• Photo of Chimonanthus praecox (Chimonanthus praecoxs)

Plant Profile: Chimonanthus praecox

Names

Fragrant Wintersweet, Wintersweet

  • Photo of Chimonanthus praecox (Chimonanthus praecoxs)

Phonetic Spelling:ky-mon-ANTH-us PRE-koks

Genus:Chimonanthus

Species:praecox

Family:Calycanthaceae

Wintersweet is a fragrant deciduous shrub known for its delicate, translucent flowers that bloom during the winter and spring. This plant, which has a medium to coarse texture, thrives in various soil types as long as they are moist and well-drained, and it prefers to be situated in full sun to partial shade. Its loose, multi-stemmed structure creates a fountain-like appearance, although it may become leggy and untidy as it matures. To rejuvenate a leggy plant after flowering, it can be pruned back significantly to eliminate older stems.

**Quick Identification Tips:**

**Pests, Diseases, and Other Issues:** No significant concerns.

Chimonanthus praecox Feature Summary

Chimonanthus praecox Image Gallery

Tags

#fragrant
#deciduous
#yellow
#fragrant flowers
#shrub
#yellow flowers
#deciduous shrub
#spring flowers
#winter interest
#playground
#children's garden
#edible fruits
#spring interest
#fantz
#fountain form
#winter flowers

Similar Plants

Chimonanthus praecox is often confused with:

Chimonanthus praecox Feature Summary

Attributes
China North-Central, China South-Central & China Southeast
Attracts pollinators. Birds feed on the fruit.
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Wildlife Food Source
Fruit
Non-showy fruit. Urn-shaped receptacle bearing 5-8 bean-shaped achenes, non-ornamental.
Brown/Copper
Flowers
0.7-1 in. waxy, yellowish-white, cupped flowers in winter to early spring on leafless stems. The flowers are fragrant with purple centers and occur on the previous season's growth. The inner tepals brown or purple, outer tepals yellow.
Purple/Lavender
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Spring
Winter
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leaves are green and the veins can be easily seen since the vein are a lighter color. Opposite, simple, lustrous, dark green leaves; 2.5-6 in. long; yellow-green fall color. Ovate-lanceolate, entire, acuminate, cuneate, rough to the touch.
Ovate
Lanceolate
Cuneate
3-6 inches
Bark
Bark is dark brown to black.
Dark Brown
Black
Stem
Squarish, shiny gray-brown, covered with orange-brown lenticels; cane-like growth.
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Orange
Whole Plant Traits
Arching
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Winter Garden
Cottage Garden
Garden for the Blind
Recreational Play Area
Pollinators
Songbirds

Chimonanthus praecox Attributes

Chimonanthus praecox: Country Or Region Of Origin

China North-Central, China South-Central & China Southeast

Chimonanthus praecox: Wildlife Value

Attracts pollinators. Birds feed on the fruit.

Chimonanthus praecox: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Chimonanthus praecox: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Chimonanthus praecox Fruit

Chimonanthus praecox: Fruit Description

Non-showy fruit. Urn-shaped receptacle bearing 5-8 bean-shaped achenes, non-ornamental.

Chimonanthus praecox: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Chimonanthus praecox: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Chimonanthus praecox: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Chimonanthus praecox Flowers

Chimonanthus praecox: Flower Description

0.7-1 in. waxy, yellowish-white, cupped flowers in winter to early spring on leafless stems. The flowers are fragrant with purple centers and occur on the previous season's growth. The inner tepals brown or purple, outer tepals yellow.

Chimonanthus praecox: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Chimonanthus praecox: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Chimonanthus praecox: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Chimonanthus praecox: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Chimonanthus praecox: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Chimonanthus praecox Leaves

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Description

Leaves are green and the veins can be easily seen since the vein are a lighter color. Opposite, simple, lustrous, dark green leaves; 2.5-6 in. long; yellow-green fall color. Ovate-lanceolate, entire, acuminate, cuneate, rough to the touch.

Chimonanthus praecox: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Chimonanthus praecox: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Chimonanthus praecox: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Chimonanthus praecox: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Chimonanthus praecox Bark

Chimonanthus praecox: Bark Description

Bark is dark brown to black.

Chimonanthus praecox: Bark Color

grass
Black
grass
Dark Brown

Chimonanthus praecox Stem

Chimonanthus praecox: Stem Description

Squarish, shiny gray-brown, covered with orange-brown lenticels; cane-like growth.

Chimonanthus praecox: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Gray/Silver
grass
Orange

Chimonanthus praecox: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Chimonanthus praecox Whole Plant Traits

Chimonanthus praecox: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Chimonanthus praecox: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Chimonanthus praecox: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Chimonanthus praecox: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Chimonanthus praecox: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Chimonanthus praecox: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Chimonanthus praecox Cultural Conditions

Chimonanthus praecox: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Chimonanthus praecox: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Chimonanthus praecox: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Chimonanthus praecox: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Chimonanthus praecox: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Chimonanthus praecox: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Chimonanthus praecox Landscape

Chimonanthus praecox: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Chimonanthus praecox: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Chimonanthus praecox: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees