Flowering tree/tall shrub

My neighbours have a tall bushy shrub/tree (when does one become the other?!) in their front garden which has burst into flower over the last few days. It looks lovely, standing out against everything else still looking winter-drab and sad, and has a sweet scent too.

Thoughts on what it could be?

 

Could it be the same as mine?



G.

 

My first thought is a Viburnum of some kind Perhaps a Daphne? But, I think our @Silver surfer will know better than I

 

@2nd_bassoon I think it's Daphne odora.
@Jack Sparrow Your picture is of a winter flowering Viburnum probably "Dawn"

 

Agree with Daphne but it's a very mature one, Ive never seen them that big, they are pretty slow growers

 

Agrees Daphne Odora Aureomarginata I think. The leaves are quite a bit bigger than the Daphne varieties I have grown in the past. Indeed fabulous scent. I had to move an evergreen Daphne which was quite old and a fair size. It did NOT appreciate the move despite me taking huge amounts of trouble and care. It never recovered and legged up. Pity as it was very nice. Maybe others have been more successful moving them.

 

I once heard someone say if, when mature, you can walk under it, it's a tree but if you have to walk around it, it's a shrub.

Agree with the above IDs.

 

Daphne, yes, but more likely to be D. bholua, probably 'Jaqueline Postill'. The leaves look right for that.

 

@noisette47 . I googled J postill and you are spot on, top of the class

 

I used to have one near the terrace in UK. and planted quite a few for other people! Beautiful shrub.......

 

Good job I never made a punt!

 

I just looked up ‘Jaqueline Postill’. ‘Crocus’ (plants sales) have it. I always had the impression that Daphne like soil to be on the acidic side, am I wrong?

 

Thanks all - looking at google images I think @noisette47 is spot on. It is a glorious plant; I have a very poor sense of smell (useful for work, less so for the garden!) and even I can appreciate it's scent.

Would it be happy in a pot, at least in the early years? A small slow-grower that could move to future gardens with me would be perfect...

 

I kept my transplant in a pot for 18 months, 2nd_bassoon, until I had somewher to plant it here. You need to be careful with watering, though.

 

I thought so too, @Freddy. Most Himalayan plants prefer acid soil don't they? But the RHS reckons alkaline is preferable..