Common Sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ee-KAN-thus FLOR-id-us
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Carolina allspice, is an erect to rounded deciduous native shrub in the Calycanthaceae family. It is found in the south east growing in shady woodlands and along streambanks. It grows 6-12' tall with an equal or slightly greater spread. It is commonly called sweetshrub and strawberry bush in reference to the showy fragrant blooms which have been described as combining hints of pineapple, strawberry, and banana. The aroma is stronger in higher temperatures and it is best to purchase the plant in flower as the fragrances do vary so widely. The scientific name derives from the Greek words kaylx which means calyx and anthos which means flowers.
Sweetshrub grows best in average to rich, well-drained soil in anywhere from full sun to deep shade. It prefers some shade in hot summer afternoons and it will grow lankier and less dense in shade than in sun. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil textures and pH but prefers rich loams. Plant it 3 to 5 feet from other shrubs to give it adequate room to grow. It blooms in early spring before leaves emerge, with the leaves, and sporadically thereafter.
Prune immediately after flowering to shape or maintain compactness. It has a suckering habit meaning those suckering branches need to be maintained unless you want this plant to naturalize in your landscape. Prune the plant to shape immediately after flowering as the flowers are produced on last year's wood. Propagate this plant by seed.
It can tolerate brief periods of flooding, but it struggles in sandy soil and drought conditions. It withstands cold and heat, insect and disease pests, fire, and deer browsing. Plant it as a specimen or near a patio or walkway to enjoy its fragrance. Its form makes for a good screen or privacy hedge or plant it in the back of a shrub border or in a foundation planting. Consider this native in your cutting, sensory, or woodland garden.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Quick ID Hints:
- Solitary maroon flowers on short axillary shoots
- Bark of deciduous shrub is aromatic when bruised
- Flowers are fruit-scented
- Leaves are opposite, grey-green & pubescent underneath
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Relatively pest and disease free.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Sloped Front Yard
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aphrodite'
Bright red flowers 4'-6' tall - 'Athens'
White flowers, dense mound 6' tall - 'Edith Wilder'
- 'Katherine'
- 'Michael Lindsey'
Shiny leaves, very fragrant - x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine'
Large red wine colored petals.
- 'Aphrodite'
- 'Aphrodite', 'Athens', 'Edith Wilder' , 'Katherine' , 'Michael Lindsey', x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aphrodite'
Bright red flowers 4'-6' tall - 'Athens'
White flowers, dense mound 6' tall - 'Edith Wilder'
- 'Katherine'
- 'Michael Lindsey'
Shiny leaves, very fragrant - x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine'
Large red wine colored petals.
- 'Aphrodite'
- 'Aphrodite', 'Athens', 'Edith Wilder' , 'Katherine' , 'Michael Lindsey', x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Calycanthus
- Species:
- floridus
- Family:
- Calycanthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Pennsylvania to SE. U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MA , MD , MS , NC , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies nectar at the blooms. Other insects also feed at the flowers, especially beetles.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistant, resistant to fire in landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 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
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- 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
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- An urceolate (shaped like an urn) capsule, wrinkly and leathery, enclosing multiple 1-seeded achenes. Displays from August to September and starts out soft green fading to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Very fragrant 2 inches wide brown to deep red flowers that bloom at the ends of short branchlets. The sepals and petals are similar and are referred to as tepals. They are strap-like. Blooms appear from mid-April to mid-May and then occasional flowers into July. The fragrance varies.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lustrous, dark green to gray-green leaves that turn a rather insignificant golden yellow in fall. Undersides are paler with dense hairs. The leaves are opposite, simple, rough to the touch and aromatic when bruised. The shape is oval or oblong, the tip is acute or acuminate or (rarely) obtuse, and bases are cuneate.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- Thin, lenticeled, and fragrant.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Pith (Split Longitudinally):
- Continuous homogeneous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stout, gray-brown, glabrous, aromatic when bruised; pith large, white, somewhat hexagonal, continuous. New stems are red-brown,
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Predatory Insects
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Fire
- Heat
- Insect Pests
