Chimonanthus praecox (Wintersweet)

Prized for its attractive and sweetly scented winter blooms, Chimonanthus praecox is a deciduous shrub that adds beauty and fragrance to the garden when most plants lie dormant. In mid-late winter, a profusion of small, highly fragrant, bowl-shaped flowers with almost transparent, greenish-yellow outer petals and short reddish-purple inner tepals appear on the naked branches. They may last until early spring, depending on the winter temperatures.

Bushy, this upright, vase-shaped flowering shrub has a slightly arching habit and sports shiny lanceolate, dark green leaves which turn yellow in fall. One of the finest plants that the winter garden can offer! This shrub will usually take a few years to start to flower, but it is worth the wait.

• Grows up to 10-15 ft. tall (300-450 cm) and 8-12 ft. wide (240-360 cm)
• This plant is best grown in full sun in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Drought-tolerant when established.
• Mass in mixed shrub borders for dramatic winter blooms. Great flowering shrub for cottage gardens or city gardens.
• Low maintenance, this plant is generally pest and disease free.
• Minimal pruning is required. Remove crossing, dead or diseased branches in late spring.
• Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Can also be propagated by softwood cuttings in summer.
• Native to China