When it comes to scents, there aren’t many sweeter or more appealing than those produced by the flowers of Daphne odora ‘Rubra’. In winter and early spring, when distractions from the weather are so welcome, the deep pink and cream flowers of this low growing, bushy Daphne are produced in great numbers.

Daphne odora ‘Rubra’ likes a little shade. It will even grow where there’s quite a lot of shade, which makes it useful to combine with other lovers of low light such as Helleborus ‘Flash Gordon’, small ferns such as Athyrium ‘Ursula’s Red’, Pulmonarias, and Polemoniums of which the new, cream and green foliage, blue flowered variety ‘Brise d’Anjou’ is a good example.

It’s great fun to grow Daphne odora ‘Rubra’ where you don’t see it immediately, so that the scent is noticed before the flowers. It’s also wonderful to have near a much used doorway, so that every time you (and visitors) come and go the fragrance is enjoyed. The fragrance really is strong enough to waft on the air a good way from the bush.

Daphne odora ‘Rubra’ is good for cut flowers - not great long stems, but dainty little bunches which fit into a small vase. That way you get to enjoy the perfume and the beauty of the flowers long after you’ve shut the door on the garden for the night.