Advice
RHS Help & Advice
Winter-flowering shrubs
The dark gloomy days of winter can be brightened by winter-flowering shrubs, planted where they can be seen from the house. Those with fragrance are best appreciated when planted by doorways or entrances in regular winter use, or alongside paths. When positioning thes shrubs take into account the eventual size. Remember, too, that most are not particularly attractive during the summer months.
For fragrant flowers
Abeliophyllun distichum: white flowers in February; to 1.5m (5ft)
Chimonanthus praecox: yellow flowers December-February; to 4m (12ft)
Daphne odora: evergreen; flowers pale purple, January-April; slowly to 1.5m (5ft)
Elaeagnus pungens: evergreen; tiny creamy-white flowers from autumn; to 4m (12ft)
Elaeagnus x ebbingei: evergreen; tiny creamy-white flowers from autumn; to 4m (12ft)
Hamamelis x intermedia: several cultivars with yellow or orange flowers December-March;
Hamamelis mollis ‘Coombe Wood’ AGM: flowers yellow, December-March; to 4m (12ft)
Lonicera fragrantissima: flowers creamy-white
Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ AGM: flowers white; to 2m (6ft)
Mahonia japonica: evergreen; flowers yellow, December-March; to 2m (6ft)
Sarcococca confusa AGM: evergreen; flowers small, white, January- February
Stachyurus praecox AGM: flowers pale yellow, February-April; to 4m (12ft)
Viburnum farreri (V. fragrans): flowers white, November-March; to 3m (10ft)
For long flowering
Flowering can be sporadic over several weeks or even months, depending on the mildness or severity of the winter. The following usually flower over an extended period:
From November: Camellia x williamsii and cultivars (evergreen), Erica carnea and E x darleyensis, and their cultivars (evergreen); Jasminum nudiflorum (see pic left); Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’ AGM (evergreen).
From December: Chimonanthus praecox; Lonicera fragrantissima; Viburnum x bodnantense AGM.
From January: Daphne odora (evergreen); Mahonia x media and cultivars (evergreen).
Larger shrubs for open borders or woodland margins
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’
Hamamelis japonica,
H. x intermedia,
H. mollis, and their cultivars
Mahonia japonica, M. x media
and cultivars (evergreen)
Viburnum tinus and cultivars (evergreen),
V. farreri (V. fragrans).
For wall-training and wall-side borders
If you plan to train shrubs to a wall, first ensure that a satisfactory method of support can be erected or attached to the wall.
Wall-train: Abeliophyllum distichum; Chimonanthus praecox; Jasminum nudifolium.
Wall-side borders: Camellia x williamsii and cultivars (evergreen; need lime-free soil); Daphne odora (evergreen); Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ AGM (evergreen); Lonicera fragrantissima.