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Japanese Allspice Wikimedia Commons
Calycanthaceae

Japanese Allspice

Chimonanthus praecox

Winter resilience and inner strength.

Family
Calycanthaceae
Genus
Chimonanthus
Native to
China, Japan, Korea
Bloom season
Winter
Type
deciduous shrub
Height
200-400 cm
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
well-drained, fertile
Water
moderate
Hardiness
7-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Japanese allspice blooms in the dead of winter on bare branches, filling the cold air with an intensely sweet fragrance.
  • The genus name Chimonanthus means 'winter flower' in Greek, perfectly describing its unusual blooming habit.
  • The waxy, translucent petals look as if they are carved from pale yellow wax or amber.
  • In Chinese culture, it is one of the 'Four Gentlemen' plants symbolizing the four seasons.
  • The flowers produce fragrance even in temperatures near freezing, attracting the few pollinators active in winter.

Color meanings

0

perseverance

1

inner beauty

2

resilience

Uses

  • ornamental
  • winter gardens
  • fragrance
  • cut branches
  • traditional medicine