which fragrant shrub/tree?

I have a small job to do ... part of the job is that I have to plant (and source) 3 shrubs ...

one has to be a very fragrant shrub and the other 2 are for foilage and don't have to be evergreen...

all 3 shrubs will be planted against a south facing wall (500mm away from a 1,8m brick wall in full sun) and spaced approx 2 1/2 meters apart

the client does not want to spend a lot of money, so I will ask them if they are happy with a Photinia red robin planted alongside a Sambucus Black beauty (red new foilage from the red robin, and black foilage from the Sambucus may look good side by side), and both can be pruned if they get out of hand

I need advice for the the fragrant one ...

I have been googling and come up with the following 2:

Lonicera fragrantissima (winter honeysuckle)

Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet)... not sure how hardy this one is?

the client is not interested in an Eleagnus Ebbengi or a philedelphia mock orange

any other suggestions will be appreciated ... has to be hardy (Cambridge) ... I think that officialy, we fall into zone 8

 

Hi *dim*

Lonicera fragrantissima is lovely, but a bit of a mess. It's worth growing for the fragrant flowers but if your client is after something which will grow into a neat shape it's probably not for him. Mind you,if it's against a wall it's easier to keep it neat and tidy.

Wintersweet is hardy but takes many years to settle and flower, so it's not a quick fix.

Here are a couple of suggestions:-

Sarcococca confusa is a delightful, scented evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and a neat shape. It is a small bush, however, so no good if you want something more imposing. Great for nearer the front of a border.

Viburnum fragrans and v. bodnantense 'Dawn' are quite similar shrubs with a tall, upright habit. They have clusters of small, deliciously scented flowers on bare wood throughout autumn and winter. They're perhaps not the most interesting of shrubs the rest of the time.

 

thanks Clare ... will check your suggestions on google!

 

Welcome, *dim*. I forgot my favourite! The witch hazel - Hamamelis mollis. It has spidery clusters of yellow flowers in winter which smell wonderful. It's not cheap to buy - unless you make do with a tiny specimen - and it must have acid soil.

Nowadays you can get plants with brighter, orange-coloured flowers but beware. They don't have the strength of scent of the original.

 

How about one of the Witch Hazels?; 'Diane' for a red flower or 'Pallida' for a yellow one..

Mahonia's are fragrant and evergreen.

Syringia's (lilac)

Several Viburnum's have fantastic scent too :thumb:

 

I'm with the Saracococcan like ClaraLou and for larger ones he may wll need to look at Lilac (good dwarf varieties nowadays) and the Viburnums.

 

Yes Photina Pink Marbler

Perfume of christmas box is devine.

And a must Daphne for the perfume.

 

My current favourite is Chamelaucium Uncinatum.

I bought one in March of this year and it hasn't yet stopped flowering. The flowers have a lovely honey scent, that last and last. Currently, it looks like a compact Xmas tree with flowers.

 

Sarcoccoca humilis or confusa,
Daphne odora,
Or a yellow deciduous Azalea.

 

EddyJ your wax flower is beautiful, but it isn't going to be frost hardy in the UK. It's a tender Australian shrub.

 

thanks guys ... much appreciated!

I will check google, and make a shortlist ... I will tell the guy that I asked for suggestions on this forum, and will let him choose from what you guys recomended

 

Daphne odora, which several people have suggested, is a gorgeous evergreen shrub. The scent of the flowers is wonderful. I grew the form 'aureomarginata', which has a pale border to the leaves. Like all the daphnes, however, it is a little tricky. Plants which have been doing well for a while will suddenly turn up their toes for no apparent reason. Mine lasted for nine years before suddenly losing the will to live.

 

thanks! ... The Daphne is a bit small for the area where I will be planting (from what I have read, the Daphne only grows 1m, and we need something a bit taller) ... I will however buy a Daphne for the client and plant it near his back patio/decking area, as there is space for a few more plants/shrubs

I have given the guy a list of what was recommended on this thread, and will most prob hear from him today ...

worked at his home for a few hours yesterday ... planting holes are prepared, and mowed his lawn/weeded etc, so all that needs doing now is buying and planting the shrubs

am glad we had some good rain last night and earlier this morning, as I fertilized his lawn aswell

hopefully, I can get this job sorted by saturday pm

update:

just had a call from him, he is happy to go with the Osmanthus delavayl, so will pop into the garden centre this afternoon and see if they have a decent sized one, so thanks Armandii !