Fragrant Winter Shrubs

Try to find these Fragrant Winter Shrubs!

Maybe it is because of the unpredictably warm and cold temperatures, but many of the most fragrant shrubs bloom in winter and are therefore blooming right now!

Wintersweet Shrub

I am delighted each winter by the Wintersweet shrub (chimonanthus praecox).

The bloom itself is a waxy yellow-tan cupped shape with a red center. Its foliage is insignificant, and for 10 months of the year the growth habit looks like a fountain-shaped, weedy volunteer.

Come February though, it releases an astonishingly fragrant bloom you can smell from across the yard. It Bills the house with a musky perfume after you cut it and bring it in.

It likes not-too-hot sun, and can be cut back in early spring. It gets 10-15’ tall and 8-12’ wide, so give it space maybe on the fringe of the garden or woods.

It’s a “you gotta have it” plant, but often difficult to Bind in any nursery.

Daphne ‘Odora’

The Daphne ‘odora’ (odor of the Gods) is evergreen with a green or variegated leaf, and a small white/pink Blowers the size of a dime. The plant is small and woody and is a wonderful cutting Blower. Bring one to a dinner party and be the talk of the town!

My neighbors walk by our woods each winter sniffing to see if it is in bloom, and often ask for clippings.

Daphne takes little maintenance if you plant them in dappled shade, protected from the cold winds. They do not like wet feet and sometimes after 10 years or so decide they have had enough and die.

The plant gives so many of us joy in dreary weather that its worth just going out and buy another or two!

Viburnum “Diana”

Another fragrant shrub is the Viburnum “Diana” Korean spice.

This plant you must get close to and sniff the bloom… but then what a nose kick! The plant itself is compact with bushy leaves. Flowers start off red then turn pale lilac. They fade to white as they mature.

Cuttings are long stems with Blowers dotting alone the wood, like a lovely Japanese Blower painting.

Fragrant Early Blooming Daffodils

And Finally, at this time of year, there are fragrant daffodils. Fragrant daffodils are such a surprise because unless you had read the label and remember where you planted them, you might forget you have them at all. It’s worth walking through the fields and woods and sniffing away to see if you can eek them out and bring them in to brighten the room.