Best plants for uplifting scents

VARIETIES YOU CAN RELY ON TO PERFUME WINTER AIR AND BOOST YOUR SPIRITS

- DAVID DOMONEY

WHILE many garden plants are still dormant at this time of year, a handful of well-placed plants and shrubs can scent the air even on the coldest days. Especially when planted where you naturally pass them. Think front paths, doorways, side gates and walkways.

Choose plants that flower in winter, and you can turn quick trips outside into an uplifting experience.

Daphne (Daphne bholua/ Daphne odora)

Daphne is one of the finest winter-scented shrubs you can grow, with early February being when its perfume can be the most rewarding.

The fragrance is sweet but fresh, often with a citrus note which carries well on still afternoons. Plant Daphnes in a warm, sheltered spot in light shade, with evenly moist, free-draining soil that isn’t waterlogged. Keep the roots cool with a mulch, and avoid moving it once planted, as it dislikes disturbance.