Sweetest SCENTS

Lift your mood with these easy-to-grow fragrant plants

- CHRIS MORLEY

Aroma therapy

Some of the sweetest and strongest perfume is produced by winter-flowering plants. While the aim is to attract hardy pollinators venturing out on mild days, gardeners benefit, too, as scent relaxes, calms and uplifts us – especially at this time of year, when spring feels a long way off. Grow perfumed plants in sheltered areas so the wind doesn’t disperse the fragrance, and by paths, doors and windows, so you can savour it as much as possible.

Heady scents

A winter-flowering climber will liven up a wall, fence or arch when everything else is looking drab. Honeysuckle (Lonicera x purpusii) ‘Winter beauty’ AGM blooms December to March and gives off an intoxicating perfume. Its creamy flowers are produced on bare stems that twine up to 2m, but pruning after flowering will keep it neat. As it’s not particularly showy the rest of the year, train a summer-flowering clematis through its stems.

Fragrant containers