Chimonanthus praecox var. concolor flower (21/01/2012, Kew London)
Position: Full sun to dappled shade
Flowering period: Winter
Soil: Well Drained
Eventual Height: 4m
Eventual Spread: 4m
Hardiness: 6a – 9b
Family: Calycanthaceae
Chimonanthus praecox var. concolor is a medium sized, bushy, deciduous shrub. Its leaves are opposite and entire, up to 20cm long and 7cm broad, with a glossy texture. The yellow flowers are waxy, cup shaped, 2-3cm wide, with spirally arranged tepals and are strongly scented. The branches are upward arching in form. The fruit of the plant is an elliptic dry capsule 3-4cm long.
Chimonanthus praecox var. concolor, commonly known as Wintersweet or Japanese Allspice, is native to China. It was introduced into European gardens from Japan and was noted in England 1766 when it was grown under glass for the Sixth Earl of Coventry in the conservatory at Croome Court, Worcestershire.
The etymological root of the binomial name Chimonanthus is derived from the Greek xeimwn ‘winter’ and anqos ’flower’. Praecox is derived from the Latin prae before and coxi ‘ripening’, i.e. early ripening.
Chimonanthus praecox var. concolor (21/01/2012, Kew London)
The landscape architect may find Chimonanthus praecox var. concolor useful as a low maintenance, winter flowering, scented shrub.
Ecologically C. praecox var. concolor is pollinated by insects
C. praecox var. concolor prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers slightly acidic soils. It will not tolerate winter water logging.
C. praecox var. concolor requires little maintenance.