Chimonanthus praecox

Description

Chimonanthus praecox

Chimonanthus praecox, commonly known as wintersweet, is a deciduous shrub valued chiefly for its powerfully fragrant winter flowers. It is a fairly vigorous, upright grower, typically reaching 2.5m in height with a spread of around 2-3m at maturity, so it benefits from a reasonably generous position against a warm wall or within a sheltered border.

From midwinter into early spring, and often before the leaves appear, bare stems are studded with small, waxy, pale yellow flowers with a purple-stained centre, releasing a rich, sweet scent that carries well on still, cold air. The mid-green, lance-shaped leaves are unremarkable through summer but set off the autumn display of other plants nearby.

Cultivation is straightforward: grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil, ideally sheltered from harsh winds, as this encourages the best flowering and ripens the wood. A south- or west-facing wall suits it well. Prune immediately after flowering, removing older wood to maintain shape and vigour.