Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Scented winter shrubs

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
in Plants
Advice please on winter flowering shrubs specifically scented ones that can be used as cut flowers indoors. If I believed the adverts they are all amazing but would rather go on the expert recommendation of those on the forum! 
They would mostly be grown in large pots. Thanks! 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I have bought sarcococca and am growing a cutting of winter honeysuckle I was given by a gardening friend.  Also have hamamelis now I'm in a new garden with neutral to acid soil.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited September 2018
    I grow Osmanthus burkwoodii debs. It flowers in spring. Small 'dangly' white/cream flowers.  It's quite unassuming, but has glossy dark green foliage [evergreen] and I often pick bits in summer when I pick sweet peas, just as a contrast, and it lasts well in water  I don't think I've ever picked it when in flower though.
    Likes some shade so very useful for lots of those awkward areas. I think it would be fine in a decent container. Mine is in one of the raised beds.  :)
    Found  a pic 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd be wary of cutting winter flowering shrubs like hamamelis and lonicera purpussi to bring indoors, as they're pretty slow growing.
    Am I just a wimp?
    Devon.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd be wary of cutting winter flowering shrubs like hamamelis and lonicera purpussi to bring indoors, as they're pretty slow growing.
    Am I just a wimp?
    Devon.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I had Sarcococca, but the winter of 2010 put an end to it. I don't miss it, as I never smelt anything from it, probably too windy here!
    I have the lonicera, which I know can be gorgeous, but it needs a sunnier site than I have so far allotted it and has very few flowers. It is in a pot, but is a gawky, rather boring shrub at other times, not really deserving a front row position.
    Viburnum X burkwoodii is lovely and would probably be fine in a pot. Mine gets a fair bit of shade and flowers every spring and this one I can smell.
    Can also smell V. bodnantense 'Dawn', which has pretty pink flowers and carries them on and off all winter. It is a large, vigorous shrub though, unsuited to a pot.
    Have unsated yearnings for a Daphne 'Jacqueline Postill', which are likely to stay that way, as the last time I looked plants were around the £30 mark, which is a lot for something as miffy as some daphnes. Fell in love with it at Ness gardens, where you could almost swim in the scent!
    Do have D. mezereon though and look forward to its flowers opening every February. It grows on the edge of the limestone chippings on the yard and is utterly reliable and smells wonderfully of honey.
    Dithering over Hamamelis myself at the moment. The storms last winter toppled 2 pine trees, the treemen have done their thing and I now have a new space for development. The yellow ones are supposedly the best for scent, but the red or the orange ones would show up more and I already have a greeny-yellow flowered Cornus mas...

  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Looking at winrersweet or sarcococca? Also viburnum Charles Lamont? There is daphne odora too that seems tempting. I like the idea of a scented shrub collection by back door to brighten the cold dark winter days. 
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Wintersweet! Stupid predictive text! 
Sign In or Register to comment.