Calycanthus floridus

Common Names

Sweetshrub, Carolina Allspice, Spicebush, Strawberry Bush, Eastern Sweetshrub, Common Sweetshrub

Summary

Calycanthus floridus, commonly known as Carolina Allspice or Sweetshrub, is a dense, rounded deciduous shrub native to the eastern United States. It grows about 6–9 ft tall and 6–12 ft wide, with a suckering habit, and bears dark reddish-brown to maroon strap-like flowers up to 2 inches across on the current season’s growth, plus a very fruity fragrance; blooms mainly in May, continuing sporadically into June and July. Leaves turn yellow in fall, adding seasonal color, and the plant is well suited as a specimen or hedge in landscapes.

For cultivation, it tolerates sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils, and is hardy in USDA zones 4–9, adapting to a wide range of soils from acidic to neutral. It is easy to transplant, responds to pruning after flowering, and can spread by suckers; space plants 3–5 feet apart and propagate by seed or cuttings. The shrub supports pollinators and wildlife, is deer-resistant, and is commonly used in borders, woodland edges, and screens, with fragrant flowers near entrances and walkways.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

72-108 inches

Spread

6-12 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade; tolerates full Sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.0-8.0, wide pH tolerance from acidic to alkaline, best in slightly acidic to neutral soil (roughly pH 6–7)

Bloom Color

Red to Dark Red

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

12-24 inches per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division via root suckers, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, Attracts other pollinators (beetles, flies), Attracts birds