Television presenter Alan Titchmarsh has shared one top winter tip for December and it is all about a certain plant which he said ‘should be in every garden’
Liam McInerney Content Editor
08:00, 14 Dec 2025
Alan Titchmarsh shared his top winter tips (Image: Getty Images)
Gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh has revealed the must-have plant for December gardens – and he’s guaranteed its fragrance will leave you stunned. The telly favourite took to his YouTube channel to demonstrate how this particular specimen could “transform your dull winter garden”.
That said, even while singing its praises, he admitted it’s hardly the best looking plant.
Addressing his 85,000 subscribers from his Hampshire pad, the Love Your Garden host explained: “Here, I am majoring on both winter colour and winter scent. And the one plant that is going to give you scent like no other in winter, you will probably think looks extremely boring! This is it.”
He then introduced viewers to the Saraoccocca confusa plant, elaborating: “This is Saracocca, the Christmas Box, and if you look at the flower buds, these green flower buds, you will see its potential because when these open they turn into white whiskery flowers.
“Still not much to look at but I am not kidding when I say the scent will stop you in your tracks. It is the most fabulous plant. It should be in every garden.”
Close up of flowers on a sweet box (sarcococca confusa) shrub(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Alan wrapped up by saying: “It is not a sort of headliner, a centerpiece, but in the corner here it will offer me a bit of height at one end of this trough.”
Following the upload – which you can view in its entirety here – one fan commented: “There is nothing like a good scented container in the dull cold winter to go with my lit by Xmas lights garden. I do love to be alive.”
Another fan chimed in: “Thanks for showing us this tip, beautiful garden Alan.”
Despite making his YouTube debut earlier this year, Alan remains a familiar face on the telly, and he’s set to grace our screens this weekend on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.
Alan standing beside his Sarcococca plant(Image: Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh/YouTube)
The Sunday morning show, kicking off at 9.30am, will see him welcoming actress Lesley Joseph, Blur’s Alex James and Coronation Street’s Daniel Brocklebank to Manor Farm.
The beloved TV host and green-fingered guru, who celebrated his 76th birthday in May, opened up about counting his blessings as a proud Yorkshireman.
Alan, who first shot to fame as a gardening whizz on BBC’s Nationwide, shared: “I owe everything to good luck and a following wind!
“I love my work, I love being outdoors in my garden, I have a hugely supportive family. I enjoy my food and drink – in moderation of course – and above all I laugh a lot. It’s worked for me.”
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