PLANT of the week

Vibrant viburnum

One shrub that begins its winter display now, and which sputters on until March, pausing only when the weather turns frosty, is Viburnum x bodnantense Dawn.

You might walk right past it once the crimson– burnished leaves have fallen earlier in the month. But look more closely and you will see clusters of flower buds at the shoot tips. They are a rich, rosy pink and the flowers themselves open a paler shade, fading gradually to white.

They are not what you would call staggeringly spectacular, but their autumn and winter timing makes them valued, as does their scent. Cut a few sprigs for indoors and they will scent a whole room with their sweet fragrance.

The shrub itself will grow to around 20ft high and 6ft wide, but you can keep it smaller by pruning. When spring comes, there will still be a few flowers opening, but they are followed by bright green, deeply veined leaves as the plant assumes its summer role as a background plant.

Don’t waste its stature. Plant a variety of Clematis texensis, such as Etoile Rose, at the extremity of the shrub’s branches and train the stems up through its host.

The result? A second flowering season in summer as a result of your nifty trick.