Abeliophyllum distichum

Abeliophyllum is related to the forsythia and are lax, deciduous shrubs with paired ovate leaves and axillary racemes of fragrant flowers with 4 oblong lobes, growing on the bare stems in late winter or early spring. In early spring, before the new leaves form, purplish buds all along the grey naked branches open into small white four-petaled, almond-scented flowers with yellow stamens. After flowering, green, glossy abelia-like leaves appear.It is not fussy about soil conditions but will do poorly in drought-like conditions.