Wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox
Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) is a deciduous perennial shrub in the Calycanthaceae family, native to Central China. It grows 2.5–4 m (8.2–13 ft) tall and 2.5–3.5 m (8.2–11 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -20 °C (-4 °F). Space plants about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart.
Plan Wintersweet in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Wintersweet at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Calycanthaceae |
| Mature height | 2.5–4 m (8.2–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2.5–3.5 m (8.2–11 ft) |
| Spacing | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -20 °C (-4 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about January for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Central China |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is Wintersweet toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: seeds
Seeds contain calycanthine (a convulsant alkaloid).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Wintersweet
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Wintersweet in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (2 plants)
- China National Botanical Garden (2 plants)
Questions about Wintersweet
- How far apart should I plant Wintersweet?
- About 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2.5–3.5 m (8.2–11 ft).
- Does Wintersweet need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Wintersweet need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Wintersweet?
- It tolerates about -20 °C (-4 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
- When does Wintersweet flower?
- From about January for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Wintersweet poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Seeds contain calycanthine (a convulsant alkaloid).
- What grows well with Wintersweet?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Wintersweet. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- Waxy, intensely fragrant yellow flowers on bare twigs in midwinter; one of the "three friends" of Chinese winter gardens.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Carolina allspice (sweetshrub) Calycanthus floridus
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Camellia Camellia japonica
- Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides