Japanese name: ロウバイ（蝋梅、蠟梅、臘梅） Scientific name:Chimonanthus praecox
[Overview]
A deciduous shrub 2–4 m tall.
The leaves are opposite, oblong to ovate-oblong, 10–20 cm long, with entire margins and a rough upper surface.
From December to February, before the leaves appear, flowers with a waxy texture and a strong fragrance bloom.
The flowers are yellow and about 2 cm across, but the inner tepals are dark purple.
The fruit is elliptic and about 4 cm long.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by grafting.
It prefers a sunny, fertile, moderately moist site.
It dislikes dryness and is weak to cold.
Flower buds form on the previous year's branches, so prune after flowering.
