Delicious scents drift in breezes across the garden. Whole new dimensions open up when scent becomes an integral part of the environment.
The first to infuse the air with a rich floweriness is Osmanthus burkwoodii. A dark evergreen shrub that can reach upwards to 10 feet (3 1/2 metres). Now is the time for it to flower and although it lasts for around a month it's well worth having in any garden. Don't let the size put you off, with gentle pruning just after it flowers, it can be kept to a more reasonable size.
A shrub that is not often known for it's scent is Berberis thunbergii atropupurea or the Japanese barberry. Small yellow flowers cover the shrub at this time of the year that give off a musky scent with a crushed green leaf undertones to it.
Berberis thunbergii atropupurea can grow to 10 feet (3 1/2 metres) if left alone. But judicious trimming at the end of Summer can keep it to size. The nana form is more compact in size.
Still days or ones with only a very light breeze allows the light scent to hang in the garden.
Our Honey Spurge or Euphorbia mellifera survived with no problems over the harder winter we had than was usual. Coming from the Canary Islands it needs a sheltered spot to grow and rewards you with delicious honey scented flowers that flower on an architectural plant. It forms a strong large mound with narrow leaves that have a central stripe running down them.
A plant to take visitors around to show.
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