Chimonanthus praecox 2

Chimonanthus praecox

Wintersweet

By M a n u e l from Valdemoro, Spain – chimonanthus praecox, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42537858

Chimonanthus praecox possess sweetly scented and highly fragrant, creamy yellow, bell shaped flowers that appear on bare, light brown stems in the middle of Winter. The glossy, lanceolate leaves turn a pure yellow in the Autumn. On hot Summer days, the deep green, leathery leaves release an aromatic scent of a mixture of cinnamon and cloves. The Wintersweet is a medium sized (2m tall) shrub, ideal for Winter borders and looks stunning against a natural wall or even in a large pot on the patio. It is best to keep it close to a path or entrance of the house for you to fully appreciate its strong fragrance!

Hillier’s Manual of Trees & Shrubs entry

Germination Instructions

Sow indoors. Prior to sowing scarify the seed, nick seed coating with a knife or file, do not damage the embryo inside. Soak seed in warm water for 36 hours. Drain and carefully remove the seed coating, which should easily peel away. Then remove the fibrous ivory skin on the seed. Place seed on moist, not soaking, paper towel in a tray. Cover tray with cling film. Place tray somewhere bright at 21°C. Germination takes 3-14 days, check every day. Once a tap root appears sow vertically, tap root end down into moist soil. Cover with 3mm soil. Seedlings should emerge in 1 month approx. Grow on under glass for the 1st winter.

Growing Instructions

Prefers a well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun.

Cultivation Instructions

Pruning group 1. No routine pruning necessary. Prune if needed in late winter or early spring. After pruning mulch and feed. Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings or grafting.

When to Sow