The Dawn star that brightens up dark months

But a few are only just getting started – there are some plants that start to flower as winter approaches and bloom in the coldest, darkest months.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is one of them, and it’s a star worth cultivating, Today, thousands of people grow Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ for its dark pink, fragrant flowers that age to white; ‘Charles Lamont’ is similar, but the flowers are a purer, brighter pink and help brighten the winter.

V bodnantense is fair-sized shrub which does best in a sunny site where the soil is moist and rich. It’s best planted against a green background so it can show off its blooms to the best effect.

The genus Viburnum contains about 200 evergreen and deciduous shrubs and small trees. Some are grown just for their flowers; others because they also have attractive fruit and foliage.

Many of the deciduous viburnums, such as V dentatum also provide spectacular autumn colour. Probably the favourite viburnum grown today is V tinus, and, in particular, ‘Eve Price’. It’s easy to propagate and shape and can be grown as a hedge.