As a secondary consideration to the prime planting style in our garden of
native as much as possible and perennial, I'm also trying to ensure that
the plants I choose are scented.

The long term design includes an arch to help shield off the 'work' part of
the garden (shed, greenhouse compost etc). I've managed to get hold of a
cheap arch and my initial concerns about strength were allayed by dangling
off the struts and it not collapsing. I know that I'm not going to get
anything to cover it for a couple of years and this year I'll maybe grab
some nasturtiums to scramble up it a bit of the way to get a feel (yes, I
know I'll be pulling out nasturtium seedlings for the following 5 years).

I'd like to grow something heavily scented up this arch (maybe two different
plants meeting at top from either side).

The arch is in full sun all day. The garden is very sheltered (although this
can turn it into a touch of a frost trap on a still night). The stuff that
was frost damaged at the beginning of May was not killed off by the frost
and is recovering so the heavy frost wasn't *too* bad in our garden maybe
allowing for slightly tender stuff.

The soil is a heavy clay, but it improves well and the big new border we
started this year is tuning into quite nice crumbly stuff. The raised bed
we made 2 years ago hardened up this year before I mulched it heavily in
the spring with some well rotted horse manure and is now back to a workable
tilth.

Drainage isn't too bad, last winter was wet though and we're trying to
persuade our neighbour that her pond pump needs something sorting since it
turns a small section of our lawn to bog whenever she runs it so overall it
has taken a while to dry out this spring.

There's a garden near us that is obviously owned by a rose enthusiast and
some of his/her roses must flower with a wonderful scent through most of
the summer. I can't help but stop and take in the wonderful perfume every
time I pass from mid-June onwards.

I'm also inclined to the scent of hops, but am concerned that the space may
be a bit small for one.

Any other suggestions will be welcomed.

Warwick

In article , Warwick
writes

I'd like to grow something heavily scented up this arch (maybe two different
plants meeting at top from either side).


The soil is a heavy clay, but it improves well and the big new border we
started this year is tuning into quite nice crumbly stuff. The raised bed
we made 2 years ago hardened up this year before I mulched it heavily in
the spring with some well rotted horse manure and is now back to a workable
tilth.

Our neighbour, also on clay, has a pergola with more or less the
selection you are thinking of - a rose, a clematis and a female golden
hop. I have to say that at the moment the rose is winning hands down!

We misguidedly planted an Alistair Stella Grey over the archway in the
front garden, and had to remove it because it was far too vigorous. I
took a cutting and planted down the bottom of the garden where it will
have plenty of room to roam.

So if you go for roses, go for something which isn't too vigorous. The
height and spread estimates in catalogues appear to be on the
conservative side - most roses we have grown have doubled that!

Honeysuckle grows happily intertwined with roses, and if you choose your
variety/species right, you can extend the fragrant season.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

I made that mistake with my arbour when I planted a "Pauls Himalayan Musk". Wonderful rose but it has rather taken liberties space wise.

If you fancy a fragrant climber a little out of the ordinary why not try Clematis Triterinata rubromarginata ? (not 100% about the spelling). It's a group three with small but abundant stellate flowers.