Common Name: Winter Sweet

General Information

Chimonanthus praecox is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing 3 - 13 metres tall. In mild climates the leaves sometimes persist[].
The plant is used medicinally in China and is the source of an essential oil. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental in temperate areas, valued especially for its sweetly fragrant flowers which appear through the winter[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - eastern and southern China

Habitat

Mountain forests at elevations of 500 - 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Chimonanthus praecox is very tolerant of cold, being able to tolerate occasional temperatures falling as low as -25°c[]. However, it requires hot summers in order to initiate free flowering and so, in regions with cool summers, it is usually grown against a sunny wall[].
Requires a good soil in a sunny sheltered position[, ]. Badly drained or compacted soils may cause blotching or yellowing of the leaves[]. Succeeds in most soils but it seems most at home on chalky ones[].
A very ornamental plant[]. The flowers are very fragrant[], but the plant can be very sparse flowering after cool summers[].
The flowers emit a powerful sweet fragrance which can be smelled 50 yards away. The smell is like jonquil and violets[]. When the fragrance is inhaled close to for any length of time the smell seems to disappear[].
Plants have a moderate rate of growth[].
Plants take 5 - 12 years to flower from seed[, ].
The var. 'Grandiflorus' comes true from seed and has larger flowers than the type, though they are less aromatic[, ].
Plants flower profusely when established and left unpruned[], if any pruning is necessary then it is best done immediately after flowering in late winter[, , ].
The flowers are produced on the leaf axils of wood 3 - 4 years old[]. The flowers are produced on very short stalks at the joints of the previous summer’s shoots[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Flowers - thoroughly boiled and then washed[]. Eaten with oil and salt[, ].

The flower petals are used to flavour and scent tea[].

Medicinal

The flowers and flower buds are antimicrobial, antioxidant, sialagogue[, , ]. The flowers are used in the treatment of thirst and depression[]. The essential oil in the flowers is an effective antimicrobial, the whole flower acts effectively as an antioxidant[].

The essential oil from the flowers and flower buds is used to treat colds[].
The flowers contain 0.5 - 0.6%.essential oils comprising benzylalcohol, benzyl acetate, linalool, terpineol and indole[]. The essential oil contains elemene, muurolene, caryophyllene, cadinol and spathulenol[].
Studies have shown that the combination of the compounds in the essential oil acts synergisticly to make it an effective antimicrobial[].

The leaves and roots can be used in the treatment of contusions, cuts, haemorrhages, strains, lumbago, rheumatism, numbness and colds[].

Other Uses

The flowers are very fragrant, they are used in pot-pourri and to make perfumes[, , ].

The wood, after soaking in water, polishes to a brilliant black finish[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[, ]. Pre-soak stored seed in tepid water for two hours, keep warm and moist for 3 days then chill for 5 - 8 weeks and sow in a cold frame[]. Germination is usually good, though it is often slow and erratic, and takes place in 2 months or more at 13°c[, ]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Extremely difficult to root[].
Layering in spring[] or in July/August[]. Takes 9 months[]. Fair to good percentage[].