Beautiful Plants To Grow For A Fragrant Garden In The Winter

For many gardeners, winter can be a bit of a dreary season, when the days are short and it's often too cold to build up much enthusiasm to get out into the yard. At this time of the year, it's far easier to stay indoors where it's warm and cozy and look longingly out the window at a garden that's not doing a great deal. But winter doesn't have to be dull if you grow beautiful, fragrant, flowering plants. These might make you more inclined to put on your woolies and take a stroll through your winter garden to inhale those sweet aromas that fill the air, and bring promises of warmer weather in the spring. Once you pluck up the courage to wander out into the yard, there are also some common birds you might find in your garden in winter that will surely put a smile on your face. 

There are quite a number of shrubs and trees that will flower in winter with blooms that have the most delicious scents. A few notable ones are Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha), winter hazel (Corylopsis spp.), and sweet box (Sarcococca spp.). Consider planting one or more of these near the entrance of your home or close to a window you can crack open slightly so you can enjoy the enticing aromas. They're sure to brighten up those chilly, wintry days and help to lift your mood as you breathe in their alluring fragrances and dream of warmer times ahead.

One of the most fragrant of the three species mentioned is the Chinese paperbush, which also has attractive flowers and can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10. This shrub is deciduous and can reach a height of up to 6 feet. The flowers bloom around December on bare stems and have a heady gardenia-like scent. While these blooms are only tiny, they do form as large attractive clusters. This plant grows well in partial shade and likes organically-enriched soil. You can even cut some blossoming stems for a vase and bring them indoors.

Winter hazel is another deciduous shrub that can grow to a height of 6 feet. It's hardy in zones 6 through 8. The flowers appear on bare branches as arching clusters in February to March. These blooms are golden yellow and sweetly scented. Winter hazel prefers partial shade and is great for understory planting around tall trees. Finally, sweet box (Sarcococca confusa) will spice up your winter garden with its small creamy-colored blooms that have a distinctive vanilla scent. It can be grown in zones 6 through 9 and likes partial to deep shade. This particular shrub is evergreen and can reach a height of 5 feet. A related species, Sarcococca hookeriana, is an excellent winter plant to decorate your patio with for a gorgeous pop of color. To add even more interest, you may like to consider a winter flowering ground cover that's great for shady areas of your yard.