Shrub to 3-4 m tall, deciduous. Leaves elliptic, ovate or oblong, rough above, 7-15 cm long, pointed at the tip, rounded or tapered at the base. Flowers mostly before the leaves in mid to late winter with a waxy appearance, about 2.5 cm wide, extremely fragrant, the outer segments pale to dark yellow, inner ones generally suffused with purple. Fruit soft, to 4 cm long, bulging slightly on one side; Oct-Nov.

China, Japan

Waxy, highly scented yellow flowers in midwinter; stamens 5-6.

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Calycanthaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.