Mystery shrub 1

Hi Bernard, looks to me like Virburnum Bontanese Dawn. No doubt the experts will confirm.

right Viburnum x bodnantense no doubt too

Or Could be one of the Viburnum Tinus group of which there are about 8 varieties which flower in Winter. pinkish buds opening to white flowers. Or bodnantense Deben which is the white flowering one.

When I first started gardening,I was given a Viburnum Bodnantense and told what a lovely shrub it was. I planted it and promptly forgot what it was called as it didn't have a label.
A few years later I stood looking at this vary ordinary plant, wondering why I had been told it was so nice and if I really wanted to give it space in my garden. In disgust, I wandered off without pruning it. Imagine my surprise when a couple of months later, it was covered in pretty little flowers at a time when the garden looked so bare.

Yes, you guessed it. In my ignorance, I had been pruning it at the wrong time, and cutting away all it's chances of flowering. I still have it. It looks lovely now that I have found out what it is and how to care for it.

I miss this shrub - I had one in my previous garden. I am looking around to see whereI can plant one.

So it s Viburnum x bodnantense right

Thanks folks. As usual you've come up trumps.
Bernard

There are three forms of this plant. Dawn, the most common one, Charles Lamont and Deben. The differences are in the pinkness of the flower. To my mind you have to look closely at all three together to see the differences though (possibly my poor eyesight!). We have all three (Dawn , three times even). The one thing which has not been mentioned is the scent. Lovely on a sunny winter's day.

Thanks Owdbody for the extra info about the different varieties. My wife and I have been enjoying the scent, but as for describing it, that's quite another matter, isn't it difficult?. My choice is a slightly bitter marzipan, while my wife thinks butter toffee. Do the different varieties have different scents?. As far as colour is concerned, ours seems to be about the lightest possible pink.
Bernard

Hi Bernard, I have the "Dawn" one (very apt as my name is Dawn!), smelt mine the other day and it reminds me of rose.

From memory and being too idle to go and get the book, I think Dawn is the deepest pink and Deben is almost white. They all smell the same to me.

Thanks for your input folks, and I will follow Spritz's advice and feed it. The only leaves that were on when I took the photo have followed their companions into the wild blue yonder, but it would seem a good idea to apply a feed in the spring anyway. In fact I'm wondering about doing this for all the old shrubs that we have inherited from the previous owners who, because of ill health, neglected the garden very badly and I'm sure they could all do with a tonic. (the shrubs, not the previous owners!)

Bernard

Guess what! I found a spot to plant a 'Dawn' and although it's tiny at the moment, I am looking forward to pink flowers NEXT winter - right outside the Garden room window. :-)

Bernard, it is deciduous and will produce leaves early in the spring so worry not - as long as it looks healthy. Prune it in the spring and feed it then, if it needs a chop.

it looks very similar to a shrub i have in my garden, mine is called Vebena Botanese Dawn .it gets the flowers when the leaves are starting to fall