Sweetshrub, Carolina Allspice

Calycanthus floridus

Sweetshrub is dense rounded deciduous shrub with aromatic luscious dark green leaves that turn gold in fall.  Highly fragrant dark red magnolia-like flowers bloom in late spring into summer which give way to fruits that persist into winter.  Grows best in  full sun and moist, well-drained acidic soils. 

Calycanthus is pollinated by beetles, its flowers do not attract other pollinators as much.  However, its seeds are sometimes eaten by small mammals and birds.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance.  Do not let the soil dry out.  Prune after flowering.  No serious disease or pest issues.
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Wildlife Garden, Foundation Plantings, Hedges, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Weigela,  Maiden Grass,  Rose

IMAGES:  Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,  Calycanthus floridus kz06, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2)  Jozicav at  Slovenian Wikipedia,  Calycanthus floridus (2), CC BY-SA 3.0,  (3)  Hannes wilms,  Wijnruiker HW, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4)  peganum from Small Dole, England,  Calycanthus floridus - Flickr - peganum,  CC BY-SA 2.0, (5)  Salicyna,  Calycanthus floridus 2016-05-17 0595,  CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.