Chimonanthus praecox

Chimonanthus praecox, also known as wintersweet[1] and Japanese allspice,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the genus Chimonanthus of the family Calycanthaceae, native to China. The plant is known as làméi (蠟梅) in Chinese. The plant is also grown in Iran, where it is called gol-e yakh (گل‌یخ) or "ice flower" in Persian.

Chimonanthus praecox
Winter flowers on leafless stems
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Calycanthaceae
Genus: Chimonanthus
Species:
C. praecox
Binomial name
Chimonanthus praecox
Synonyms[1]
  • Beureria praecox (L.) Kuntze
  • Calycanthus praecox L.
  • Calycanthus suaveolens Salisb.
  • Chimonanthus caespitosus T.B.Chao, Z.X.Chen & Z.Q.Li
  • Chimonanthus fragrans (Loisel.) Lindl.
  • Chimonanthus grandiflorus (Lindl.) Steud.
  • Chimonanthus luteus (G.Don) Biel.
  • Chimonanthus parviflorus Raf.
  • Chimonanthus verus Biel.
  • Chimonanthus yunnanensis W.W.Sm.
  • Meratia fragrans Loisel.
  • Meratia praecox (L.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  • Meratia yunnanensis (W.W.Sm.) Hu

It is a vigorous deciduous shrub growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall with an erect trunk and leaves 5–29 cm (2–11 in) long and 2–12 cm (1–5 in) broad. Its strongly scented pendent flowers, produced in winter (between November and March in UK,[3]) on bare stems, have 15-21 yellow or pale green-yellow, tepals, the inner ones usually with purplish red pigments.[4][2][5]

This plant is cultivated in gardens, producing valued flower colour in the dormant season. The cultivars C. praecox 'Grandiflorus'[6] and C. praecox 'Luteus'[7] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The plant is not closely related to allspice, Pimenta dioica.

Cultural use

C. praecox is a common motif in traditional Persian poetry, literature, and music. A more modern example of C. praecox in Persian music is Kourosh Yaghmaei's Gol-e Yakh.

References
  1. "Chimonanthus praecox (L.) Link". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  2. "Chimonanthus praecox". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  3. Nicholson, B.E.; Wallis, Michael (1963). The Oxford Book of Garden Flowers. London: Oxford University Press. p. viii. ISBN 978-0199100026.
  4. "eFloras - Flora of China - Chimonanthus praecox". Efloras.org. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  5. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  6. "RHS Plant Selector - Chimonanthus praecox 'Grandiflorus'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. "RHS Plant Selector - Chimonanthus praecox 'Luteus'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.


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