The Winter Sweet is a lovely plant to produce a fabulous winter perfume. The flowers set flush to the small branchlets are a fabulous pale yellow and waxy looking cup shaped marked with a purple stain in the centre. Unfortunately it does have a rather unruly appearance and is best placed at the back of a border.
It grows best in a warm sunny place and succeeds well in any well drained soil.
Originally from China where it is a native plant it was introduced into England in 1766. Two cultivars are widely grown.
Chimonanthus praecox ‘Grandiflorus’ a form with deeper yellow flowers and a very conspicuous red stain in the centre.
Chimonanthus praecox ‘Aureus’ which has larger flowers again which are a clear yellow and there is no red or purple stain in the flower.
This is a great plant and excellent for picking a few twigs each day to take inside and add a beautiful scent to the home.
