I had a good old wander round our site at the weekend and following the most amazing scent I found this growing by someone's gate. I've got no idea what it is but I'm sure someone here is bound to :)
the leaf arrangement (in pairs) made me think honeysuckle but the flowers are different to normal honeysuckle clusters, so I'm clueless. it smelled divine though!
Lonicera fragrantissima
excellent, thanks RT!
is it easy to propagate from cuttings?
thought I might ask for a couple if it is...
Did a wee google on this - apparently its common names are shrubby honesuckle or winter honeysuckle and it is native to Eastern China and hardy to zone 4.
The propagation bit was as follows:
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From woody stem cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From hardwood cuttings
From hardwood heel cuttings
By air layering
By tip layering
By serpentine layering
:o :o :o that second photo looks desperate!! do they know what a gorgeous shrub that is :'( (perhaps you could educate them ;D) ... mine is blooming at the moment on long arching stems, and as you say the scent is divine :D
... Titchmarsh reccommends: Pruning should be in April:
Quote
Lonicera (winter-flowering varieties)
Lonicera varieties that produce winter flowers on bare stems, such as Lonicera fragrantissima and L. x purpusii can be pruned now to keep them within bounds. Established specimens require little or no pruning other than the removal of dead, damaged or weak growth. If the shrub is congested or needs reducing in size, cut out one-in-three stems starting with the oldest. Try to cut back to a sideshoot low down on the plant and aim to maintain the overall shape and balance to the outline of the shrub. Old and neglected plants can be treated in the same way or have all stems cut back to a stubby framework during the dormant season.
if you're lucky it may have layered itself, and there are rooted plants to dig up
I agree with RT it easily roots itself and you're bound to find a bit nearby. It's worth spreading all over the garden!
Actually I am not so sure that it is not L. standishii, but the differnces matter little. Arose etc. smells the same!
Agree with the others here - it has a fabulous scent and is easy to propagate - a real 'stick-in-a-pot' job.