Calycanthus floridus

RHS Plant Profile

Carolina allspice

Other common names

strawberry shrub, eastern sweetshrub

Synonyms

Calycanthus sterilis

Shrubs

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Also known as the spicebush. It is a dense, spreading, bushy and sometimes suckering deciduous specimen shrub, bearing oblong to oval dark green to yellow leaves with hairy undersides. Dark brownish-red calyx-like strappy-petalled very fragrant flowers are borne at the ends of short branchlets in May. The fragrance is described as combining hints of pineapple, strawberry and banana. Urn-shaped fruit capsules follow flowers and persist throughout the winter.

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 South–facing or East–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

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Calycanthaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright, Spreading branched
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: Correct
Plant Range: SE USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade where it grows taller, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and some sun. Shelter from cold, drying winds. Autumn colour is better in its native habitat.

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering to shape and maintain size. Remove root suckers promptly. Tends to form colonies in the wild.

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)