In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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January 7, 2008

Winter blooming beauty

Pale yellow, bell-like, sweetly scented winter blossoms open on leafless branches in January and scent the garden around it. The waxy flowers have a maroon-red center.

A small tree or large shrub, it often has the dark brown, gnarly, knobby seed pods from last year still hanging on the limbs. Wintersweet grows slowly to about 10 feet tall and five feet wide.

It's native to China and Japan. In the garden it prefers moderate water and appreciates afternoon shade. Most of the year it's simply another green shrub in the garden, nothing special. Winter is when it turns glorious. Scent can be heavy and sweet, but it isn't cloying.

I've planted mine where I'll pass by on the way to the front door.

Don't forget to cut a branch or two for inside the house.

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