Several years ago I was at Pershore college in February.
Walking through the grounds I smelt a wonderful, heavy scent. Looking around I could not see any flowers that could be producing such a strong smell, everything was just evergreen leaves.
I asked the tutor who showed me a mass of evergreen foiliage beside a wall and it was sarcococca confusa (sweet box). The small white flowers were almost invisible but were definitely where the scent was coming from.
They were selling small cuttings so I bought 3 of them.
Planted beside the front path they are now well established and the wonderful scent can be smelt 10 or more metres away as we walk down the path.
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A few years later I was given another sarcococca, this time hookeriana, slightly different with flowers tinged pink at the base, longer, thinner leaves and slightly bronzed stems rather than the green of the confusa.
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And the bees love the nectar at the time of year.
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Also in the front garden providing winter scent and colour is Daphne lovely little pink flowers and another strong scent in February.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.twkg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/P1010507.jpg?fit=525%2C394)