Choose wintersweet by flower color and scent first: Grandiflorus or Luteus. We list those two.
Choose Grandiflorus or Luteus
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Grandiflorus | Larger flowers with a maroon centre; a bolder winter look | Buying it only for the strongest perfume |
| Luteus | Clear gold flowers, later in the season | Expecting the classic purple blotch |
| Culture | The same sheltered sun and after-bloom prune for both | Treating them as two different care recipes |
Know your USDA hardiness zone before you pick a type of chimonanthus that will take your winter. Type your ZIP below.
2023 USDA ZIP listings (PRISM / USDA-ARS). Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone · Official USDA map.
Lock flower color first. Nursery sticks all say wintersweet or Chimonanthus praecox. Grandiflorus is the larger, more yellow show with a striped maroon inner ring. [1] Luteus is the clear gold, later flower. [2] Both kinds mature in the 10-to-15-foot range; Grandiflorus keeps the purple centre. [3]
Grandiflorus vs Luteus?
Grandiflorus has larger flowers with a maroon centre and a weaker scent. Luteus is clear gold, later, without the purple blotch. Both need the same care.
Browse by kind
Grandiflorus wintersweet
Grandiflorus (C. praecox ‘Grandiflorus’) is the showier yellow, with a maroon centre and larger leaves. Fragrance is weaker than the unselected species.
Luteus wintersweet
Luteus (C. praecox ‘Luteus’) opens clear gold, without the purple blotch, and often a little later. Scent is moderate.
Not wintersweet — Carolina allspice and other names
- Carolina allspice — Calycanthus floridus, a summer-blooming North American relative with maroon flowers. Confirm Chimonanthus on the tag. [4]
- Japanese allspice — another name for this same wintersweet, not a second genus.
- Ipomoea vine — the tender vine people overwinter indoors. That search is not this woody shrub.
We do not list Concolor, Trenython, or an unselected species as catalog cards.
Is this the Ipomoea vine people overwinter indoors?
No. Wintersweet is Chimonanthus, a woody shrub. The Ipomoea vine is a different plant.
If the tag only says wintersweet, check the flower centre — maroon is Grandiflorus, clear gold is Luteus.
FAQ
Is Japanese allspice the same plant?
Yes. Japanese allspice is a common name for Chimonanthus praecox. Carolina allspice is Calycanthus.
Do you list the species or Concolor?
No. We list Grandiflorus and Luteus, the two plants in this catalog.
Why does Grandiflorus smell weaker?
The larger, brighter flower was selected for show. Perfume is often milder than the unselected species.
Related guides
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/chimonanthus-praecox/ - [2] BBC Gardeners' World -
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-chimonanthus-wintersweet/ - [3] Gardenia.net -
https://www.gardenia.net/plant/chimonanthus-praecox-grandiflorus-wintersweet - [4] Hayloft -
https://hayloft.co.uk/how-to-grow-chimonanthus
This note is part of Chimonanthus Guides.
More type comparisons by plant are gathered in Types of Plants Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors