Sweetshrub is a Fragrant Choice for the Landscape

Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is also known as sweet shrub, Sweet Betsy, Carolina allspice, strawberry bush, sweet shade, and bubbly blossom.

Sweetshrub is a reliable foundation plant that has been in gardens for generations. There are deep green leaves that color to a soft yellow in the fall. The flowers are not particularly lovely. They have colors that range from a maroon to shades of brown. There are cultivars that bloom in different shades, including "Athens," with pale yellow-green flowers, and "Katherine," with yellow flowers.

The fragrance of the flowers is the main attraction. The bloom time is mid-spring into the early summer. The best ones smell like a combination of fruits including strawberry, pineapple, and banana. The worst ones smell like vinegar, so always buy a bush that is in bloom to be sure of the scent, or buy from a reputable grower who will guarantee the scent.

The sweetshrub is not edible. The flower and leaf smells are reminiscent of fruit and spices, but some parts of the plant are toxic if eaten. This is one plant that the deer avoid.

The sweetshrub is a fast grower and can reach 6-10 feet tall and 6-12 feet wide. When installing a hedge or mass planting, space them at least 4 feet apart to ensure adequate room for growth. The shrub is suited for Zones 4 to 9. Sweetshrub is found growing in the wild, but it is also available commercially. In most areas of the country, it is illegal to dig them up from the wild.

Sweetshrub likes well drained soil and full sun to partial shade. In dense shade, the shrub may become tall and leggy. It tolerates wet feet, but water sparingly. If there are prolonged drought conditions, water approximately 1 inch per week. The plant grows best in a slightly acidic soil but can handle a variety of soil conditions. Sweetshrub is also wind tolerant which adds to its usefulness in the landscape.

Sweetshrub spreads easily by seed. Some descriptions use the expression "can colonize to form a clump." Plan to pull up young seedlings in order to keep the plant in its assigned space. The seedlings can be transplanted or potted as a gift to gardening friends.

To take advantage of the fragrance, consider using this bush by a doorway, near a patio, or along a pathway.

Sources
Sweet Shrub Carolina Allspice, http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Sweet_Shrub_Carolina_Allspice
North Carolina State University, http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/native/calycanthus_floridus.html
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, http://urbanext.illinois.edu/ShrubSelector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=329