Calycanthus floridus
Common Name(s):
- Carolina Allspice
- Spicebush
- Sweet Betsy
- Sweet Bubby Bush
- Sweetshrub
- Sweet Shrub
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ee-KAN-thus FLOR-id-us
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics
- See below
- Description
Calycanthus floridus, commonly called Carolina allspice, is a dense, rounded deciduous shrub with a suckering habit which grows 6-9' (less frequently to 12') tall with an equal or slightly greater spread. Sweet shrub grows best in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It will grow somewhat taller in shade than in sun. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils, but prefers rich loams. Prune immediately after flowering to shape or maintain compactness. It tends to sucker and often forms colonies in the wild. Remove root suckers promptly if naturalization is not desired.
It is best to purchase this plant when in flower because the quality and intensity of the fragrance can vary widely from plant to plant. Also commonly called sweetshrub and strawberry bush in reference to the fragrant blooms which have been described as combining hints of pineapple, strawberry and banana. Further common name of hairy allspice is in reference to the hairy twigs and leaf undersides of this plant.
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.
- Cultivars:
-
- 'Athens'
- 'Edith Wilder'
- 'Katherine'
- 'Athens'
- Tags:
- Cultivars:
-
- 'Athens'
- 'Edith Wilder'
- 'Katherine'
- 'Athens'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Calycanthus
- Species:
- floridus
- Family:
- Calycanthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies nectar at the blooms. Other insects also feed at the flowers, especially beetles.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Enhancement
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistant, drought tolerant, resistant to fire in landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full Sun (Direct sunlight 8+ hours a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight (2-4 hrs) for only part of the day
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- brownish, urn-shaped fruits (seed capsules) which mature in fall and persist throughout the winter
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- very fragrant, brown to reddish-brown flowers (2" across) which bloom at the ends of short branchlets
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- lustrous, dark green (pale beneath), turn golden yellow in fall; leaves are opposite, simple, rough to the touch and aromatic when bruised
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- thin, lenticeled, and fragrant
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Similar plants:
-
Itea virginica
-
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
-
Ilex verticillata
