THE WINTER FRAGRANCE COLLECTION FROM ST BRIDGET HITS PEAK PERFUME!

Did you know? Pollination goes on all year long! Flowering plants have evolved to produce scent to attract any pollinators that may be in the neighbourhood (bumble-bees, butterflies, moths, and bats).

Winter flowering plants are in bloom when honey-bees are not active so must rely on other pollinators, such as bumble-bees, and other flying insects, to move pollen from one flower to another, fertilising the plant. As there are fewer pollinators active in the colder months, scents need to be strong to signal further – which happily is what we humans find so attractive.

On a clear sunny winter’s day these plants come into their own. Best for a path-side, patio pot or under a mature tree, but which to choose?

There are a surprisingly wide variety of ornamental plants that flower at this time of year and many of them pump out stunning scents. We grow a fantastic range of these winter fragrance plants, from Daphne and Hamamelis to Sarcococca and Viburnum.

You’ll find a full list of our Winter Fragrance Collection at the bottom of this blog.

On a sunny day our Plant Area smells fabulous, come on down and have a good nose around our collection.

Sarcoccoca species

Commonly known as Christmas or Sweet Box, this lovely evergreen shrub produces a sweet honey-like scent. Its pretty creamy-white flowers appear from December through to March.

Sarcococca is an easy-grow low maintenance plant, it Thrives in dappled and deep shade, on fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Tolerates a wide range of soils including chalk, clay, loam and sand. And tolerates both Acid and alkaline soils.

Daphne odora

Daphne odora is a sought after flowering shrub for the woodland garden, mainly for the fragrance of its small flowers that bloom in winter. It produces a sweet and clean scent, a bit like jasmine and a little like orange blossom.

Daphne odora thrives on moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Prefers mildly acidic soil in a dappled shady spot.

Hamamelis x intermedia Varieties

Common-garden name: Witch-Hazel. Hamamelis is a slow-grow deciduous shrub which flower on bare winter stems. Flowers come in rich shades of yellow, orange and red, and produce a citrus scent from December to March.

Hamamelis thrive in sunny or dappled shady spots. On moist, free-draining, neutral to acid soils.

Do you have a spot for a Winter Fragrance Plant?

Come and see (and smell) our collection for yourself.

To check what we’ve got in stock, give the Plant Team a call on 01392 876 281, we’re happy to reserve a plant if we know you’re popping in.

We’re open from 9 till 5 Monday to Saturday and 10 till 4 on Sunday.

St Bridget’s Winter Fragrance Collection

Daphne odora
Daphne orodra Aureomarginata
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’
Lonicera fragrantissima
Sarcococca confusa
Sarcococca hookeriana Humilis
Sarcococca ruscifolia
Sarcococca ‘Winter Gem’
Mahonia x media ‘Charity’
Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’
Viburnum x bondantense ‘Dawn’
Viburnum fragrantissima

This list was made by the Plant Team on Monday 30th January.

Availability is limited as we grow plants in small batches.

When a plant is sold out it can be a while before more plants are grown big enough for your garden.