Quick Guide: spring, hardy, full sun, height: 3m/10ft, width: 2.4m/8ft

Chimonanthus praecox, the winter sweet, bears its heavily scented cup-shaped flowers of yellow and purple in the middle of winter on bare twigs. When the leaves appear they are like those of the willow family.

GROWING Set out young plants from autumn to spring in reasonably fertile soil, preferably with the protection of a sunny wall. If trained against a wall, prune hard in spring, cutting flowered shoots right back almost to the base. Those grown as bushes should be pruned after flowering to remove old and overcrowded branches.

PROPAGATION Raise from seed sown in a cold frame in autumn. Pot on when the seedling are large enough to handle and set outdoors. Plant in nursery rows in the autumn and into the permanent site 3 years later. Plants take at least 5 years to reach flowering size. Alternatively, long shoots may he layered in the autumn.

VARIETIES The species is sturdy and reliable. Named varieties include `Lutens', all-yellow flowers, slow to reach maturity; Grandiflorus', larger flowers but less fragrant.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Generally trouble-free.