6 summer bulbs with fragrant flowers

Chocolate Cosmos

The Cosmos atrosanguineus is a beautiful tuberous perennial that will continue to surprise you. Its attractive flowers bloom in a deep, almost black purple hue, then lighten to dark red as they develop. This cosmos, nicknamed ‘chocolate cosmos’, owes its name not only to its lovely warm colour but also to its surprising cocoa fragrance. With a modest height of 60 cm and a width of 40 cm, it is suitable for sunny borders or along pathways to enjoy its delightful scent from July to October. With its Mexican origins, this beautiful plant loves full sun but is sensitive to frost. During cold periods, the tubercles will need to be dug up and stored over winter like dahlias. Alternatively, it can be grown in pots that can be brought indoors in winter, which is simple and effective.

This lovely cosmos will thrive in rich, slightly moist soil, where its beautiful purple colour will be highlighted among the soft pink flowers of a Dahlia Ball ‘Wizard Of Oz’ and an Asian lily ‘double Elodie’. It will also provide a lovely contrast with the grey and silver foliage of wormwoods, lamb’s ears, or sea cineraria.

The Cosmos atrosanguineus is a surprising ornamental plant with a chocolate scent

The Royal White Lily

With its majestic white flowers shaped like large elongated trumpets, the Royal White Lily is a delight for both the eyes and the nose. It blooms from July to August releasing a heady, sweet fragrance. Easy to grow and vigorous, this lily produces up to 30 flowers, reaching heights of 1.5 m. Plant its bulbs in rich, humus-bearing, slightly moist soil, but not overly so, in a sunny position. Very hardy and well-suited to cold, it does, however, dislike overly calcareous, heavy, and excessively wet soils.

This magnificent lily can live for up to 30 years, allowing it to blend in among non-invasive perennial plants, such as Lupins, Gauras, and delphiniums. Its beauty and hardiness will perfectly suit a romantic or cottage garden, near a small ‘Peace and Love’ rose, a Caryopteris ‘Heavenly Blue’, some lavender, or a shrubby cinquefoil. The royal lily will be perfect for enhancing a flower bed, a large rockery, and in bouquets.

The Royal White Lily (Lilium regale Album)

Ornithogalum arabicum

Ornithogalum arabicum, known as Star of Bethlehem, is a bulbous plant with small, delicate, and fragrant white flowers. These reveal a heart shaped like a black pearl. They bloom at the end of spring, from June, or even in May in warm climates, until July. Native to the Near East, this precious plant thrives in the warmth of Mediterranean regions. Elsewhere, its bulbs should be stored in winter or grown in pots in a conservatory. Plant it in high-traffic areas to enjoy its enchanting fragrance while admiring its beauty.

Its simple and elegant silhouette will make a statement in a natural garden, at the heart of a mixed border, or along pathways. It pairs beautifully with other perennial plants that have a light appearance, such as Columbines, ornamental grasses, Epimediums, not to mention the bulbs of Alliums, Eucomis, lilies, or gladioli. Its summer flowering will accompany that of Irises and Agapanthus. Note that its very long vase life will be perfect for creating stunning fragrant bouquets.

Ornithogalum arabicum is also known as Star of Bethlehem

Trailing Begonia odorata

The trailing begonias are a selection of three varieties distinguished by their delicate fragrance. From July to October, they produce large, very double flowers, each in shades of white with a pink reverse, bright pink, or soft red. Their beautiful trailing habits will make a statement in a planter or hanging basket, perfect for decorating a terrace or balcony in partial shade. Once flowering is over, begonias enter dormancy during winter. They should be protected from the cold by storing the hanging basket in a sheltered place, such as a shed or conservatory. If grown in the ground in a border, the tubers of begonias will need to be dug up and stored for winter like those of dahlias. To add a touch of lightness to your display, plant the begonia alongside gauras, gypsophila, a lobelia, or even a myosotis.

The trailing begonias are stunning in a hanging basket

Freesia 'Double Blue'

The Freesia ‘Double Blue’ is a beautiful variety of “Cape lily” with large lavender-blue flowers. From May until the end of July, its flower spikes reach a height of 50 cm and release a sweet fragrance reminiscent of jasmine. Rather sensitive to cold, this freesia can be grown in the garden in warm regions, provided it is given light, rich soil that remains moderately moist and well-drained. In other regions, the bulbs should be lifted and stored until the following spring. This lovely freesia can also be grown in a pot on a sunny terrace. As winter approaches, the pot should be moved to a sheltered spot in a greenhouse, conservatory, or garage.

This Freesia is perfect for a romantic or exotic garden alongside other bulbous plants, such as Polianthes, agapanthus, Crinums, and a Lycoris aurea. Its blue flowers are also appreciated in cut flower arrangements, particularly for their long-lasting qualities in a vase.

The Freesia ‘Double Blue’ offers a sweet jasmine fragrance

Polianthes tuberosa 'Pink Sapphire'

The Polianthes tuberosa ‘Pink Sapphire’ is a beautiful tuberous plant, still rare, that will delight lovers of fragrant flowers. From July to September, it produces long clusters of very double flowers, medium pink with a hint of mauve, releasing an enchanting fragrance. Native to Mexico, it enjoys warmth and should be grown in full sun, in rich but slightly moist soil. Very frost-sensitive, it will prefer pot cultivation, to be sheltered in winter. ‘Pink Sapphire’ has only one drawback: each plant flowers just once, but produces several new tubercles that will flower in turn after 2 to 3 years of cultivation. Thus, a bit of patience is required to achieve summer flowering each year.

Place it near the terrace, in a conservatory, or in a large pot to enjoy its fragrance on summer evenings. This Polianthes will naturally find its place among other tall flowering spikes, such as Agapanthus, Delphiniums, Gladioli, Eucomis, or Snapdragons.

The Polianthes tuberosa ‘Pink Sapphire’ emits a strong enchanting fragrance

For further reading

• Discover our summer bulb varieties
• Browse our advice sheet to speed up summer bulbs
• Check out our tips for storing bulbs before and after flowering
• Olivier advises you on choosing tools for planting bulbs.