Some of the most beautifully scented flowers are just about to bloom… with very few insect pollinators about, plants who choose to flower in the winter have to work extra hard to attract attention. They do this by producing a scent that travels – plants such as Lonicera fragrantissima, the winter shrub honeysuckle, produce small creamy flowers on bare stems from December until March that smell absolutely gorgeous from several feet away. Sarcococca confusa, Christmas box, has inconsequential flowers hidden under evergreen foliage, but smells stunning (bring some indoors!) and Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ (pictured) has pungent, pretty pink flowers on tall upright stems in mild spells right the way through the winter. Heaven scent!
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