ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
' Aphrodite ' sweetshrub . photograph : Proven winner
Sweetshrub is a deciduous George Herbert Walker Bush named for the spidery magnolia - like flowers that ooze a sweetened fruity fragrance . Also known as spicebush , allspice , and strawberry bush , most varieties are native to North America , growing as an understory shrub in woods , moist woodlands , and along stream banks . This reliable medium - to - big - sized shrub is virtually carefree once established , offering multi - time of year appeal in the landscape painting .
The fragrant efflorescence attract bees , butterfly , and other worm pollinator , with plants providing book binding and nesting home ground for songbirds and other wildlife . Sweetshrub is various in shrub perimeter , as hedging or screening , in instauration plantings , or naturalize in a aboriginal garden . Here ’s how to rise and use it in your curtilage .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Frequently Asked Questions|Landscaping Ideas
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page :
SWEETSHRUB BASICS
Botanical name:
Calycanthusspp .
Plant type:
Deciduous shrub
Zones:
4 - 9 , depending on the variety
Exposure:
Full sun to fond refinement
Habit:
Upright dense bushy habit
Height/Spread:
5 to 10 ft tall , 4 to 12 feet extensive , depending on the variety
Bloom time:
Spring to summertime
Flowers:
Magnolia - like bloom in colors of burgundy , red , pink , yellow , or livid fall out for weeks in leap and summertime , with some sporadic re - bloom . Most varieties are sweet-smelling , with fragrance that varies depending on the form , airwave temperature , and meter of daylight . The sweet aroma is described as a combination of ananas , hemangioma simplex , and banana .
Foliage:
Deciduous oval - shaped farewell reach 4 to 10 inch long . leaf is unripened or burgundy , developing brilliant yellow color in fall .
Fruit:
peak are keep abreast by irregular urn - shaped pods 1 to 2 inches long containing pea - sized seeds . The non - eatable green fruit abridgement slice to coppery brown , persisting into wintertime .
Toxicity:
Sweetshrub can be gently toxic to pets and humans if absorb in with child quantity .
HOW TO PLANT SWEETSHRUB
When to plant:
Plant sweetshrub during milder atmospheric condition in spring or descend to avoid organ transplant shock from uttermost coldness or heat .
Where to plant:
take a website that meet at least 6 hours of full sun with rich , well - draining dirt . Sweetshrub bloom good in full sun , with security from hot afternoon sun in warmer climate . plant are shade tolerant , though they will flower less and grow tall in wraith .
How to plant:
Loosen ground in the planting area and rectify with compost or other rich organic thing . Dig a hole twice as blanket and the same deepness as the origin bollock . Remove flora from the nursery container and loosen roots if potbound . Place in the fix so the top of the theme glob is layer with the hem in soil . meet in the hole with soil , tamp down down mildly to get rid of strain pockets , and piss thoroughly . weewee on a regular basis until plants are found . place plants 5 to 12 substructure aside , depend on the variety .
SWEETSHRUB CARE
but Scentsational ® sweetshrub . Photo : Proven Winners
Soil:
Sweetshrub is large-minded of a wide range of soils but choose rich , well - drain soil with an acid to alkaline pH between 5.0 to 8.0 . territory may be improve with compost or other constituent thing before planting . For containers , use a in high spirits - tone , all - purpose potting mix .
Amendments & fertilizer:
In saltation , apply a balanced slow - acquittance fertilizer peculiarly word for Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and shrub according to instructions . Mulch plants with a layer of compost to add nutrients , suppress weeds , and retain soil moisture .
Watering:
Sweetshrub does best with moderate water and is somewhat drought tolerant once prove . Water more frequently during prolonged heat energy and wry spells . Do n’t allow dirt to dry out entirely .
Pruning:
Sweetshrub blooms on the previous year ’s increment ( sure-enough wood ) . Prune right away after blossom to shape as needed . Cut out any damage , morbid , or crossing branches .
Pests and diseases:
When get in the right condition , sweetshrub is free of most pests and disease . pestilence can includeaphids , barque beetles orwhiteflies . Diseases includepowdery mildewor bacterial crown gall .
SWEETSHRUB VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
‘ Aphrodite’—Buy now from Proven WinnersCalycanthushybrid
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:5 to 10 feet tall and wideBloom fourth dimension : Early to late summer
‘ Aphrodite ’ is a crossbreed between California sweetshrub ( Calycanthus occidentalis ) and Chinese sweetshrub ( C. chinensis , syn . Sinocalycalycanthus ) . Large burgundy flowers resembling magnolias peak in cornucopia all summer long . Allow this larger shrub plenty of way to pass around .
Simply Scentsational ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersCalycanthus floridus
Zones:4 - 9Habit : Upright shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:6 metrical foot tall , 4 to 5 feet wideBloom Time : Spring to summertime
One of the most fragrant varieties , Simply Scentsational ® produces dark Bourgogne - red blooms with a velvety texture . The spidery flowers have an intense fruity olfactory property resonant of pineapple or bubblegum . This compact variety , which is suitable for smaller spaces , is exceptionally hardy .
pic : Spring Meadow Nursery
‘ Hartlage Wine’Calycanthus raulstonii
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:8 to 10 feet tall and wideBloom clock time : Late spring to early summer
‘ Hartlage Wine ’ , a hybrid of Chinese sweetshrub ( Calycanthus chinensis , syn . Sinocalycalycanthus ) and Carolina spicebush ( C. floridus ) , raise thinly scented 3 - in wide of the mark maroon flowers and brilliant yellow fall color . This multi - cauline shrub has a dense suckering habit suited for hedge or screening , or naturalizing in a aboriginal border .
‘ Venus’Calycanthushybrid
Zones:5 - 9Habit : vertical shaggy habitHeight / Spread:5 to 7 substructure tall and wideBloom sentence : former bounce to mid - summer
‘ Venus ’ is a complex hybrid of Carolina spicebush ( Calycanthus floridus ) , California sweetshrub ( C. occidentalis ) and Chinese sweetshrub ( C. chinensis ) . average - sized works produce a profusion of diffuse off-white - white bloom begin in early summertime . The intense fruity fragrance is more pronounced in the evening . spill color is golden - jaundiced or brownish - yellow-bellied . Use in foundation planting or as hedge in .
photograph : Karl Gercens / Millette Photomedia
' Burgundy Spice’Calycanthus floridusvar.purpureus
Zones:6 - 9Habit : unsloped shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:6 to 8 feet tall and wideBloom clock time : Mid to late spring
‘ Burgundy Spice ’ is named for the glossy , dark - Bourgogne leaf that carry its color throughout the growing season , turning shades of Orange River and yellow in free fall . Lotus - like duple flowers are robust maroon - red with a juicy mango - pineapple scent . employ as hedge or screening , or as a unique focal point in the landscape painting .
Photo : Nikolay Kurzenko / Shutterstock
Carolina SpicebushCalycanthus floridus
Zones:4 - 9Habit : Upright disperse habitHeight / Spread:6 to 10 foot tall , 6 to 12 feet wideBloom Time : Mid - spring to mid - summer
Also known as eastern sweetshrub or Carolina allspice , this specie is aboriginal to the eastern U.S. Spidery flower are rich mahogany tree chocolate-brown with a sweet banana - strawberry fragrance . Green leaves turn yellow in twilight . Naturalize in a aboriginal shrub molding or purpose as hedging or masking .
Photo : islavicel / Shutterstock
Chinese SweetshrubCalycanthus chinensis
Zones:6 - 8Habit : vertical bushy habitHeight / Spread:5 to 10 feet tall and wideBloom clip : Mid to former spring
Native to China , Formosan sweetshrub produces graceful pinkish - white flower with broad rounded petals and a yellow center , create a striking effect in the landscape painting . The camellia - like peak are not fragrant . Foliage turn soft yellowed in fall . exercise as hedging or screening along a property job , or to separate garden way .
photograph : Sundry Photography / Shutterstock
California SweetshrubCalycanthus occidentalis
Zones:6 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 feet tall and wideBloom Time : Late spring to summertime
Also know as California spicebush , westerly sweetshrub , or California allspice , this specie is found natively in the westerly U.S. growing in canyons , along stream and other moist places . Deep - ruby flush , 2 - inches across , resemble waterlilies , with a acrid wine- or acetum - like fragrance . big leathery green go away up to 8 - column inch long turn yellow-bellied in descent . Use this enceinte shrub as hedge , sort , naturalize in a aboriginal moulding , or along a bank to stem erosion .
Photo : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia
' Athens’Calycanthus floridus
Zones:5 - 9Habit : just shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:4 to 9 base improbable and wideBloom fourth dimension : May to June
‘ Athens ’ is rise for the sick yellow - light-green peak that resemble delicate lotus flower . The flowers transude an intense , fruity fragrance . Glossy green foliage turns favorable - yellow in fall . Use in shrub mete or as hedging .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is sweetshrub invasive?
This bush circulate by root suckers , but is not considered invasive . Keep works from spreading by contract back outer solution as they come forth .
Where is sweetshrub native?
MostCalycanthusspecies are aboriginal to North America . Chinese sweetshrub ( Calycanthus chinensis ) is native to China .
Do deer eat sweetshrub?
Calycanthusis immune to deer browsing , though deer may graze on almost any flora if they are hungry enough .
Is sweetshrub edible?
The aromatic bark , leaf , and root are sometimes dried and used as a cinnamon stand-in . Plants can be mildly toxic in big amount .
SWEETSHRUB LANDSCAPING TIPS
There are many ways to use sweetshrub in your landscape . Here ’s how :
For borders and landscapes:
Grow in a mixed borderline , native garden , bush border , or woodland setting .
For slopes and hillsides:
stack along a slope to help stem wearing .
For containers:
Smaller specimen can be implant in containers .
Companion plants : CombineCalycanthuswith other native shrubs such asbeautyberry(Callicarpa americana , ) bottlebrush buckeye ( Aesculus parviflora ) , California lilac ( Ceanothus),ninebark(Physocarpus opulifolius),summersweet bush(Clethra alnifolia ) , andVirginia sweetspire(Itea virginica ) .
