Winter in the garden is a beautiful time of year with frosts that glisten on dewy grass and lush evergreens.
So, don’t go into hibernation just yet– one of the best features of a winter garden is fragrance.
Many winter plants that lack large, showy flowers make up for it with heady perfume. Grow them near doors, gates and pathways so they waft you with their scent as you come and go. It’s the perfect welcome home on a cold winter’s night. Here are my top 8 below.
Witch hazel
Hammamelis is a striking plant that bears yellow and orange flowers along its bare branches. They have thin, spidery petals and a rich scent. It needs acidic soil but does grow happily in containers if your garden is alkaline.
Daphne
Daphne is an evergreen shrub with heady scented four-petal flowers. Try D. bholua for deep pinky flowers with white centres. Or D. odora has red-purple flowers and pale centres with yellow-edged leaves.
Sarcococca
This is also known as sweet box. It’s a bushy evergreen shrub that has dark, leathery leaves. It looks quite unimposing but it bears tiny creamy-white flowers that have a super-sweet scent, followed by glossy black berries.
Viburnum
This deciduous shrub has dark green leaves with toothy edges. It has tight clusters or pink flowers throughout winter that have a delicious scent. These are followed by blue-black berries in spring.
Wintersweet
Chimonanthus praecox is a woody shrub with striking yellow flowers along its branches. The blooms are cup-shaped and hang down, releasing their intoxicating fragrance. It is fully hardy but likes a sheltered spot.
Miniature Iris
Miniature iris are so delicate and ideal for containers. But it’s their gentle scent that makes them so great for winter gardens. Try Iris reticulata or unguicularis for elegant purple and blue flowers in window boxes.
Mahonia
Mahonia is an evergreen shrub with spiky, leathery leaves. In winter it produces long draping stems covered in pale yellow flowers that have a delicate scent. In early spring the flowers give way to blue-black berries.
Honeysuckle
Winter-flowering honeysuckle is ideal for growing by the back door. Two great varieties are Lonicera fragrantissima and Lonicera x purpussii. Both produce delicate creamy-white flowers on bare branches with a pungent perfume.
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David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
Thanx for the tips on clay soil as I have a huge rockery which is clay also advice on which plants do well in this type of soil,much appreciated
You have been very helpful! I may bed and where I live now, has hard clay soil.