Yet another mystery plant for you

[Amazin]

This was labelled as a pittosporum tenuifolium. However, when the blossom appeared I quickly realised that it didn't have the promised small maroon flowers with a noticeably heavy honey scent (well spotted, I hear you cry). I Googled and found around twenty other pittosporums but none match this.
So what is it?  ???

[Amazin]

[ACE]

Itea illicifolia

[ACE]

Latin is soooo boring so try Holly Sweetspire a much better name.

[dibberxxx]

no ideal what it is but its lovely quite unusual

[jennym]

Can't see the pic very well on my awful screen, but if catkins in winter period then its Garrya elliptica.

[Deeds]

I agree with Heritage, Itea illicifolia, a great plant.

[ndkc2003]

Looks like Itea Illicifollia should be scented if it is.

[Amazin]

I must admit I thought it might be an Itea (which is on my list of scented must-haves) when the buds first appeared, but the flowers aren't scented - or at least, you'd have to stick it right up your nose and inhale deeply to catch a whiff of anything. It's perfectly healthy and happy otherwise, though.
Does the scent increase as the plant gets bigger over the years?
If not, it may well appear in the swap shop!
Oh, and I know now what happened with the pittosporum - it was next to the itea. I just picked up the wrong one! D'oh!   ::)    ;D

Cheers all for your input, very much appreciated.

[Marianne]

It is indeed a very pretty plant !  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've noticed that this has been a poor year for scent, it's probably down to the drought. My crown imperials were really smelly, when normally I'll only notice when I dig a bulb up. Since then, nether my roses nor the Lilium regale have smelt noticeably at all.

[ACE]

I've noticed that this has been a poor year for scent,

Thank God for that!  I thought me old snotterbox was up the creek.

[Amazin]

Wonder if it's May's lack of sun rather than rain, as I've kept all my shrubs pretty well watered so far. I'll give the itea another chance, then.

[Maddy]

I have an incredibly sensitive nose and was completely amazed by the lack of scent in much of my garden, I'm so glad it's not just me.  I blamed it on global warming, much as I do everything else that goes wrong.

Maddy

[dibberxxx]

don't have to many plants in my garden with strong scent but the Lillie's are giving off really strong scent, even comes through bedroom window at night lovely

[Robert_Brenchley]

I suspect it's something to do with the rain. My crown imperials smelt on still damp days, while the roses and lilies flowered when it was very dry. I know that nectar from flowers dries up when the soil gets too dry, so it would make sense for scent to do the same.

[Marley Farley]

 :) My lilies & roses have had their usual lovely heady scents this year & my giant lily is fantastic at the moment, have a bloom indoors & the whole ground floor smells of it , delicious...!!!! :) :) Will try & get a pic later

[flowerlady]

Have a feeling it could be Garrya Elliptica ( Silk Tassel bush)  the leaves in your photo seem a bit too big for Itea. ;)

[selwyn-smith]

Hey I have just asked for help growing this plant , and I can tell you it's an Itea Ilicifolia, how about that for coincidence

[Amazin]

Ah, good, then maybe you can help us in the great Pong Debate - is your Itea in flower and if so - IS IT WHIFFY?

;D

[selwyn-smith]

My Itea was flowering when I bought it at the Hampton Court Flower show at the beginning of July. I don't recall it having any smell, it finished flowering about three weeks ago.