Calycanthus floridus 'Athens'

RHS Plant Profile

Carolina allspice 'Athens'

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Shrubs

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A rounded, deciduous, suckering shrub to around 2.7m tall with dark green, oval to elliptic, aromatic leaves up to 15cm long that turn golden-yellow in autumn. Pale yellow, fragrant flowers to 5cm across are borne at the ends of short branchlets in late spring and early summer and are followed by urn-shaped fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Calycanthaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Calycanthus are deciduous shrubs with simple, aromatic leaves and solitary, fragrant flowers in summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Shelter from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering to shape and maintain size. Remove root suckers promptly to limit spread

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)