Chimonanthus praecox Winter Sweet
This is a wonderful shrub for winter colour and perfume. Flowering in June July in New Zealand
Its common name Winter Sweet is because of its lovely highly scented, sweetly perfumed flowers.
Flowers are pale waxy yellow, stained purple in the centre and appear on leafless branches during winter.
It is a medium sized easily grown shrub which will succeed in well drained soils and all aspects. Its large, pointed, rough leaves will turn pale yellow in Autumn.
Prune it hard straight after flowering to ensure new growth for next years flowering.
Chimonanthus praecox other botanical name was Chimonanthus fragrans which reflected its perfume but it had been named Chimonanthus praecox first by botanists. It was introduced into cultivation in England from China in 1799. Its name Chimonanthus means winter flowers Chimon (Winter) and anthos (flower).
The last image above is of Chimonanthus praecox ‘Luteus’ which has larger flowers without the stained purple centre. The petals are a clear waxy-yellow and open later than the traditional Winter Sweet.
Further Images of Chimonathus praecox can be found on my Pinterest Page