The winter garden can really be a delight if it is well planned and structured to allow interesting shapes and textures to fill the space.

Flowers are scarce, but those who do arrive should be celebrated – combine a nice bloom with a stonking fragrance and you have a true winner.

And this is why we absolutely adore Daphne odora.

It pretty much keeps to itself over the majority of the year and is a great ‘background player’, but it truly comes into it’s own in the latter part of winter to early spring.

The foliage becomes dotted with tight, pink buds which seem to taunt you till they finally open and wash the surrounding air with the most beautiful, heady fragrance imaginable.

It is one of those plants which have to be smelt to be believed, but trust me – this one is really worth hunting out for your semi shady areas where it can grow slowly, undisturbed and unbullied by it’s neighbours. Here in the south it is also relatively hardy, but hardier cousins can also be found if you are in chillier parts.

Daphne odora – because your nose is worth it.

(image via Crocus)