Perfect plants for a conservatory

In the depths of winter, a conservatory or garden room is the perfect place to potter and tend to a wide range of plants. Shrubs, climbers and bulbs that are tricky to grow outside flourish in this protected environment. Camellias will never be frosted, geraniums will continue to bloom, and, if you provide additional heat, exotics such as tree ferns (cyathea) and angel's trumpets (brugmansia) will flourish. Here's what to grow and where to get them:

● Jasminum polyanthum will fill your house with a great scent from February onwards. Follow it up with Jasminum azoricum for summer fragrance.

● Buddleja asiatica and Pittosporum tobira have spring blooms of perfume, while the Madagascar jasmine and Stephanotis floribunda flower from spring to autumn given an even temperature.

● Trachelospermum asiaticum and T. jasminoides are two scented climbers that thrive in conservatories.

● Citrus plants are semi-evergreen, sweet-smelling plants requiring a minimum temperature of 5°C (limes need 10°C). Water generously and they'll look great in pots on the patio come summer.

● Kentia palm will need regular trimming to keep its size under control, but its exotic allure is hard to resist.

● Aeonium arboreum is an attractive bushy succulent and enjoys the winter protection offered by a conservatory.