FREE: Sweet Shrub Seeds

Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) has many common names, including Carolina allspice, strawberry-bush, sweet bubby, sweet Betsy and spicebush. As these names indicate, it is valued for the sweet, often fruity fragrance of its flowers. Sweetshrub is native along the east coast from Pennsylvania south to northern Florida and west to Mississippi.

Sweetshrubs grow 3 to 9 feet tall by 6 to 12 feet wide. Plants grown in full sun will be shorter than those grown in part shade. Sweetshrubs have a dense, broad, rounded form in cultivation. They are multi-stemmed shrubs that tend to spread widely by growing new shoots (suckers) along the outer edges of the clump. Wild plants are much more open, tall, and even scraggly. Plants grow at a moderate rate of 12 to 18 inches per year under ideal growing conditions of deep, moist, loamy soil and with partial shade. Growth rate will be much slower in dry soil and full sun.

Dark, reddish brown to wine-red flowers open in April to May, with occasional scattered flowers appearing during summer. They are 1 to 2 inches wide, shaped somewhat like magnolia blossoms, and are produced abundantly.

Sweetshrub flowers have a sweet, fruity scent often described as pineapple, strawberry, melon, banana or bubble gum. Scent is highly variable from plant to plant, and some have little fragrance or even an objectionable odor. To ensure a pleasantly-scented plant, either buy while in bloom, propagate by cuttings from a fragrant plant, or purchase a named cultivar known for good fragrance.

Flowers are long lasting on the shrub and also make good cut flowers. They can also be dried and added to potpourri. All other plant parts are fragrant also, with the leaves, seed pods and bark having a spicy scent when crushed.

Sweetshrub leaves are relatively large, from 4 to 6 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide, and are arranged oppositely along the stems. During summer they are a lustrous, dark green, and then turn golden-yellow before falling in autumn.

To take full advantage of the fragrance, sweetshrubs are often planted near entrances, or other outdoor living areas. They can also be used in shrub borders and native plant gardens.

Sweetshrub naturally grows as an understory shrub in mixed deciduous forests, along streams and in moist woodlands. Although it is easy to grow and adaptable, it’s ideal growing conditions are similar to those of its native habitats. For best results, plant sweetshrub in moist, well-drained, loamy soil, ideally in dappled or part shade. It is not salt tolerant.

Maintenance is easy. If pruning is needed, do so immediately after flowering to shape or maintain compactness. Plants spread by suckering and if width needs to be reduced, remove outer suckers as they emerge.

Sweetshrub is easy to transplant, ideally during the fall or winter after leaf fall. Rooted suckers can also be detached from the main plant and replanted.

Plants can be propagated by seed, but be aware that seedlings may vary from the parent plant in scent and other characteristics. Collect seeds in fall as pod color changes from green to brown.

I have been hunting some of these for years. I used to smell them when I would go to my grandmother's in Alabama. They bring such good memories.

we got them here in ky too, yes they smell like heaven..