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Original poster

What is this climber? Greenish white flowers (like a single Hydrangea) heavily scented

35 replies

cheekychopsmum · 23/03/2009 14:39

Last summer in scotland (June time) I walked past a walled garden and smelt the most beautiful fragrance. A climber was hanging over the wall and it had profuse small greenish white flowers. The flowers looked like an individual Hydrangea flower. I've looked up hydrangea and they 're not scented. This definatly had a strong perfume, I could smell it all the way down the road.

Please can anyone help?

OP posts:
solowitch · 23/03/2009 14:40

Jasmine I would've thought.

Peachy · 23/03/2009 14:40

jasmine?

Peachy · 23/03/2009 14:41

xposts lol

MinkyBorage · 23/03/2009 14:42

Clematis Armandii I reckon. It smells amazing and is in flower now.

solowitch · 23/03/2009 14:43

There are different types though, but I think some of the flowers could be described as you have...look at some pictures of them and see if you recognise any of the many species.

MinkyBorage · 23/03/2009 14:43

just re read op, and bet it's jasmine

solowitch · 23/03/2009 14:46

Stephanotis is also a flower that looks like that, but I can't recall if it has a heady scent or not.

Guadalupe · 23/03/2009 14:51

Jasmine smells really strong, not sure it looks like a single hydrangea though does it?

mistlethrush · 23/03/2009 14:56

climbing hydrangea

Could it have been this? Right flowering time, right for wall - it does have a scent, but would be surprised if you could smell it down the road - that sounds more like
a version of this - there are several different versions and some have smaller flowers, but most are beautifully scented.

TeddyBearCoalman · 23/03/2009 14:58

This www.seedsandmore-store.com/catalog.php/seedsandmore/pd11186 suggests the climbing hydrangea is scented, particularly in the evening.

Peachy · 23/03/2009 15:03

Guad, i think the one in my picture does doesn't it?

But ther are many varieties obv

Easiest option is a lpeasant stroll through a garden centre surely? Once weather picks up again

solowitch · 23/03/2009 15:13

Go and knock on the door and ask...you may even get a cutting if you are cheeky enough!

Original poster
cheekychopsmum · 23/03/2009 15:14

It was heady like a Jasmine, but the flower was larger, bigger than 50pence piece. It does look like the climbing hydrangea, but like I said the scent was very strong and it was on a sunny afternoon, also was in shade.

I've looked around garden centres and described to friends and I'm no nearer. I'll have to take a chance on the Hydrangea. Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
cheekychopsmum · 23/03/2009 15:16

I was on a weekend break!

OP posts:
catinthehat1 · 23/03/2009 15:17

white wisteria in summer? Flowers not realy as you describe, but heavy scent in a summer walled garden certainly is.

Guadalupe · 23/03/2009 15:18

Yes, that does look similar. I think of jasmine havng finer petals like a star, and a hydrangea being more rounded, three or four petals like clover, but you're right, so many types about!

Pannacotta · 23/03/2009 15:25

Was this it? Very scented flowers
www.gardenersworld.com/plant-detail/PL00006450/-1/star-jasmine

Original poster
cheekychopsmum · 23/03/2009 15:42

No Pan, more rounded petals, not so star shaped

OP posts:
solowitch · 23/03/2009 15:49

You should always take a photo of things like that!

Pannacotta · 23/03/2009 15:50

Can you describe the petals and leaves a bit more?
Am quite well up on climbers so more clues woudl help (will look in my climbers book too)...

Pannacotta · 23/03/2009 16:13

The only plant I can think of that has such strong scent in June is Philadelphus, as mistlethrush suggested
www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.floralimages.co.uk/images/philadelphus_coronarius_1335.jpg &imgrefurl=www.floralimages.co.uk/pphilacoron.htm&h=375&w=500&sz=33&tbnid=_1DbECDkoC2liM::&tb nh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dphiladelphus%2Bphoto&hl=en&usg=_7H53fZWMY6qojI4CCb16l7Z8KE=&ei=- rTHSf28MoiyjAeg9tinCw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&cd=1

its not a climber but does get quite tall and rangy and grows in shade.
The leaves do look a bit like a hydrangea.
COuld this be it?

Original poster
cheekychopsmum · 23/03/2009 16:18

Sorry can't remember the leaves, but like I said the flowers themselves were just larger than 50p, about 5 petals, white with a hint of green. Petals were sort of large teardrop shape. I picked one off and it smelt lovely. Branches were woody, it was a well established plant. Could only see tips of branches as they escaped over the high wall into the allyway Iwas walking through

OP posts:
Pannacotta · 23/03/2009 16:23

DId you see my last post? It does sound like a Philadelphus to me, they are quite woody and smell fantastic. There are lots of types so if you google Philadelphus you can have a look at the various flowers
some here
www.bluebellnursery.com/cgi-bin/catalogue.cgi?cat=t&genus=Philadelphus&initial=P

Original poster
cheekychopsmum · 23/03/2009 16:23

no definatley not that, I know that cos I have several mock oranges! I don't know a lot about plants, but remember thinking "I've never seen a climbing hydrangea" so my initial thought was hydrangea, but it's only when I've come to look it up that I've been put off that idea because of the lack of scent. This really had a strong scent. It's what took me down the allyway.

OP posts:
Pannacotta · 23/03/2009 16:25

DId you see my last post? It does sound like a Philadelphus to me, they are quite woody and smell fantastic. There are lots of types so if you google Philadelphus you can have a look at the various flowers
some here
www.bluebellnursery.com/cgi-bin/catalogue.cgi?cat=t&genus=Philadelphus&initial=P