Viburnum

Bodnant viburnum is the winter-flowering viburnum that produces clusters of fragrant, pink to white flowers on bare branches from November through February, one of the longest bloom periods of any winter-flowering shrub. The fragrance is sweet and carrying, arriving at a time when the garden offers almost nothing else to the senses. It grows eight to ten feet with an upright, somewhat leggy habit. A hybrid between Viburnum farreri and V. grandiflorum, it was raised at Bodnant Garden in Wales.

In Western Washington, Bodnant viburnum is one of the most valuable winter-flowering shrubs available. The fragrance alone justifies the planting. It performs well in sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil. The flowers appear in waves, opening during mild spells and pausing during hard freezes, so the display extends across the entire winter. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The form is upright and can be leggy at the base; underplant with evergreen groundcovers to compensate. For winter fragrance that lasts for months, Bodnant viburnum delivers when the garden needs it most.