Top plant picks for winter fragrance

We mostly tend to think of the summer months when it comes to fragrance in the garden with all-stars such as roses and lavenders often topping the list of favourites. But to do so means ignoring a whole host of other plants whose fragrances really come into their own during the deep, dark winter months.

There are plenty of plants that provide us with flowers during the winter season but let’s not forget the ones that also give us fragrance too. There’s a diverse range of shrubs, climbers, perennials and bulbs that work hard to tickle our senses, from late autumn through to early spring.  We’ve picked just a few of our favourites that we think you’ll also enjoy.

Chimonanthus praecox

Pale yellow flowers appear through December, January and February on bare stems. The flowers are small and so best appreciated close up. Cut and bring indoors to fully appreciate the strong, sweet scent.

Hamamelis

Witch hazels are among the most reliable winter-flowering shrubs, withstanding both wind and severe frosts. The spidery flowers - in either yellow, orange or coppery-red - come on leafless stems.

Sarcococca confusa

Also known as Christmas box, this shrub’s flowers are almost insignificant but they pack a strongly-perfumed punch. Plant by a kitchen door, window or pathway to get the full effect.

Mahonia x media ‘Charity’

A favourite architectural evergreen in the garden, M. Media ‘Charity’ is multi-featured with with its holly-like leaves, yellow flowers with a fragrance reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley from November through March which are followed by purple-black berries.

Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’

From January to March, this long-flowering shrub produces masses of flowers which are a rich pink and exude a lovely scent.

Daphne

Daphne’s have amazingly scented flowers in February and March, attractive foliage - and are small enough to fit in any garden. The semi-evergreen Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ is particularly lovely with its purple-pink and white blooms.

Galanthus elwesii

A larger version of the common snowdrop, G. Elwesii has honey-scented flowers that come in mid to late winter. The flowers are suitable for cutting.

Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica

The creamy-white flowers of this winter-flowering clematis are delightfully saucer-shaped and flowers on and off from January until March. Cut and bring indoors to get the full impact of its scented flowers.