Our bush is planted in the back garden in the shade of the woodland – this prevents the leaves burning in the sun and turning brown. It contrasts well with the rhododendron on one side and a blue conifer on the other.

Clusters of 4 petalled, very scented flowers cover the bush at this time of year and the perfume can be detected at least 100ft away, if the breeze is coming in the right direction.

When walking past the bush, the temptation  to bury your nose in the flowers is  so great, but for me, the perfume is so much nicer when it steals secretly round the garden and catches you unawares. As long as you have a good sense of smell ( alas, my husband hasn’t, he misses out on so much in the garden ) you really can’t ignore such a lovely shrub and we all have our favourite plants which perfume the garden. I can never have too much of a good smell , it adds another dimension to the garden,  another of the senses is involved – do you agree ?

Trachelospermum Jasminoides has an overpowering perfume when we walk through the pergola, what a sweet smell, absolutely gorgeous, must take some cuttings and spread it round the garden.

Another shrub with an amazing perfume is Pittosporum Tobira. we first met this on holiday in Rome where it was everywhere, as hedges, in pots or growing naturally in gardens, wonderful perfume as you were walking along the hot dusty roads.

Our shrub is now about 2 meters tall and survived the frost last winter very well indeed. One scent that I missed very much this year was from Euphorbia Mellifera. We had a shrub in the back garden, again 2 meters tall which gave off the most wonderful scent each May/June in the evening and could be smelled all over the garden, it was so strong. Unfortunately it seems to have succomed to the bad winter that we had and has left a large gap in the border.

I’m hoping to be able to transplant one of it’s seedlings in the autumn, but it will be a few years before it fills the space of it’s parent, even so, we should have its beautiful perfume next year.