and Smilacina racemosa, both of which are related to the Lily of the Valley. Both are scented and will thrive in the shade and are easily grown. They are hardy and can be kept in the ground all year round. They flower from April till June and produce berries once they have finished flowering.