Chimonanthus praecox, commonly known as wintersweet or Japanese allspice, is a deciduous shrub that typically grows 10-15’ tall and to 8-12’ wide. It is native to forested areas of China. Fragrant flowers (to 1” across) bloom in winter (December to January) usually on leafless branches, but sometimes, particularly in warm climates, on branches clad with a few persisting leaves. Bloom time is later (February-March) near the northern edge of the growing area. Each flower has numerous showy tepals which are sulfur yellow to pale yellow with a purplish-brown center. Flowers (to 1 1/2” across) bloom on branches from the prior year. Rough, glossy green, opposite, elliptic-ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves (to 6” long) emerge in spring after the flowers have bloomed. Leaves turn yellow in fall.