Calycanthus floridus

• BOTANICAL NAME: Calycanthus floridus
• PRONUNCIATION:CALY-can-thus FLOR-i-dus
• COMMON NAME: Common Sweetshrub
• FAMILY: Calycanthaceae
• NATIVITY: Virginia to Florida
• GROWTH HABIT: Dense, bushy, rounded or broad rounded shrub, often straggly or unkempt in the wild, usually found under tree canopy in the forest
• SIZE: 6 to 9' (height) by 6 to 12' (spread).
• HARDINESS: Zone 4 - 9.
• CULTURE: prefers a deep, moist loamy soil, sun or shade but grows better in shaded areas
• LANDSCAPE USE: shrub border
• FOLIAGE: opposite, simple, broad-ovate 2" to 5" long, dark green, yellow fall color
• BUDS: superposed in a single bud-like aggregate, sessile, round or oblong, brown hairy. buds concealed by base of the petiole
• BARK: brown
• FLOWER: flower in axil
• flowers in axil, dark reddish brown, 2" across with very fruity fragrance, usually blooming in May thru July
• FRUIT: Urn-shaped, leathery, wrinkled, brown receptacle, 2" to 3" long, persists thru winter
• PROPAGATION: seeds/ softwood cuttings
• PESTS: none serious, very resistant shrub
• CULTIVARS: many: 'Towe', 'Roy's Dark Red', 'Urbana'