Information about Chimonanthus praecox

Chimonanthus praecox, including Huangmei, Xiangmei, Huangmei and Wax wood, is a deciduous shrub belonging to Chimonanthus of Chimonanthaceae, which is native to the central provinces of China. Because it usually blooms in the twelfth lunar month, the fragrance of flowers is similar to that of plum blossoms, hence the name. Chimonanthus praecox is an important ornamental flower in winter, and it is also one of 13 kinds of smoked tea fragrant flowers in China. Its petals are bright in color, rich in fragrance and beautiful in tree shape, which is suitable for cultivation in the courtyard or as a potted plant. Can also be used as a cut flower, inserted in a bottle, lasting fragrance, is an ideal flower species for cut flowers. It and plum blossom are two unrelated plants and cannot be confused.

Chimonanthus praecox is 3 meters high, with clustered stems, nearly square branchlets, yellow-brown bark and obvious lenticels. The single leaf is opposite, the surface of the leaf is rough, the back of the leaf is smooth and hairless, oval and ovoid, and the whole leaf is entire. The flower bud is covered with many scales arranged in tile shape. The flowers are yellow, with thick petals, waxy and solitary, and open in the axils of annual branches. The flowering period is long, from early winter to early spring, before the leaves are displayed, it is proud of the snow, and the colors are beeswax and yellow, so it is also called Huangmei. Its branches are simple in shape, and can be used for potted plant modeling and artistic processing to make stump bonsai, which is a good product for indoor display. Chimonanthus praecox has a long life span, which can be as long as 100 years.

Chimonanthus praecox not only has ornamental value, but also has high economic value. Flowers can be extracted with aromatic oil and scented with high-grade scented tea. Flowers soaked in raw oil can be made into Chimonanthus praecox oil, which can be used externally to treat burns and orally to treat measles in children. After drying, the flower is a valuable medicinal material, which has the effects of relieving summer heat, promoting fluid production, promoting qi circulation, relieving cough, detoxicating and promoting granulation. Rhizome is an antitussive and antiasthmatic drug. Chimonanthus praecox extract is very popular in the domestic market.