Hi Rachel, how about a Bamboo, a nice tall one that would hide the drain pipe ?, Derek.

I might place several tall decorative planters of various sizes and have an herb garden. Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley, green onions, Bay Laurel. Some would be very aromatic .

I think at your location you could get away with Oleander or Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia Reginae. If you go for a Strelitzia then do buy a fair size one as a small one will take a time to flower but well worth it.

if you want permanent why not try a fastigate yew or juniper. green all year round. yucca but that might be too broad. all will need a good sized pot.

or bamboo as suggested. there are other tall grasses to consider too miscanthus etc.
or think about things that might need to have winter protection like bananas, gingers etc. bold statement plants through the summer.

Frangula alnus 'Fine Line' grows up to 250cm and up to 60cm wide. Can be grown in a pot.

I would avoid bamboo. The larger varieties, 'Phyllostachys Aurea will be very untidy when they drop their leaves, especially near drains. They will also quickly get pot-bound and need an even bigger pot.

Hi Rachel, what about a piece of trellis between the drainpipe and patio door. Then train an everygreen Jasmine. Some of the Jasmines are quite heavily perfumed, with white or cream flowers. This would eventually cover and soften the effect of the drainpipe.

Perhaps check with your Mum to check for sun/shade. Also consider if it is a sheltered corner or a windy spot?

Good luck.

Aspect is critical to know, meaning which way does the area face, (north, south or whatever). If you don't know that, does it get a lot of sun or no sun, or some sun in summer, none in winter, is it a very windy corner, or sheltered....

I agree with Alan, I was thinking Jasmine as I am just now cutting it back so it behaves. Full of flower, scented, easily pruned and grows happily. Mine is pink, but there is white and yellow I think.

I got it! I got it! You want bold? 'Fireworks Fountain Grass'. Everyday the 4th of July! How could you go wrong?

I would avoid climbing jasmine - for one thing it will need full sun, and all will drop their leaves in winter except for Trachelospermum jasminoides (not a jasmine at all), and all want to get upwards of 25 feet, up a wall support. Because they can't reach their potential in a pot, they will only look okay for the first two or three years - after that, they run out of root room.

Fastigiate yew is a good idea (Taxus baccata fastigiata) if you either don't mind or want a plant that looks more or less the same year round; there's a gold leaved and a green leaved version and it won't mind sun or shade.

Hi Rachel, Fully agree with Bamboo that aspect is critical ie sun/shade, wind/no wind. Bamboo is certainly far more qualified to advise than I am.
I would however make reference to questions asked by 'Coineach' 2 April 2008 and 'Pennyfarthing' on 14 April 2015. Regarding toxins in yew.
Maybe have a read of these, if you have young children or dogs that visit or use your garden. Especially as any planting is going to be very close to the house and an opening patio door. ........ Hope this helps.

https://www.growsonyou.com/question/show/614-yew-tree

https://www.growsonyou.com/question/show/286432

Yew is a poisonous plant - but so are over 50% of the plants commonly grown in our gardens. So long as you don't intend to snack on the berries or make a salad with the leaves, its fine...

I lost a cat because he snacked on my yew bush. It was was very long & painful death & the vet could not save him. I will say the yew bush is so beautiful against the white snow with it's deep winter evergreen and those red berries.

I have a fastigiate holly, Ilex crenata. very neat, slow growing and not fussy about aspect. And because its small at the base you can put spring bulbs in the pot round it.
While waiting for it to grow why not get one or two of those planters designed to clip on drain pipes to jazz things up a bit? There are lots of trailing bedding plants that would look good there in the summer..