4 Stunning Scented Shrubs for Flowers in Your Winter Garden
It’s easy to think that all garden interest happens in spring, summer and autumn (fall). But, with these simple to grow scented shrubs, you will be enjoying fragrance, colour and flowers through the darkest days of the year.
1. Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’
This gorgeous winter bloomer loses its leaves in a blaze of coppery red in autumn (fall). Don’t be dismayed though, because you will soon see clusters of flower buds appearing on the upright branches.
Beautiful rich, rosy pink flowers appear, which have a fresh and uplifting scent. This vibrant viburnum will flower all through the darkest months and boost your winter garden.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ will grow happily in sun or partial shade. In a pot or in the ground — it’s very easy-going.
2. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’
Originally from the Himalayas, this daphne has a mouthwateringly sweet orange fragrance which is bewitching on a cold winter day. The soft, shell pink flowers contrast beautifully with the glossy green foliage.
Daphnes will enjoy a sheltered, sunny position in your garden. You could grow this in a pot or in the ground. Just don’t prune it — daphnes can sulk if you start chopping bits off it!
With delicate, four-petalled flowers in shell pink, daphnes have an astonishingly sweet and rich winter fragrance.
3. Winter Box (Sarcococca confusa)
Another evergreen shrub, with shiny leaves of deepest green. The tiny white, starry flowers of the winter box are dainty and fresh looking.
It’s a fantastic idea to clip a sprig off and bring it indoors. The crisp, lemony scent will easily fill a warm room and rejuvenate your house.
Winter box is another low-maintenance shrub. Just keep it out of the hottest parts of your garden and it will thrive. Lots of people grow this winter gem in a container, so they can move it next to a door in the coldest months and inhale that delicious scent!
The tiny, starry flowers on the winter box will scent and freshen your home on dreary days.
4. Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)
This winter stunner will lose its leaves in hard winters, although not all. The delicate creamy gold flowers have a richly delicious honey scent that will transport you to sunnier climes, even on the coldest winter day.
Winter honeysuckle is very low maintenance and unfussy about growing conditions. If you have a sunny wall it can grow against, it will reward you with festoons of tiny, fragrant trumpet shaped flowers on the bleakest of days.
Winter honeysuckle photographed on 16 Dec 2021 in Somerset, England. It’s filling this corner of the garden with a rich honey fragrance.
Scented winter-flowering shrubs will brighten and revitalise your garden on the days when you need it most. Try looking in a garden centre near you and choose one to plant today!
