Winter Scents for winter impact
Whilst your garden may not be a visual feast at this time of the year, there are other ways to add a degree of impact. One of those at this time of year is winter scents.
There are lots of good shrubs for winter scent. The underrated Mahonia (‘charity’ has the best scent), viburnum bodnantense varieties, chimonanthus praecox (winter sweet) to name a few. For pots I would go for two of the most reliable, which are quite happy to be contained. Sarcococca confusa aka Christmas box will grow anywhere (even in shady, rooty ground underneath trees). It’s a rather boring small evergreen shrub, and even when it’s creamy white tassle like flowers appear in late spring, it isn’t particularly showy. Its big asset is it’s sweet, heady fragrance, which will fill a patio with scent for weeks. Another good plant with a strong sweet scent is Daphne odora ( ‘Auromarginata’ has a golden edge to it’s gloosy green leaf). It has good foliage throughout the year and the clusters of pinky-white flowers in winter are really quite showy.
Make sure to put the scented plants where they will be appreciated the most. Where do you go in the garden in winter? Not too far away from the back door probably. I often plant them in front gardens where you are guaranteed a sniff as you walk past.
Do you find Mahonia Charity scented? I must say I haven’t noticed much scent about this at all. Mahonia Japonica gives the best scent but of course that is later on.