One of the most surprising things about the garden in Winter, is just how much scent can fill the air on a clear, crisp, frosty day. Many hardy plants produce tiny flowers at a time when the weather is at it’s harshest, which exude more intoxicating scent than seems possible given their diminutive size.
These wonderful Winter plants bring much needed optimism into the garden at a time when it’s looking at it’s most bleak, hinting at the promise of Spring just around the corner.
If you’d like to fill your garden with scent this Winter, we’ve selected a few of our favourite plants that are renowned for their fragrance.
1. Sarcococca Confusa (Winter Box) – H5
A plant that’s not only useful for it’s neat glossy evergreen foliage, but also for the exceptional fragrance given off by the small creamy flowers that line the stems. At the end of the flowering period, the upright stems are lined with attractive, glossy small black berries.
This plant will happily grow up to a height of 90cm (3ft) in most soils and is suitable for both sunny or partially shaded positions. We recommend planting it close to the house so the scent will reach open windows on sunny winter days.
2. Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ – H5
If you’re a fan of the scent of honeysuckle in Summer, like us, you’ll be delighted to hear of a Winter flowering variety whose beautiful floral fragrance will fill the air on a sunny day. This deciduous honeysuckle bush produces a profusion of creamy flowers on bare stems from early December through to April, occasionally followed by red berries.
A hard-working addition to any garden, it will grow just as happily in sun or shade in most soils and can reach a height of up to 1.8m (6ft)
3. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ – H4
A medium sized evergreen shrub with delightful fragrant pink and white flowers in late Winter followed by black berries. Preferring a sheltered position, this hardy shrub will brighten up any shaded garden corner.
Growing into a compact habit, this shrub can reach a maximum height of 2.5m (8ft) in 10 years, and likes to have it’s roots in fertile, humus-rich soil that doesn’t get too dry in the Summer.
4. Hamelis x intermdia ‘Vesna’ – H5
This variety of Witch Hazel produces fiery tones from Autumn through to Winter. First with its autumn leaf colour, then with strongly scented rich orange flowers flushed red at the base from December through to March.
A fantastic specimen shrub for any small garden, the upright habit of this Hamelis will reach up to 3m (10ft) and will grow in most sheltered or exposed positions in well drained soil.
5. Galanthus ‘Magnet’ – H5
Snowdrops are the quintessential Winter flower, pushing up their delicate nodding flowers on long arching stems that tremble in the slightest breeze. This particular variety is known for producing a honey scent that is most noticeable as the outer petals rise to the horizontal on sunny days, showing off the green inverted ‘V’ on the inner petals.
Plant in clusters in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil that does not dry out and allow to naturalise throughout the garden for stunning winter displays.
If you’ve been inspired to introduce some Winter scented plants into your garden but need a little help with planning, planting and design, we’d be more than happy to help. Please feel free to get in touch to find out more about our garden landscaping and grounds maintenance services. You may either call us on 01628 629720 or send us an enquiry.
