There is a sole species of a evergreen shrub in this genus. It occurs in dry, open, mixed forest in South Africa. M. bella is grown for its opposite, slender-pointed, elliptic leaves and its arching, terminal racemes of trumpet shaped, flowers, each with 5 large, flared lobes, with deep purple veining, usually borne from spring to autumn. Grow in a shrub border or as a specimen plant.

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well drained, neutral to slightly acidic or alkaline soil in full sun or light, dappled shade.

M. bella – Asyatais bella – Forest Bell Bush – This erect then spreading shrub from South Africa grows 3-8′ feet tall and 3-5′ feet wide. It produces oval, slender pointed, wavy edged, lustrous, deep green leaves, 3-5″ long, with prominent veins. From spring to autumn it bears terminal racemes of narrowly funnel shaped flowers, to 2″ across with large, pink petal lobes finely veined dark purple.

Zones 9-11

There are about 6 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, in this genus. They occur in woodland in China. They are grown for their unusually, small, many petalled, open bowl shaped, translucent, waxy textured and very fragrant flowers, which are borne from early to mid winter before the young leaves emerge.   The leaves are simple, tin textured, arranged in opposite pairs. Flowers are followed by fruit of a strange shape. Grow wintersweets as specimen plants or in a shrub border. They may also b e trained against a sunny wall. Flowers can be dried.

Grow in any fertile, well drained soil in full sun.

C. praecox ‘Luteus’ – C. praecox ‘Concolor’ – C. fragrans ‘Luteus’ – C. fragrans ‘Concolor’ – Japanese Allspice – This vigorous, broadly upright, deciduous shrub grows 10-15′ feet tall and wide. It produces smooth edged, lance shaped, glossy, mid green leaves, to 8″ long, rough above, smooth beneath, arranged in opposite pairs, and turn yellow in autumn. In winter it bears an abundance of pendent, fragrant, clear yellow flowers, 1″ across, stained brown or purple inside, that open widely, on bare branches on previous years growth. Fruits are yellowish brown when ripe.

Zones 6-10

There are about 6 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, in this genus. They occur in woodland in China. They are grown for their unusually, small, many petalled, open bowl shaped, translucent, waxy textured and very fragrant flowers, which are borne from early to mid winter before the young leaves emerge.   The leaves are simple, tin textured, arranged in opposite pairs. Flowers are followed by fruit of a strange shape. Grow wintersweets as specimen plants or in a shrub border. They may also b e trained against a sunny wall. Flowers can be dried.

Grow in any fertile, well drained soil in full sun.

C. praecox ‘Parviflorus’ – C. fragrans ‘Parviflorus’ – Japanese Allspice – This vigorous, broadly upright, deciduous shrub grows 10-15′ feet tall and wide. It produces smooth edged, lance shaped, glossy, mid green leaves, to 8″ long, rough above, smooth beneath, arranged in opposite pairs, and turn yellow in autumn. In winter it bears an abundance of pendent, fragrant, pale yellow flowers, 1/2″ across, stained brown or purple inside, on bare branches on previous years growth. Fruits are yellowish brown when ripe.

Zones 6-10

There are about 6 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, in this genus. They occur in woodland in China. They are grown for their unusually, small, many petalled, open bowl shaped, translucent, waxy textured and very fragrant flowers, which are borne from early to mid winter before the young leaves emerge.   The leaves are simple, tin textured, arranged in opposite pairs. Flowers are followed by fruit of a strange shape. Grow wintersweets as specimen plants or in a shrub border. They may also b e trained against a sunny wall. Flowers can be dried.

Grow in any fertile, well drained soil in full sun.

C. praecox ‘Grandiflorus’ – C. fragrans ‘Grandiflorus’ – Japanese Allspice – This vigorous, broadly upright, deciduous shrubgrows 10-15′ feet tall and wide. It produces smooth edged, lance shaped, glossy, mid green leaves, to 8″ long, rough above, smooth beneath, arranged in opposite pairs, and turn yellow in autumn. In winter it bears an abundance of pendent, fragrant, deep yellow flowers, 1 3/4 -2″ across, conspicuously striped maroon inside, on bare branches on previous years growth. Fruits are yellowish brown when ripe.

Zones 6-10

There are about 6 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, in this genus. They occur in woodland in China. They are grown for their unusually, small, many petalled, open bowl shaped, translucent, waxy textured and very fragrant flowers, which are borne from early to mid winter before the young leaves emerge.   The leaves are simple, tin textured, arranged in opposite pairs. Flowers are followed by fruit of a strange shape. Grow wintersweets as specimen plants or in a shrub border. They may also b e trained against a sunny wall. Flowers can be dried.

Grow in any fertile, well drained soil in full sun.

C. praecox – C. fragrans – Japanese Allspice – This vigorous, broadly upright, deciduous shrub from China grows 10-15′ feet tall and wide. It produces smooth edged, lance shaped, glossy, mid green leaves, to 8″ long, rough above, smooth beneath, arranged in opposite pairs, and turn yellow in autumn. In winter it bears an abundance of pendent, fragrant, sulfur yellow flowers, 1″ across, stained brown or purple inside, on bare branches on previous years growth. Fruits are yellowish brown when ripe.

Zones 6-10