Perfumed partners
Lilies and freesias will make a patio as fragrant as a perfume counter. Oriental lilies have the strongest scent but need acid soil, so if your soil doesn’t suit, grow them in containers filled with ericaceous compost.
✣ Oriental lily ‘Casa Blanca’ has delicious, jasmine-scented white flowers in July and reaches 1.5m. For cut flowers, a Roselily type is a smart choice, as its pink flowers have no sticky yellow pollen.
✣ Freesias are best grown in pots, as they need a frost-free environment over winter. Most are sold as single- or double-flowered mixed corms, in crayon brights or pastel shades.