Chimonanthus preacox

• BOTANICAL NAME: Chimonanthus praecox
• PRONUNCIATION: ky-mo-NAN-thus PRAY-cox
• COMMON NAME: Fragrant Wintersweet
• FAMILY: Calycanthaceae
• NATIVITY: China
• GROWTH HABIT: Large, multi-stemmed.  Can become leggy and rejuvenates with a hard cutback.  Deciduous.
• SIZE: 10 to 15' (height) by 4 to 7' (spread).
• HARDINESS: Zone 7 - 9.
• CULTURE: Adapts to a variety of soils.  Will survive urban settings in a protected area.  Full to part sun.
• LANDSCAPE USE:  Specimen shrub or small tree; especially effective against a dark background.
• FOLIAGE  Opposite, long narrow leaf with short bristly hairs on upper surface.
• BUDS: Distinctive flower buds (in late summer) imbricately scaled.
• BARK: Somewhat square stem with obvious orange-brown lenticels.
• FLOWER: flower variation   Yellow March flowers with a reddish-orange throat; 5/8" long with a permeating fragrance.
• FRUIT: Resembles a hornet's nest. Persistent through winter.
• PROPAGATION:  Seeds and cuttings.
• PESTS: None serious.
• CULTIVARS: