5 scented shrubs to make your winter garden smell amazing

Hamamelis

Here are five winter flowering shrubs that are easy to get hold of, easy to grow, and will provide beautiful colour and amazing fragrance at this time of year.

One of the things I love about gardens is that there is always something to enjoy no matter how cold and dark the days, and I certainly want my garden to offer something throughout all four seasons. February doesn't have to be dark, dingy and depressing in the garden.  Below are five of my favourite winter flowering shrubs, which all add some valuable colour and delightful scent, to brighten up those gloomy winter days, and now is a great time of year to plant them, giving them time to get established before the weather becomes too cold. 





Daphne odora

A small evergreen shrub, can be grown in pots. A bit trickier to grow and therefore more expensive to buy, but worth every penny. Every garden should have one, you will not find anything that has a sweeter fragrance. Put it outside your door and you will be wowed by it whenever you go outside during February or March. 



Daphne odora




Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter honeysuckle)

A climbing shrub that is ideal for training along a wall or up an arch or pergola. Small white flowers on bare stems in January and February produce a sweet , sherbet scent which you cannot fail to notice when you walk past.  



Lonicera fragrantissima



Mahonia x media "Winter sun".

Also flowers reliably all winter. Can become very tall, and displays its bright yellow flowers above everything growing around it. Be careful leaning in to smell it as the leaves are very spiky, but worth the effort as it smells delicious! As long as you have space for it, you don't need to prune it just let it grow! 

Mahonia

Viburnum bodnantense "Dawn"

Clusters of pink tinged white flowers on bare stems from January onwards. Place it close to paths or doors and enjoy the smell as you walk past.



Viburnum bodnantense "Dawn"

Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) 

This has just bloomed (top picture) producing its delicious scent not far from the back door. The twisted flowers are like strips of lemon peel hanging from the branches. If you can't smell it on a frosty day, breathe on the flowers to encourage them to release their scent.

Those are five of my favourite winter flowering shrubs, but what are yours?

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