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Hi all, whilst walking the grounds at Chelsea flower Show on Saturday, myself and my friend (and a good few other people) were drawn by the strongest fragrance you can imagine, to a large shrub about 12ft tall growing at the side of the walkway.
The scent was wonderful, but none of us knew what the plant was called.
I took a photo as I'd love to own this plant and am hoping someone here will know what it is ?



Thanks

Anni

It could be a sort of Daphne. They come in various shades of pink as well and flower at different times, mostly early.

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Google Image Result for http://toptropicals.com/pics/garden/m1/EleNZ/Osmanthus_delavayi108el.jpg

Osmanthus delavayi looks similar and has scented flowers, I don't know if the leaves are quite the same though

I would guess a Daphne, but I'm no expert. I looked to see if there were planting plans for the Chelsea gardens, but there're only a few (I bet your plant isn't one of the gardens featured though): RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2008: Chelsea @ Home

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Hi, thanks for the replies, I think it looks a bit like an Osmanthus having seen Vickys link, but agree the leaves look a bit different. I looked up Daphne on the bbc plantfinder, but the varieties they had, just didn't look like it, but will keep checking on other sites.

Twosheds, that's really kind of you, but it wasn't in any of the show gardens, it was just growing in the grounds! It's mad to think I went all the way to the show only to be most impressed by a plant growing along a path in the grounds!!
The show was great, but this plant for me outshone them all...

Anni

In my humble experience Daphnes' dont tend to get that big . Id go with Osmanthus delavayi and i want one too they smell heavenly

I think it may be a Jasmine of some sort.

The only suggestion (from looking at the library) that I can make is Daphne alpina.

The other suggestion I would make is, that if it was at Chelsea, did you make a note of the exhibitor? If you did, you could contact them, sending copies of the photos, and I am sure they would be only too happy to help. If you didn't, you could look at your show guide to try to pinpoint who the exhibitor was.

valmarg

Hi Valmarg
Thanks for taking the trouble to look for me, Daphne Alpina certainly looks similar, but the leaves don't look as though they are glossy in the pictures I have looked at..
Whilst the plant was at the Chelsea flower show, it wasn't part of an exhibit, rather, it was a permanent fixture in the grounds....

I've been googling Osmanthus, following Vicky's post and think it looks a lot like Osmamthus fragrans var. latifolius
Does anyone who has seen one in the "flesh" think it could be the one?
It's so hard to be sure from just a photo...

Anni

It looks like a mexican orange shrub to me. They do get quite large and have a strong scent when in flower.

Try this link


Choisya Ternata

Well anni, it it was a permanent fixture in the Chelsea gardens, then it might be worth contacting the Hospital to see if they can help.

valmarg

Not sure that Daphne alpina is actually scented, or at least mine isn't and the leaves are not glossy like that.

Hi Anni,
I know the shrub you are talking about I was also at Chelsea on Saturday and was amazed by the fragrance. By the time we had got to it someone had written the name of it and tied it to the brances because so many people had asked. I will ask my sister to see if she can remember. Sorry can't be of any more help.
Emma

Hi Emma
I should have gone back later for a second look then... It's so good to know that someone knew what it was.... The fragrance was out of this world wasn't it?
I really hope your sister can remember... thanks so much.
I have found this thread really useful, but I'm torn between Mexican Orange Blossom as per Herbie's suggestion, and Osmamthus fragrans var. latifolius.
If your sister can't remember, I may end up getting both of the above anyway!
But it really would be great to know what it really is as there are so many varieties of each.

Anni

Hello Anni, This is my first reply since joining last week, hope it's the right answer. I think it's a Mexican Orange or the Choisya, if you crumple a leaf it smells of citrus, it is a beautiful shrub and grows quite tall, I have one by the front door.

tigerlilly.

In my humble opinion it is a choysia and if you would like cuttings I have choisia in 2 different varieties so can send some if you wish. Skimmia japonica (male variety) has the most beautiful perfume and it smells from front to back of my garden it is so powerful.

Could it be a (type of) Stephanotis maybe? They have the most wonderful perfume and grow as a woody climbing vine...

I know what it is!!
One of the people I work for has a verigated version and today I saw one for sale at the garden centre and they did smell lovely!

Pittosporum tobira - Japanese pittosporum, Mock orange

Pittospornum tobira

hahahaha knew vicky would know she got all of mine vicky is the shrub queeeeeeeeen

WOW!!! Yes that is it Vicky,,,, thank you thank you thank you!!
Brilliant.

This thread has been so helpful, not just in finding out the name of the shrub, but in educating me on other similar shrubs, which I now also want almost as badly!
My garden will soon be a very fragrant one I hope

Thanks to everyone who replied, and Mrs Dog, is the offer of Choisia cuttings still open?

I will pm you in the hope that it is...

Many many thanks...

Anni