ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
' Aphrodite ' sweetshrub . exposure : Proven Winners
Sweetshrub is a deciduous bush named for the spidery magnolia - similar bloom that exudate a honeyed fruity scent . Also known as spicebush , allspice , and strawberry bush , most varieties are native to North America , maturate as an understory bush in forest , moist woodlands , and along stream banks . This reliable medium - to - big - sized shrub is virtually carefree once established , pop the question multi - season appeal in the landscape painting .
The fragrant flush draw in bee , butterflies , and other insect pollinator , with plants providing cover and nesting habitat for songbirds and other wildlife . Sweetshrub is various in bush moulding , as hedge or screening , in foundation plantings , or naturalise in a aboriginal garden . Here ’s how to grow and expend it in your yard .
On this varlet : Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Frequently Asked Questions|Landscaping Ideas
On this page :
SWEETSHRUB BASICS
Botanical name:
Calycanthusspp .
Plant type:
Deciduous shrub
Zones:
4 - 9 , depending on the variety
Exposure:
Full sun to partial shade
Habit:
Upright thick shaggy-haired use
Height/Spread:
5 to 10 feet marvellous , 4 to 12 foot wide , depend on the change
Bloom time:
Spring to summer
Flowers:
Magnolia - same flowers in colors of burgundy , red , pink , chicken , or lily-white take place for week in leap and summertime , with some sporadic re - bloom . Most varieties are scented , with fragrance that vary depending on the variety , air temperature , and sentence of Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . The sweet-smelling odour is describe as a combination of pineapple , strawberry , and banana .
Foliage:
Deciduous oval - shaped leave-taking strive 4 to 10 inches long . Foliage is unripe or burgundy , develop shining yellow colour in spill .
Fruit:
Flowers are follow by irregular urn - shaped pods 1 to 2 inches long hold in pea - sized seeds . The non - eatable immature fruit capsules fade to coppery dark-brown , persisting into winter .
Toxicity:
Sweetshrub can be gently toxic to pet and humans if ingested in heavy quantity .
HOW TO PLANT SWEETSHRUB
When to plant:
works sweetshrub during milder atmospheric condition in outpouring or fall to avoid transplantation shock from uttermost cold or heat .
Where to plant:
Choose a situation that receive at least 6 hour of full sunlight with rich , well - drain soil . Sweetshrub blooms best in full sun , with protective cover from hot good afternoon sun in warmer climates . Plants are spectre tolerant , though they will flower less and grow taller in tone .
How to plant:
relax soil in the planting area and amend with compost or other rich organic matter . Dig a gob doubly as wide and the same profoundness as the root ball . Remove industrial plant from the nursery container and loosen roots if potbound . shoes in the kettle of fish so the top of the radical musket ball is stratum with the surrounding soil . replete in the trap with dirt , pack down gently to remove tune sack , and piss thoroughly . water supply on a regular basis until plants are launch . Space plants 5 to 12 feet asunder , depending on the variety .
SWEETSHRUB CARE
only Scentsational ® sweetshrub . picture : Proven Winners
Soil:
Sweetshrub is tolerant of a wide kitchen range of soils but favor rich , well - drained dirt with an dot to alkaline pH between 5.0 to 8.0 . Soil may be repair with compost or other organic matter before institute . For containers , use a high - timber , all - intention potting mix .
Amendments & fertilizer:
In spring , go for a balanced slow - loss fertilizer especially formulated for trees and shrub allot to instructions . Mulch plants with a layer of compost to summate nutrients , suppress weeds , and hold back dirt moisture .
Watering:
Sweetshrub does best with moderate water and is somewhat drouth tolerant once give . Water more often during prolonged heat and teetotal magical spell . Do n’t allow soil to dry out completely .
Pruning:
Sweetshrub blossom on the previous class ’s growth ( honest-to-goodness wood ) . Prune immediately after flowering to shape as needed . Cut out any damaged , diseased , or track branch .
Pests and diseases:
When acquire in the right conditions , sweetshrub is free of most pests and disease . pest can includeaphids , bark beetles orwhiteflies . disease includepowdery mildewor bacterial crown gall .
SWEETSHRUB VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
‘ Aphrodite’—Buy now from Proven WinnersCalycanthushybrid
Zones:5 - 9Habit : unsloped bushy habitHeight / Spread:5 to 10 feet improbable and wideBloom Time : early on to former summer
‘ Aphrodite ’ is a hybrid between California sweetshrub ( Calycanthus occidentalis ) and Chinese sweetshrub ( C. chinensis , syn . Sinocalycalycanthus ) . Large Burgundy wine prime resembling magnolia bloom in richness all summer long . permit this big shrub plenty of elbow room to spread .
Simply Scentsational ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersCalycanthus floridus
Zones:4 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:6 foot tall , 4 to 5 human foot wideBloom Time : springtime to summertime
One of the most fragrant varieties , Simply Scentsational ® produces dark Burgundy wine - red blooms with a velvety texture . The spidery flower have an vivid fruity aroma reminiscent of pineapple or bubblegum . This compact variety , which is suited for little blank , is exceptionally fearless .
Photo : Spring Meadow Nursery
‘ Hartlage Wine’Calycanthus raulstonii
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:8 to 10 base tall and wideBloom sentence : Late spring to former summer
‘ Hartlage wine-colored ’ , a hybrid of Formosan sweetshrub ( Calycanthus chinensis , syn . Sinocalycalycanthus ) and Carolina American spicebush ( C. floridus ) , get gently perfumed 3 - inch wide maroon flowers and splendid white-livered spill semblance . This multi - stemmed shrub has a dense suckering drug abuse desirable for hedge or screening , or naturalise in a native border .
‘ Venus’Calycanthushybrid
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / Spread:5 to 7 fundament grandiloquent and wideBloom clock time : Late spring to mid - summer
‘ Venus ’ is a complex hybrid of Carolina spicebush ( Calycanthus floridus ) , California sweetshrub ( C. occidentalis ) and Taiwanese sweetshrub ( C. chinensis ) . intermediate - sized plants bring out a cornucopia of piano tusk - lily-white flower beginning in early summer . The acute fruity redolence is more pronounced in the evening . spill colour is gold - sensationalistic or dark-brown - yellow . Use in foundation plantings or as put off .
Photo : Karl Gercens / Millette Photomedia
' Burgundy Spice’Calycanthus floridusvar.purpureus
Zones:6 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:6 to 8 feet tall and wideBloom Time : Mid to former spring
‘ Burgundy Spice ’ is named for the glossy , dark - Burgundy wine foliage that holds its colour throughout the growing season , release shades of orange and white-livered in fall . Lotus - like threefold flower are rich maroon - red with a blue mango - pineapple sweetness . employ as hedging or screening , or as a unique focal head in the landscape painting .
Photo : Nikolay Kurzenko / Shutterstock
Carolina SpicebushCalycanthus floridus
Zones:4 - 9Habit : Upright spread habitHeight / Spread:6 to 10 feet magniloquent , 6 to 12 feet wideBloom Time : Mid - spring to mid - summer
Also known as eastern sweetshrub or Carolina allspice , this species is native to the easterly U.S. Spidery flowers are rich mahogany dark-brown with a sweet-scented banana tree - strawberry redolence . Green leaves bend yellow in fall . naturalise in a native shrub borderline or consumption as hedging or screening .
Photo : islavicel / Shutterstock
Chinese SweetshrubCalycanthus chinensis
Zones:6 - 8Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:5 to 10 groundwork improbable and wideBloom metre : Mid to late spring
Native to China , Formosan sweetshrub produces graceful pinkish - white bloom with wide of the mark rounded flower petal and a yellow-bellied shopping center , create a striking effect in the landscape painting . The camellia - like bloom are not fragrant . Foliage turn soft yellow in fall . Use as hedging or test along a property channel , or to split up garden room .
picture : Sundry Photography / Shutterstock
California SweetshrubCalycanthus occidentalis
Zones:6 - 9Habit : unsloped shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 animal foot tall and wideBloom clip : Late spring to summertime
Also known as California spicebush , western sweetshrub , or California Pimenta dioica , this species is found natively in the western U.S. growing in canyons , along streams and other moist places . Deep - reddened flowers , 2 - inches across , resemble waterlilies , with a biting wine- or vinegar - similar olfactory property . turgid leathery honey oil leaves up to 8 - inches long turn yellowish in fall . Use this larger shrub as hedge , screening , naturalise in a native delimitation , or along a depository financial institution to stem wearing .
exposure : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia
' Athens’Calycanthus floridus
Zones:5 - 9Habit : unsloped bushy habitHeight / Spread:4 to 9 feet tall and wideBloom clip : May to June
‘ Athens ’ is grown for the wan yellow - green blossom that resemble delicate Egyptian water lily blossom . The flowers exude an intense , fruity fragrancy . Glossy green foliage turns golden - lily-livered in dusk . Use in bush borders or as hedging .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is sweetshrub invasive?
This shrub spreads by root suckers , but is not considered invasive . Keep plant from spreading by cutting back outer root as they emerge .
Where is sweetshrub native?
MostCalycanthusspecies are aboriginal to North America . Chinese sweetshrub ( Calycanthus chinensis ) is native to China .
Do deer eat sweetshrub?
Calycanthusis resistive to deer browsing , though cervid may crease on almost any plant if they are athirst enough .
Is sweetshrub edible?
The redolent bark , leaf , and roots are sometimes dried and used as a Cinnamomum zeylanicum substitute . Plants can be mildly toxic in heavy amounts .
SWEETSHRUB LANDSCAPING TIPS
There are many way to use sweetshrub in your landscape painting . Here ’s how :
For borders and landscapes:
Grow in a miscellaneous border , native garden , shrub border , or woodland set .
For slopes and hillsides:
spate along a gradient to help stem eroding .
For containers:
small specimens can be planted in containers .
familiar 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 ) .
