April's Flower of the Month

Sweetshrub

Calycanthus floridus

Sweetshrub is a deciduous shrub which is highly prized for its fragrant blossoms. From April through July, the two-inch-wide, reddish-brown flowers with straplike petals perfume their area with a fragrance that has been described as a mixture of pineapple, strawberry, and banana. Interesting, urn-shaped fruits follow the blooms and sometimes persist throughout the winter.            

Culture Sweetshrub is very undemanding in the landscape. Plant it in almost any well-drained acid soil in full sun to part shade. Prune after flowering to control size, if desired. Moist soil is preferred, but established plants can withstand periods of drought. 

No serious insect or disease problems are associated with sweetshrub. Its main problem is its suckering habit. Plant it in a natural area or woodland garden where this tendency will not be a problem.  

Comments Cultivars of sweetshrub include ‘Athens’, ‘Edith Wilder’, and ‘Michael Lindsey’. ‘Athens’ (shown below) bears greenish/yellow flowers. ‘Edith Wilder’ has leaves that are more rounded than is typical, and it grows a bit taller than the species. ‘Michael Lindsey’ has been selected for its attractive, glossy foliage, long blooming period, more compact size, and dependable yellow fall leaves.  

If you are lucky enough to find sweetshrub growing in the wild, do not remove it or tamper with it. In Florida, it is an endangered species that is in eminent danger of extinction in the wild. Do not plant where livestock graze. It contains a substance similar to Strychnine that is poisonous if ingested.

 At a Glance

Say: kal-ee-KAN-thus  FLOR-id-us

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Salt tolerance: Slight to none

Family: Calycanthaceae (Sweetshrub) 

Size: 6-10 ft. tall/6-12 ft. wide 

Other common names: Carolina allspice, strawberry shrub, pineapple shrub

Origin: Southeastern United States

Relatives: Calycanthus occidentalis (California sweetshrub); Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet)

Propagation: Seeds; cuttings; layers; removal of suckers

Click here for list of plants in archives.