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    • Photo of Calycanthus floridus flower by Maples N More Nursery

    Photo by Maples N More Nursery

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

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    Buy Calycanthus floridus

    Also Known As

    • Carolina Allspice
    • Strawberry Shrub
    • Sweet Shrub

    Plant type

    shrub

    size

    • H: 7'-10'
    • W: 4'-7'

    planting zones

    • 5a-9b

    3 gallon | $37.45

    Avail in US except West Coast, HI/AK

    Fewer than 1 at Maples N More Nursery

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    Calycanthus floridus plant details

    Calycanthus floridus is a moderate-growing broadleaf deciduous shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer burgundy flowers emerge followed by brown fruit. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, clay and well-drained soil.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Calycanthus floridus

    Plant type: shrub
    Plant family: calycanthaceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 4 FT - 7 FT - wide, 7 FT - 10 FT - tall
    Flowers: burgundy blooms in spring and summer
    Uses: bare root shipping available, border plant, easy-to-grow, fall color, fragrant, spreading

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Calycanthus floridus

    USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
    Resistant to: deer
    Soil needs: average, clay and well-drained

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    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    An unusual yet easily-grown medium shrub native to the Southeastern United States features large, aromatic leaves (giving it one of its common names, Carolina allspice),fragrant reddish-brown flowers in mid-summer and lovely butter-yellow fall color; remove suckers if naturalization is not desired. S-PSh/M

    By: Forestfarm

    Sweet Shrub is valued for its sweet, cinnamon smelling dark wine-red flowers that open April to May. Also known as Carolina Allspice and bubby bush. Use for borders or in native gardens. Sweet Shrub is a great border shrub or used as a single foundation bush. Tolerates most soil conditions.

    By: Maples N More Nursery

    Carolina Allspice, Calycanthus floridus, is a medium sized shrub with sweetly fragrant flowers in May and dense, slightly glossy leaves. The fragrance varies between plants slightly but is usually a combination of the scents of strawberry, pineapple and banana. Allspice is an easily grown shrub with few pests or diseases, and plants rarely need pruning. Both the cold and heat tolerance is exceptional and plants will thrive in a wide variety of conditions but prefers well drained soil. In rich soil plants will sucker and form clumps.

    By: Red Panda Nursery

    A deciduous shrub typically broader than tall. It has an upright spreading form, and when planted in full sun it is dense and rounded. When planted in shade it has a more loose, open and irregular habit. Flowers are maroon to chocolate brown and have a spicy fragrance, especially in the evenings. Growth Rate medium

    By: Garden World

    Easily grown in many soil types, this medium (6-9 ft.) shrub has interesting maroon flowers that are heavily fruit-scented, appearing mostly in May. Some repeat bloom throughout the summer. Glossy leaves are aromatic. Best used in a group planting, it makes a great border plant. Seeds are formed within interesting urn-like capsules.

    By: Heritage Seedlings

    This medium sized native shrub reaching 4-5' tall in ten years, has reddish-brown flowers and glossy green leaves. It is mostly grown for fragrance, but is handsome in leaf and habit. Recommended by: the Garden Clubs of America, & the United States National Arboretum.

    By: Fantastic Plants

    The starry, rich burgundy tepals of these Magnolia-like blossoms have a fragrance variously reported as reminiscent of fresh strawberries, pineapple, bubblegum, and sometimes melon. The rich medium green foliage is spicily fragrant when crushed, and the bark has a fragrance similar to cinnamon or camphor. This is a deciduous spreading to upright, often suckering, SE US native shrub. May also provide yellow fall color. Item# 9445.

    By: Almost Eden

    Blooms: summer, red/ deciduous, yellow fall color, spicy fragrance when crushed. Zone 5-9. 5'-10', Eastern US, part shade-shade, moist, well drained

    By: Keeping it Green Nursery

    Sweetshrub will get to be a sizable bush (8' x 8') with spicy scented flowers in the summer. zone 5

    By: Whitman Farms

    A worthwhile plant for every garden. Nice in the shrub border. Great, fruity scent. Trouble-free shrub that has variable fall color, always nice, and in some years, spectacular! Many folks remember this scent from their grandmother's garden. The species is highly variable as far as scent goes. Our cloan is very sweet scented and is produced vegetatively, so all the babies are sweet smelling like the mama.

    By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

    This deciduous bushy shrub with dark green oval leaves to 5" is mainly grown for its sweet scented flowers appearing mid to late spring. The 2" dusky red blooms become brown fruit which hang on the plant through winter. All parts, but particularly the bark when dry, exude a camphor-like fragrance. (Put it in your drawers.) The Carolina Allspice reaches 8' x 10' at maturity. Plant in fertile, moist soil in sun; in warm climates plant in partial shade. A trouble free plant.

    By: Greer Gardens Inc.

    Burgundy-brown flowers have the scent of ripe fruit in mid summer. Midsized deciduous shrub 7' x 7'

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Calycanthus floridus plant

    How to Grow Calycanthus floridus

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • clay
      • average
      • well-drained

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • burgundy

    • Wildlife

      • deer resistant

    • Fruit

      • brown

    • Flower Season

      • spring
      • summer

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    See other plant types of Calycanthus for your garden

    Calycanthus x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine'

    aka Sinocalycanthus x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine', Sweetshrub

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    5a-9b

    Size

    Height: 8'-10'

    Width: 6'-8'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Calycanthus x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine' flower by Karl Gercens III
    View Plant

    Calycanthus floridus 'Athens'

    aka Calycanthus x raulstonii 'Athens', Athens Sweetshrub, Carolina Allspice

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    5a-9b

    Size

    Height: 6'-8'

    Width: 6'-10'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Calycanthus floridus 'Athens' foliage by plant lust
    View Plant

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    Calycanthus occidentalis

    aka Butneria occidentalis, California Allspice, Spice Bush, Spicebush, Western Sweetshrub

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    7a-10b

    Size

    Height: 8'-10'

    Width: 6'-8'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    • dry in summer
    Photo of Calycanthus occidentalis flower by Scott Zona
    View Plant

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    Calycanthus 'Venus' PP15925

    aka Calycanthus x raulstonii 'Venus', Sinocalycanthus x raulstonii 'Venus', Venus Sweetshrub

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    5a-9b

    Size

    Height: 6'-10'

    Width: 5'-6'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Calycanthus 'Venus' PP15925 flower by Dancing Oaks Nursery
    View Plant

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    Calycanthus chinensis

    aka Calycanthus sinensis, Sinocalycanthus chinensis, Sinocalycanthus sinensis, Chinese Wax Shrub

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    4a-10b

    Size

    Height: 6'-10'

    Width: 6'-10'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Calycanthus chinensis flower by J.G. in SF
    View Plant

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    +6 more Calycanthus
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