ArborNote’s Tree of the Week is the Wintersweet Tree (Chimonanthus praecox) It was introduced to Japan and it is also now known as Japanese allspice, though it has no relation to culinary Jamaican allspice, Pimenta dioica. These trees bloom with beautiful yellow flowers in the winter, making it a popular landscaping tree for a pop of winter color, that is very low maintenance. It is a small tree, with the tallest trees only reaching up to 13 feet tall. It is native to both China and Iran. Wintersweet has been cultivated in China for over 1,000 years due to its sweet, spicy fragrance. It is valued for use in medicine, and its essential oils are used in cosmetics, perfumery and to flavor teas. However, the seeds of Chimonanthus praecox are not edible and contain a toxic alkaloid, Calycanthine. So while the leaves and flowers are used, the seeds must be avoided!