Hi Rubytoo, thanks for that link - very useful. Mine are in the same sort of places. I think at least one of them is a different variety. From memory, I think at least two were in flower when I bought them but haven't flowered since. They are at least 3 or 4 years old, all but one are still rather small. One has very sparse leaves. I begin to think it's our soil, a clay alkaline they don't like perhaps.
Wisehedgecrone - I have lonicera fragantissima which is in full blossom now, opposite is a daphne odora 'aureomarginata' also in blossom and both smell good, but I do find I have to stick my nose in the blossom to smell it! I fear I might be losing my sense of smell. I think it is recommended that scented plants, especially winter ones, need to be in a protected, preferably enclosed space to get the full benefit of perfume. It's often windy here so that's not ideal.
i have a lonicera fragrantissima too but i cant say the fragrance is very strong. There again, its in a fairly open position on the driveway so maybe that is why. i had hoped it would assail my nostrils with scent, but.....
At the end of the drive I've made a corner with Viburnum bod. on 2 sides and the winter flowering honeysuckle in the middle. It's not a particularly sheltered spot so there is often no scent. But on a still late winter / early spring day when there's a hint of warmth in the sun - the scent is intoxicating as you walk past.
I also have scented narcissi and hyacinths planted nearby. It's lovely to catch a whiff of those when weeding on hands and knees in spring.
Incidentally, I thought my (2 year old) Sarcococca confusa had no scent - which was very disappointing as the scent was the main reason for choosing it.
This year, for the first time, this small young shrub is covered in flowers. Snipped a 2" end off and breathed deeply - no scent. Cupped it in my hands to warm it a little - hmm - is that a faint whiff? Took it into the kitchen and laid it on the window sill. 2 hours later the whole kitchen was scented from this tiny piece - it just needed a little warmth to bring out the scent. Lovely🙂
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Like Ladybird4, I would also recommend Chimonanthus praecox! My 4 year old plant is flowering for the first time. I really love the scent. There are only 17 flowers this year so I have to admit the scent is not strong. But I think it will get better and better for the years to come.
Ahhh, it takes a while to flower? i have a small one in a pot at the moment and was wondering when it would bloom. ill wait till it's of flowering age then to plant it into the garden!
I really love the scented winter plantings in gardens we've visited.
If you have a sunny position and free draining soil, it's worth trying Coronilla Valentina Subsp Glauca. Practically flowers on and off for around 5 months from October onwards. Evergreen and doesn't take up much space. They can also be grown in large containers. They also make good wall trained shrubs.
There's a couple of viburnum in the park I walk through to work - thought they were Daphne for ages before I checked. They smell fantastic, and are definitely a bit stronger than the lonicera nearby. Also pretty compact.
Is this a sarcococca confusa? I've just brought some into the warmth to see if @Topbird's tip will work its magic on her, as I've never noticed any scent before...
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Wisehedgecrone - I have lonicera fragantissima which is in full blossom now, opposite is a daphne odora 'aureomarginata' also in blossom and both smell good, but I do find I have to stick my nose in the blossom to smell it! I fear I might be losing my sense of smell. I think it is recommended that scented plants, especially winter ones, need to be in a protected, preferably enclosed space to get the full benefit of perfume. It's often windy here so that's not ideal.
I also have scented narcissi and hyacinths planted nearby. It's lovely to catch a whiff of those when weeding on hands and knees in spring.
Incidentally, I thought my (2 year old) Sarcococca confusa had no scent - which was very disappointing as the scent was the main reason for choosing it.
This year, for the first time, this small young shrub is covered in flowers. Snipped a 2" end off and breathed deeply - no scent. Cupped it in my hands to warm it a little - hmm - is that a faint whiff? Took it into the kitchen and laid it on the window sill. 2 hours later the whole kitchen was scented from this tiny piece - it just needed a little warmth to bring out the scent. Lovely🙂
My 4 year old plant is flowering for the first time. I really love the scent.
There are only 17 flowers this year so I have to admit the scent is not strong. But I think it will get better and better for the years to come.
I really love the scented winter plantings in gardens we've visited.
Is this a sarcococca confusa? I've just brought some into the warmth to see if
@Topbird's tip will work its magic on her, as I've never noticed any scent before...