Calycanthus floridus
Common Sweetshrub

Family:

Calycanthaceae (Strawberry-shrub Family) 2

Genus:

Calycanthus (Sweetshrub Allspice Strawberry-Shrub Bubby Blossom Blossom, Bubby Sweet Bubby Bubby, Sweet Sweet Bettie Bettie, Sweet Spicebush) 2

Plant Type:

Shrub 492

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 4 497

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 807

Flowers:

Red (Fragrant (with tropical fruit smell), brownish-red 2" dia. flowers that have moderately showy strap-like petals in spring)

Foliage:

Green (Glossy dark green foliage in summer); Yellow (Under the right conditions, can achieve a nice, clean, yellow fall color)

Fruit:

Brown (Interesting urn-shaped wrinkled fruit that ripen to brown)

Ultimate Height:

6-9 feet

Ultimate Spread:

6-12 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil:

Widely adapted to different soils

Range:

Southeastern United States

Diagnostic Characteristics:

2-5" long (half as wide) simple, entire leaves are densely pubescent beneath. Raised horseshoe-shaped leaf scars and prominent lenticels.

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

The Common Sweetshrub was one of the first native plants in the US used as an ornamental. Widely adapted to soil and sun or shade. Certain selections can permeate an area with fragrance. Can be forced for indoor fragrance. Not all plants have equally fragrant flowers; don't use seed propagated plants for that reason. Seeds are poisonous, causing convulsions, myocardial depression, and hypotension.