FRAGRANCE THROUGH THE WINDOW
1st June 2007

On balmy, summer days house windows are allowed to remain open day and night to take advantage of the slightest breeze.

Where perfumed flowers are planted close to the openings the fragrance is carried into the rooms. Some scents will carry better than others and it may be necessary to plant those with a delicate fragrance against the house wall below and to the side of the window.

Other perfumed shrubs such as philadelphus (mock orange) and syringa (lilac) have the ability to be appreciated from a distance. Most Mediterranean plants will perform better on a sunny, south-facing wall where warmth on the foliage will bring out the essential oils.

Where plants are being grown at the base of a wall then prepare the planting pit making it larger than the root ball. Add some moisture retentive compost and a handful of slow release bone meal fertilizer. This area is usually dry with little chance of rain wetting the ground so water after planting to settle the plant and as necessary for the rest of the season.

Choose climbing roses recommended for their fragrance. Rambling roses require careful selection as some are very vigorous with lots of flower but little or no fragrance.

The pineapple broom, Cytisus battandieri, has a wonderful fragrance of pineapple and is easily trained against a wall. Lists of good plants for growing against walls would have to include Azara microphylla and Acacia dealbata.

A sure way of impressing guests, especially those staying overnight, is to plant lilies below the windows and for evening fragrance there is still time to sow the tobacco plant Nicotiana sylvestris. Its tall stems of pure white flowers will dispense a heady perfume during the late evening and through the night.

Pot grown Brugmansia suaveolens and citrus bushes will, when in flower, fill a room with a heavy, sweet scent.

For the very best in climbers drape the windows with Jasminum polyanthum, wisteria, trachelospermum and honeysuckle.

If there is any space remaining then plant a yucca. The enormous flower spike will not only exude a delicate scent but will manage to look impressive when framed by the window.

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