Calycanthus floridus L.

Eastern Sweetshrub; Hairy Sweetshrub; Carolina Allspice

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Eastern Sweetshrub is a native colonial shrub in the Strawberry-Shrub family (Calycanthaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Eastern Sweetshrub grows in pine or hardwood forests, in ravines, in rocky woods, and along streams. It is a deciduous shrub up to 10 feet in height. Stems are angled or terete, glabrous or pubescent. Plants are colonial from root suckers. Leaves are petiolate, opposite, elliptic to ovate in outline, entire, and pubescent or glabrous. The lower surface of the leaf may be glaucous. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. Flowers are produced singly on new growth. The flowers consist of an urn shaped hypanthium with numerous strap-like tepals. The tepals vary in color from brown through reddish, to green or yellow. The flowers are fragrant with an odor somewhat like a mix of strawberries and bananas. The fruits are achenes enclosed on the enlarged fibrous hypanthium (pseudocarp). Two varieties of Eastern Sweetshrub have been described. Calycanthus floridus var. floridus has twigs, petioles, and lower surfaces of the leaf pubescent. Calycanthus floridus var. glaucus (Willdenow) Torrey & A. Gray has twigs, petioles, and lower surfaces of the leaf glabrous or with a few scattered trichomes. In Alabama the two varieties grade into each other and determination to variety is not always possible. Eastern Sweetshrub is commonly available from nurseries. It thrives in most soils. It prefers a loamy soil and full to partial sun. Plants can be used along borders, along paths, and near the home where the fragrant flowers can be enjoyed. Remove root suckers to prevent spread and prune plants after flowering to promote new growth. Several varieties have been selected including 'Athens’ with yellow flowers and 'Michael Lindsey' with large, dark, and exceptionally fragrant flowers.--A. Diamond

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Native

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