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Image of the ornamental Calycanthus floridus or
Carolina Allspice shrub
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Calycanthus floridus
(Carolina Allspice, Bubby Bush, Strawberry Shrub, Sweet Bessy,
Sweet Shrub)
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Synonym: Calycanthus sterilis
Family: Calycanthaceae
Origin: Native to southern and mid-Atlantic states
Light: Part-full shade
Height: 4-8'
Spread: 4-10'
Blooms: Apple-scented, reddish-maroon, curved petals, in
mid-Srping followed by exotic looking seedpods
Foliage: Deciduous, aromatic, oppostite, 2-3" long, green and
coarse on top, grayish on bottom
Seeeds: 1.5" long, leathery, oviod seedpods with encapsulated
sweet-smelling seeds
Soil: Well-drained,, (pH:5.6-7.5, mildly acidic-neutral)
Water: Regular
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings, suckers
Uses: Specimen, understory plant, shade garden landscaping,
Comments: Calycanthus floridus or
Carolina Allspice
or
Bubby Bush
or
Strawberry Shrub
or
Sweet Bessy
or
Sweet Shrub or
Calycanthus sterilis is a beautiful
shade-tolerant herbacious shrub with a bigorous growth habit. This
incredibly sweet-smelling shrub, hence the name Sweet Shrub, spreads by
suckers and forms thickets fast. The flowers of Carolina Allspice
are attractive and fragrant; many females in olden days have used
them in sachets for their clothing. The leaves smell of camphor
while the bark which have been used in earlier times as a spice, is
cinnamon-scented. Come late Spring, the garden will be filled with
the wonderful fragrance of the delightful Calycanthus sterilis.
The seeds of Bubby Bush are aromatic and are easily propagated, so are
cuttings and suckers. Strawberry Shrub is a superb ornamental
plant to have in the shade garden. It attracts many passerby.
USDA Hardiness Zones : 4-9 |
