1. Wintersweet Plant Encyclopedia
This genus belongs to the family Chimonanthus, a deciduous shrub that often grows in clusters. Its leaves are opposite, elliptic-ovate to ovate-lanceolate. Flowers are borne in the axils of second-year branches, blooming before leaves. They are fragrant and 2-4 cm in diameter. The perianth segments are round, oblong, obovate, elliptical, or spoon-shaped, glabrous. The filaments are longer than or equal to the anthers, which are incurved and glabrous. The style is three times as long as the ovary and hairy at the base. The fruit receptacle is nearly lignified, with a constricted mouth and awl-lanceolate hairs. Flowers bloom before the leaves in late winter.
2. Wintersweet Encyclopedia
There are few varieties of wintersweet, distinguished by flower color: plain and yellow.
1. Plain Wintersweet: The perianth is pure yellow and has a strong fragrance. This is the most valuable variety of wintersweet.
2. Chimonanthus chinensis (Qingkou): Both leaves and flowers are relatively large, with yellow outer perianth and purple inner perianth. It has a strong fragrance and is a rare variety.
3. Chimonanthus parviflora (Small-flowered): The flowers are very small, with yellow-white outer perianth and red-purple inner perianth. It has a strong fragrance.
4. Chimonanthus dasyphylla (Dog Claw): Also known as Dogtooth Chimonanthus dasyphylla, Red Heart Chimonanthus dasyphylla, Dogfly Chimonanthus dasyphylla, and Dog Ying Chimonanthus dasyphylla. The leaves are narrow and small, with narrow and pointed perianth, yellow outer perianth and purple inner perianth. It has a light fragrance and is highly resistant to pests. It is native to the Qinling Mountains and other regions in central China, with Shaanxi and Hubei as its distribution centers.
Extended information:
Chimonanthus dasyphylla
A deciduous shrub that often grows in clusters. The leaves are opposite, elliptic-ovate to ovate-lanceolate. Flowers are borne in the axils of second-year branches, blooming before leaves. They are fragrant and 2-4 cm in diameter. The perianth segments are round, oblong, obovate, elliptic, or spoon-shaped, glabrous. The filaments are longer than or equal to the anthers, which are incurved and glabrous. The style is three times as long as the ovary and hairy at the base. The fruit receptacle is nearly lignified, with a contracted mouth and a subulate-lanceolate hairy appendages. Flowers bloom before the leaves in late winter. Cultivated varieties include Chimonanthus chinensis (Qingkou), Chimonanthus chinensis (Diesel Heart), and Chimonanthus chinensis (Dog Rope). Chimonanthus chinensis is native to central my country. It prefers sun but is also slightly shade-tolerant. It is relatively cold-tolerant and drought-resistant, earning it the nickname “the drought-resistant wintersweet.” It is not very demanding on soil quality, but prefers well-drained light loam.
Reference: Wintersweet on Baidu Encyclopedia
3. Wintersweet Plant Encyclopedia
The flowering and bearing of wintersweet represent hope for winter and the power of life.
During the cold season, wintersweet is an extremely cold-resistant plant, capable of producing beautiful flowers even in frigid weather. And even after its flowers fade, it still produces fruit, a quality that further reinforces the life force and hope that wintersweet represents.
4. Wintersweet Plant Encyclopedia Image
The differences between white plum blossoms and wintersweet are as follows:
First, their flowering period. White plum blossoms typically bloom in February or March, while wintersweet blooms around November.
Second, their flower colors differ. White plum blossoms have a wider variety of colors, commonly found in white, pink, and red. Wintersweet flowers, on the other hand, are mostly waxy yellow and have a rich fragrance.
Third, their forms differ. The leaves of white plum blossoms are broadly ovate to ovate, while those of wintersweet are oblong with a rough surface.
5. Wintersweet Plant Images
Wintersweet generally begins to grow new leaves between November and March of the following year, from late autumn to early winter to early spring. This is also the flowering season for wintersweet, with beautiful flowers typically blooming 2-4 months after the leaves appear. The timing of wintersweet leafing is primarily influenced by temperature and light. Wintersweet begins to sprout new leaves when the temperature is around 5-10°C, and the daylight hours are shorter at this time, about 10 hours. Therefore, as the temperature gradually drops and the daylight hours shorten, wintersweet begins to leaf out. However, it’s important to note that the timing of leafing varies depending on the variety: some may begin leafing earlier, while others may take longer.
Environmental conditions, such as water and fertilizer, also affect the growth of wintersweet leaves.
6. The Role and Function of Wintersweet
1. Proper Fertilization: Proper fertilization is important in the cultivation methods and precautions for wintersweet. Apply a thin, light fertilizer once a month to supplement nutrients for growth. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this will not only cause the wintersweet to grow too tall and have difficulty flowering, but will also cause root burn.
2. Light and Temperature: Wintersweet, which prefers sunlight and light, should be provided with 5 to 7 hours of light during cultivation to enable better photosynthesis. The growth temperature should be controlled between 18 and 23°C to allow for more vigorous growth.
3. Timely Pruning: When caring for wintersweet, pay attention to timely pruning. Remove dense and crossing branches to loosen the branches for increased ventilation and light. Prune any diseased and weak branches to ensure that nutrients are evenly distributed to all branches, maintaining healthy growth. 7. What is wintersweet? Ancient Chinese believed that 150-year-old wintersweet flowers could be sold. However, in our daily lives, we all know that things that are only two years old are almost useless. So, 150-year-old wintersweet flowers are a no-brainer. But 150-year-old wintersweet flowers should be delicious, right? So, should 150-year-old cotton be edible, and should it not be? This requires our scientific theories.