This small shrub grows in calcareous woodland and I find it really difficulty to get at. If it isn't at the top of a quarry on a 1 in 3 incline then it is hidden in thickets of ash, yew, bramble and dog rose. You have to try to find it early in the year because once the neighbouring shrubs produce leaves on you'll never find it in the thicket and in any case the flowers will have finished. It flowers before the leaves show and can appear to be just bare twig with waxy looking, pinkish fragrant flowers.

It is dotted about sparsely in England mostly in southern and central counties but there isn't as much in Wales and very little in Scotland or Ireland.

Cressbrookdale, Derbyshire 18th March 2005

Added on 18th March 2005, updated 12th December 2008, updated 28th March 2010