Small, sweetly scented, sulphur-yellow flowers stained purple inside appear on bare branches throughout the winter months. A vigorous shrub, Chimonanthus praecox will usually flower with a few years of maturity, making a lovely specimen plant for a sunny, well-drained mixed or winter border.

Try to plant it close to a house entrance or path where its scent can be appreciated. Highly prized by floral arrangers, a stem of these unusual, bowl-shaped blooms makes a wonderfully fragrant indoor display.