A must have to bring scent into the garden. During March the buds of this stunning plant swell with a soft-pink blush, but it is in April when the warmer spring days encourage the petals to unfurl that this shrub really comes into its own. Masses of dome shaped flowers release their exquisite fragrance through the garden and you cannot help but be taken aback.

What’s more, in a sheltered spot in the garden this shrub will remain semi-evergreen holding onto some of its leaves through the winter.

Best grown in a sunny or partially shaded spot out of cold winds and typically grows to be a 1.5-2m tall shrub.

Other scented spring flowering varieties to look out for are V. x carlcephallum, V. carlesii and V. juddii