March flowering pink shrub

gliddofglood

I have this superb pink shrub in my garden but I didn't plant it. What is it please? It flowers very early - before anything else and is flowering now. Thanks.

Dovefromabove

That looks like a Viburnum x bodnantense - possibly 'Dawn'

Should have a lovely perfume - especially on mild winter days 

Hostafan1

agree with Dove, as ever. 

And , may I say, what a beauty it is. I'm very jealous.

madpenguin

I have this in my garden but it's only about a 2 feet tall at the moment.Something to look forward too if it looks as good as the OP's shrub!

Dovefromabove

It's a gorgeous one isn't it?

When you need to prune it, please don't do what so many do and just reduce it's height and turn it into a pink shaving brush.

After flowering remove the oldest stems from low down near the base, leaving the younger growth - that way you'll keep the lovely fluid fountain effect. 

gliddofglood

Many thanks everyone. Quite right about the aroma - it smells beautifully. I have had the house for 13 years and it was already there when I bought it, so it must easily be 15 years old, quite possibly a few more.

Thanks also for the pruning advice. I am coming to realise that I have a few shrubs in the garden that require this sort of treatment, notably the forsythia and I have recently given the dogwood a serious seeing to; it was rampant.

nutcutlet

Love the shaving brush description Dove. 

Dovefromabove

It's what happens so often doesn't it Nut - there should be a law against it