FIVE SWEET-SMELLING SHRUBS

1 CHIMONANTHUS PRAECOX

The bare branches of wintersweet, above, bear masses of pendulous, pale yellow flowers from November to March.

2 HAMAMELIS X INTERMEDIA ‘ORANGE PEEL’

This witch hazel grows to about 13ft and has light orange flowers with a scent like orange marmalade.

3 LONICERA X PURPUSII ‘WINTER BEAUTY’

A shrubby honeysuckle developed by Hillier Nurseries, its bare branches bear clusters of creamy white flowers.

4 SARCOCOCCA VAR. DIGYNA ‘PURPLE STEM’

A cracking variety of sweet box with purple stems and leaf stalks, along with spidery threads of pink flushed flowers.

5 VIBURNUM TINUS

An evergreen viburnum, with huge clusters of tiny white, scented flowers that open from pink buds during winter and spring.

STOCKISTS INCLUDE: Bluebell Arboretum & Nursery bluebellnursery.com; Burncoose Nurseries burncoose.co.uk; Crocus crocus.co.uk.