PLANT OF THE MONTH
JANUARY 2020 — Wintersweet
Common Name: Wintersweet or Japanese Allspice
Location at Bloedel Reserve: Gatehouse beds near the Giant Sequoia
Latin Name: Chimonanthus praecox var. Luteus
Family: Calycanthaceae
Type: Deciduous flowering shrub
Origin: China
Garden Uses: Border planting, winter Interest specimen
Fun Fact: Native to the forested areas of China, wintersweet fills the area where it is planted with a unique spicy, floral fragrance. The specimen at Bloedel Reserve has been one of our staff’s favorites for years. The genus name comes from the Greek words cheimon meaning “winter” and anthos meaning “flower.” The Latin term praecox means “very early” and refers to the plant’s bloom time. Although one of its common names is “Japanese Allspice,” wintersweet is not related to the culinary ingredient.