How to Grow Wintersweet
Chimonanthus praecox
Wintersweet is grown for its intensely fragrant, waxy yellow flowers that appear on bare stems in midwinter. Plant in full sun against a south-facing wall for best results. Well-drained fertile soil is essential. It is slow to establish and may take 5-10 years to flower from a young plant — buy a larger specimen for earlier blooms. Prune immediately after flowering, cutting flowered shoots back to 2-3 buds. Once established it needs very little care and flowers reliably every winter.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Apply a balanced general fertiliser in spring as new growth begins.
Watch For
- Aphids on new growth
- Coral spot on dead wood
- Late frost damage to flower buds
Companions
Snowdrops, Hellebores, Winter jasmine, Sarcococca
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun; south-facing wall ideal
Full sun is essential for good flowering. A south or south-west facing wall is ideal — the reflected heat ripens the wood which drives flower production.
Watering
Water while establishing; drought-tolerant once mature
Water regularly during the first two years while establishing. Once established, wintersweet is reasonably drought-tolerant.
Fertilizing
Balanced feed in spring; annual mulch
Apply a balanced general fertiliser in spring. Mulch around the base with well-rotted compost.
Pruning
After flowering; cut flowered shoots to 2-3 buds
Prune immediately after flowering in late February or March. Cut flowered shoots to 2-3 buds from the main framework. Avoid heavy pruning — flowers form on previous season's wood.
Growing Tips
Patience pays off
Wintersweet can take 5-10 years to flower from a young plant. Buy a larger, more mature specimen from a nursery for earlier blooms.
Wall training maximises flowers
Train against a south-facing wall to ripen the wood in summer, which drives prolific winter flowering. Plant 30-45 cm from the wall base.
Cut stems for the house
A single flowering sprig will scent an entire room. Cut freely in midwinter — it does not harm the plant.
Popular Varieties
Grandiflorus
Larger flowers than the species, deep yellow with red-purple markings at the centre. Slightly more vigorous.
Luteus
Pure clear yellow flowers without the purple staining of the species. Considered more ornamental by many gardeners.
