scent in a winter garden
Recently, when strolling through a public garden, I was surprised by a sudden waft of perfume, so pronounced against the crisp winter air.
I spent a couple of minutes trying to identify where it came from. I eventually discovered that it was a small, neatly trimmed Viburnum x bodnantense shrub, with tiny pinkish clusters of flowers, that was emanating this fragrance.
It was such a joy to experience this pronounced scent, and it really elevated my experience of being in this garden to another level, a much more sensual one.
Many winter gardens, when deprived of their blooms and foliage, look quite bare.
To enhance the overall experience in a winter garden we can introduce a variety of plants with flowers that produce distinctive scents.
Sarcococca confusa, commonly named Christmas box, is one such plant that will bring a memorable olfactory experience into your garden design.
This winter flowering shrub has gorgeously scented, white flowers. They stand out against the plant’s glossy, dark green foliage. It is a great plant with a variety of uses. For example, it could be used to create a striking informal hedge, when planted in a row.
Sarcococca confusa also grows well in more troubled spots, like under the trees and shrubs in dry shade conditions. Planted in a container near the entrance to your house, it will reward you with an intense scent, making your engagement with your garden planting during winter months much more memorable.
Chimonanthus praecox, commonly called Wintersweet, is another plant to consider. It produces small, translucent, yellow, blooms that encourage you to look at and to smell up close. The fragrance of this winter flowering shrub is very intense. It is worth planting it closer to a path or a house entrance, so the scent of this plant can be appreciated frequently.
There are also plants that have aromatic foliage, which are worth considering for a garden border.
Geraniums, Nepetas, rosemary or lavender are just a few examples of plants that, when touched, evoke a fantastic scent. Think about positioning these plants closer to a path, so when you pass by you can stroke your hand against the foliage of these plants and experience their fragrance.
Your garden design can be elevated to another level by adding plants that produce scent, especially during winter months. By doing this, walking around your garden in winter becomes a real treat, as you experience the many scents that these flowering shrubs deliver at this time of the year.
It will uplift your garden experience during those darker winter months, by bringing your olfactory senses multiple joyful surprises.