Chimonanthus praecox
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ky-mon-ANTH-us PRE-koks
- Description
-
This plant is one you will not want to miss planting. The exotic-looking flowers will have you dreaming of exotic places during the winter and spring months. The vibrant colors of yelllow will transport you to experience that exotic look in your own garden. The essence of delicateness is in these flowers.
After flowering and looking absolutely gorgeous in the winter and spring months, this plant can be severely pruned to rejuvenate and bring that youthful, beautiful look for years to come.
This plant can grow in a range of soil conditions making it a great asset for many gardens. The texture of this plant is meedium to coarse. The form of this plant is a multi-stemmed, loose shrub with fountain-like effect and becomes leggy and ragged with age, however still holding onto its beauty.
Seed: Achene
Quick ID Hints:
- Opposite leaves, rough to the touch.
- Cane-like growth, fountain-shaped bush
- Yellow, fragrant winter flowers, purplish inside
- Deciduous shrub, blooms in winter, when leafless
Large, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub to 13', fountain-like outline.
Winter-blooming on leafless branches, very fragrant. Can become quite unkempt-looking if old canes are not pruned out. Easy transplant; soil adaptable; needs good drainage; full sun to partial shade; needs regular pruning; zones 7-9; no serious pest problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Grandiflorus'
showier and purer-yellow flowers than the species, inner petals a striped maroon, not as fragrant. Leaves may be a bit larger an
- 'Grandiflorus'
- 'Grandiflorus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Grandiflorus'
showier and purer-yellow flowers than the species, inner petals a striped maroon, not as fragrant. Leaves may be a bit larger an
- 'Grandiflorus'
- 'Grandiflorus'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chimonanthus
- Species:
- praecox
- Family:
- Calycanthaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China North-Central, China South-Central & China Southeast
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators. Birds feed on the fruit.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- non-showy fruit. Urn-shaped receptacle bearing 5-8 bean-shaped achenes, non-ornamental.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 0.7-1 in. waxy, yellowish-white, cupped flowers in winter to early spring; fragrant; purple centers; occurs on previous season's growth; inner tepals brown or purple, outer tepals yellow, fragrant, borne in axils of previous summer's wood, on leafless branches.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- 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.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Brown
- Bark Description:
- Bark is dark brown to black.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Squarish, shiny gray-brown, covered with orange-brown lenticels; cane-like growth.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
