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Calycanthus floridus Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub

Edward F. Gilman, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen

Introduction

Sweetshrub could be used more as an ornamental in moist locations. The flowers are borne in midspring and have maroon to brown, strap-like petals and a fragrance similar to that of strawberries. They are borne somewhat inside of the outer layer of foliage, so they are often obscured from view. They were used in years past to freshen the smell in the top several drawers of a set of dresser drawers. Occasionally, they are used in potpourris. The leaves and fruits are aromatic when crushed. Several trunks form from the base of the plant and sprouts often grow from roots forming many trunks.

Full Form—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Figure 1. Full Form—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Leaf—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Figure 2. Leaf—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Leaf, Fall Color—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Figure 3. Leaf, Fall Color—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Flower—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Figure 4. Flower—Calycanthus floridus: Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Calycanthus floridus

Pronunciation: kal-lick-KANTH-us FLOR-rid-us

Common name(s): sweetshrub, strawberry-bush, Carolina allspice, eastern sweetshrub

Family: Calycanthaceae

Plant type: shrub

USDA hardiness zones: 5B through 10A (Figure 5)

Planting month for zone 7: year round

Planting month for zone 8: year round

Planting month for zone 9: year round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round

Origin: native to Florida

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: screen; espalier; specimen

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Figure 5. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Credit: undefined

Description

Height: 6 to 9 feet

Spread: 6 to 12 feet

Plant habit: round; oval

Plant density: open

Growth rate: slow

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: fragrant

Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: yellow

Fall characteristic: showy

Flower

Flower color: red

Flower characteristic: pleasant fragrance; spring flowering; summer flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: irregular

Fruit length: 3 to 6 inches

Fruit cover: dry or hard

Fruit color: green

Fruit characteristic: persists on the plant

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multitrunked or clumping stems; can be trained to grow with a short, single trunk

Current year stem/twig color: reddish

Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun; plant grows in the shade

Soil tolerances: occasionally wet; acidic; slightly alkaline; clay; sand; loam

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: poor

Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches

Other

Roots: usually not a problem

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding

Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

The upright, oval shape and attractive foliage make sweetshrub an excellent candidate for the back of a shrub border or for use as a screen. It can be sheared or thinned, depending on the desired use. Pruning and training the plant to several, upright stems can create an attractive specimen plant. A height of 9 feet and spread of 12 feet can be expected. The plant grows in sun or shade but is taller in shade. Sweetshrub transplants easily and prefers a moist soil. It is an endangered plant in Florida.

Cultivars: 'Athens' suckers from the base, has white flowers and yellow fall color; and 'Michael Lindsey' has wonderful fragrance and beautiful, shiny leaves.

Pests and Diseases

Bacterial crown gall causes warty-looking growths on the stems near the soil line. There is no practical control measure for this problem. Destroy infected plants and avoid planting in contaminated soil.

Powdery mildews of different genera cause a white coating on the leaves.

Publication #FPS95

Release Date:March 7, 2023

Related Collections

Part of Shrubs Fact Sheets

Related Topics

Fact Sheet

About this Publication

This document is FPS95, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Revised March 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus; Ryan W. Klein, assistant professor; and Gail Hansen, professor; Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Gail Hansen de Chapman