SafePlants

Sweetshrub (Calycanthus)

Sweetshrub, belonging to the genus Calycanthus, is a group of flowering plants cherished for their fragrant blooms. This genus is native to North America, offering both beauty and a delightful aroma to gardens and landscapes.

Considerations for Pets

• Sweetshrub produces seed pods.

Considerations for Children

• Sweetshrub produces seed pods.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Calycanthus
• Family: Calycanthaceae
• Species: The genus includes two to five species.
• Synonyms: C. sterilis (for Calycanthus floridus)
• Common Names: Sweetshrub, Carolina allspice, strawberry-bush, sweet bubby, sweet Betsy, spicebush, Eastern sweetshrub

Distribution and Habitat

• Sweetshrub is endemic to North America.
• Calycanthus floridus, specifically, grows in thickets throughout the Appalachians and the Smoky Mountain areas of the southeastern United States.
• It is also native to the Appalachian stream banks of the Smokies.
• It can be found in the forest understory of rich hardwood coves.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• Sweetshrub is a deciduous shrub.
• It has a dense, rounded habit, typically growing 6 to 9 feet tall and as wide.
• Eastern sweetshrub can reach 6-12 ft.
• The plant features opposite, simple, smooth-margined leaves and glossy, aromatic, leathery, dark-green foliage.
• Flowers are unusual, waterlily-like, and fragrant, borne in midspring. They are typically maroon to brown or reddish-brown.
• Petals of the flowers integrate with the sepals.
• Some varieties, like 'Aphrodite', have large, bright red magnolia-like flowers.
• The plant suckers vigorously, leading to the formation of mounds.

Ecological Role

• Sweetshrub tends to spread by growing new shoots (suckers) along the outer edges of the clump, this can lead to naturalization.

Quirky Facts

• Sweetshrub flowers possess a sweet, fruity scent often compared to pineapple, strawberry, melon, banana, or bubble gum.
• The fragrant blooms have been described as combining hints of pineapple.