Viburnum bodnantense Dawn

Viburnum x Bodnantense Dawn, like all Bodnant Viburnums, chooses the shortest days to reveal its heliotrope-scented flowering. During mild periods, the bare and dark branches of this winter viburnum produce bouquets of flowers in bright pink buds, opening to white speckled with pale pink. This large shrub also boasts beautiful bronze foliage in spring, becoming green and more discreet in summer before displaying sumptuous autumn colours. Magnificent and with no special requirements, this plant is easy to grow as long as the planting is cared for. Place it near a terrace or a pathway to enjoy its fragrance.

Resulting from a cross-breeding carried out in England in 1935, between Viburnum plicatum 'Grandiflorum' and V. farreri var. fragrans, the bodnantense viburnum is a hardy deciduous shrub, characterised by a brilliant and remarkably fragrant winter flowering. Its first parent provided its large inflorescences, while the second parent, to which it closely resembles, is responsible for its wonderfully fragrant winter flowering and its good tolerance to limestone. All these plants now belong to the Adoxaceae family (formerly the Caprifoliaceae family)

The cultivar 'Dawn' distinguishes itself with larger flowers and a more pronounced pink. It closely resembles 'Charles Lamont', with slightly less colourful flowers and a slightly shorter flowering period. Its habit is upright, open, and sometimes considered a bit stiff, and its growth is moderately fast. At maturity, the shrub will reach about 2.5 m (8. ft) in height and 2 m (6.6 ft) in width. The flowering occurs from December to February, outside periods of heavy frost, mainly at the terminal but also at the axil of the buds, on the bare dark red-brown wood. The inflorescences, 7 cm to 10 cm (2.8 in to 3.9 in) long, are composed of extremely fragrant tubular flowers, with vanilla notes, whose pink colour will be even more pronounced in late winter. Its deciduous foliage is copper-bronze at budburst, gradually turning to dark green with well-marked veins, and then to red-purple in autumn. The foliage is composed of entire leaves, 4 cm to 8 cm (1.6 in to 3.1 in) long.

Easy to grow like all viburnums, 'Dawn' can be planted in beds, free or flowering hedges, or as a standalone plant, preferably not far from the house or a pathway to enjoy its fragrance and the beauty of its flowers in the middle of winter. To accompany it, place some Oriental hyacinth or Winter aconite bulbs at its base, alongside a Sarcococca, a Garrya elliptica, or even a witch hazel (in slightly acidic soil). Contrary to popular belief, Viburnum bodnantense adapts to many climates, as long as it has a sufficiently deep soil to draw some moisture from in case of dry summer. Less favourable growing conditions will result in less spectacular development, but the fragrance of the flowers, on the other hand, never fades. Cut the flowers to make beautiful bouquets. Viburnums are worry-free shrubs that integrate well into free hedges. By mixing different species or combining them with other flowering shrubs, you will create a charming, ever-evolving garden throughout the year.