Scent in the garden at this time of year is at a bit of a premium (like like many things) and the Winter Honeysuckle or Lonicera fragrantissima is a deciduous (or sometimes semi evergreen) shrub which has very fragrant pale cream flowers at this time of year.
The flowers occur in pairs all along the arching branches, have long elegant yellow anthers, and are very popular with bees and insects - the hardy types that are around at the moment! This year has been so mild so far that there are still a lot of leaves on this bush, although they are looking a bit ragged, and the tangle of shiny red/brown stems is the perfect foil for the delicate blooms.
Winter Honeysuckle can be quite sprawling and become unruly if neglected, so a prune in the spring after flowering is a good idea. The important thing to remember is that next years flowers will appear on this years new wood, so don't cut it all off. Prune some branches back almost to the ground to encourage growth from the base and trim the rest back just to be neat and tidy. You can also train Winter Honeysuckle to cover a wall or fence.
This lovely shrub is hardy, happy in full sun or partial shade (full sun is best for abundant flowering), and fairly undemanding. Just remember to plant it somewhere that you pass in January/February. If you put it at the back of a bed at the bottom of the garden then you are likely to miss the flowers and the lovely scent. But planted by the front gate, outside the back door, or by the path to the compost bin it will brighten up even the gloomiest January.
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