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About this plant
What makes this plant special
In a mild spell the first flowers can open as early as November, and they keep scenting a whole corner of the garden for almost a month, sometimes even under snow; a few cut stems will perfume a room indoors. The shrub is unfussy, growing in acid or chalky soil and coping with dry summers.
Wintersweet Chimonanthus
Wintersweet (Chimonanthus) is a small genus of shrubs from the mountain forests of China. Most species are evergreen, but the one grown in our gardens is deciduous. The genus is loved for its waxy, intensely fragrant flowers, which open on bare branches in the depth of winter, when little else is in bloom.
Chimonanthus praecox
Wintersweet from China and Korea forms a slow-growing thicket of stiff, angular stems, usually around 2 m high. From December to March the bare wood carries small, pendant, pale yellow bells with a dark red centre and a sweet scent reminiscent of hyacinth and honey. Urn-shaped brown fruits follow, with seeds that may be toxic. The glossy oval leaves turn yellow before they fall.
Location and soil
Sun or partial shade, preferably sheltered and where low winter sun can shine through the flowers. It grows in most well-prepared soils, including clay and stony ground, but prefers deep, loose, well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly chalky. It withstands the usual Belgian winters without protection.
Pruning and care
Water during dry spells until well established; after that, in deep soil, it manages without. No regular pruning is needed; to keep a neat shape, prune lightly straight after flowering, in April. In a large container it needs a yearly trim, feeding once a year and watering in hot weather.
Use in the garden
A shrub for winter interest close to the terrace, front door or a well-used path, as a solitary or in a shrub border. It can be trained against a sunny wall, and a few cut stems scent a room for days.
Plant characteristics
Botanical
| Family | Calycanthaceae |
| Genus | Chimonanthus |
| Species | praecox |
Flowering
| Flowering period | january to March |
| Colour (flower) | yellow |
| Flowers | fragrant |
Foliage
| Evergreen | no |
| Colour (foliage) | green |
Growth habit
| Height | 150 cm, 200 cm |
Location
| Winter hardiness | -20 °C |
| Soil type | kalkrijk |
| Location | sun |
| Soil moisture | normal |
Use
| Type (use) | shrub, solitary, in group |
Care
| Pruning | april |
