It's hard for most Midwesterners not to think of lilacs, and they're among my favorites too, but for that first hit of spring perfume, I really like my viburnum. I used to have a star magnolia I really liked the scent of too, and while mock oranges smell divine later in the season, I've never found them to be the world's most dependable bloomers. People keep saying that witchhazel smells nice, but I'm never all that interested in tromping through the snow to sniff them up.

Pitimpinai, What color is that buddleia? Hope it is also one of the more hardy ones!! And a lilac without mildew!! Bring it on. Color?
Stinkypink, any particular mock orange or viburnum? I'm really on the line between zone 4 and 5 so not so far removed.

I love lilacs. I have two wonderful varieties: Miss Kim and Donald Wyman. Both are disease free and have a great fragrance.

I wish I knew which viburnum I have--it's been at this house much longer than I have, and I imagine it's some really common variety that's been sold for 20 years or more. It's next to a very lovely, old, floriferous kolkwitzia/beauty bush, which I'm also very fond of despite its lack of fragrance. My viburnum doesn't have the great berries or fall color that many currently in-favor varieties boast, but it is loaded with sweet, blushed flowers at just about the time in the year you want to start opening windows. The only mock orange I have right now is a variegated one--very attractive, and so far it's flowered lightly though it's still young. A place like Forest Farm or other exhaustive catalog can give rundowns on different varieties.

Buddleia 'Lochinch' has sky blue flowers with an orange eye. The flowers are not as big as others, say 'Black Knight', but bloom continuously until hard frost. I don't think it dies back either.

The small leaved lilac has dark pink flowers. It blooms later than Syringa vulgaris. It blooms very young. I got mine as 6" cuttings from a friend and the little cuttings bloomed the very next spring!

Butterfly bush...um, wish it was blooming now. Toni

Azalea " Rosy Lights" or "Jane Abbott" when in Bloom-

Korean Spice Viburnum "Carlesii".

Vinurnum carlesii
Viburnum carlcephalum
Viburnum x burkwoodii
Daphne x burkwoodii
Calycanthis 'Athens'

Kevin;

Viburnums?? could you expand on:
Which one has the strongest scent, and so on; Reading Dirr's does not shed a light as to which one I want to buy.

thks.

tadeusz,

There's a thread in the shrubs forum called 'Fragrant Viburnum Sniff-Off' where the scent of various viburnums
was discussed. It appears that's there was a tie between Korean Spice carlesii and judii.

Does anyone know ___is the compact v.carlesii compacta with a mature height of only 4 foot as fragrant as the foot taller Korean Spice?

Tad:

The V. carlesii hybrids duke it out with the V. x burkwoodii group for fragrance. Even the V. carlesii 'Compactum' packs a huge fragrant wallop for a small plant. I like my V. x burkwoodii 'Chenaultii' the best among the cultivars in these two groups. V. x juddii is also excellent. For best fragrance, and unfortunately the worst form, V. x carlcephalum is the absolute best to my nose. Any of these related types, though, is a pleasure to sniff. Pick your plant on size and overall form.

Gotta be Korean Spice Viburnum for a 'knock your socks off' fragrance! We've had one at our last two houses ... one in Omaha where it can get as cold as -25° (if that's zone 4, I'd hate to be in zone 2 or 3!) and it never missed a year in blooming profusely. It will perform well, even in shade or partial shade!

Clethra alnifolia and its named varieties for July-August fragrant blooms.

Jamlover: Don't forget mock orange; the scent is heavenly. I recommend Phildelphus coronaria variegata, which can be found at Arrowhead Alpines.

Jamlover: A picture can be found below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Philadelphus coronaria variegata

mysteryrose, thanks for posting the link. Gorgeous mockorange. I planted a variegated one last year. Forgot now if it is the same cultivar. Hope it is as pretty.

Korean Spice Viburnum "Carlesii" is by far my favorite, and currently blooming right now in front of my house! I am wondering why of the 4 Carlesii I have in front, 3 have lots of blooms, and 1 of them is sporting just one small bloom!?! If I recall, that same shrub had 1 or no blooms last year. Is there anything I can do to encourage more blooms in the V.Carlesii for next year?

Lilacs, Peonies, and of course, Roses~