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Eastern Sweetshrub Wikimedia Commons
Calycanthaceae

Eastern Sweetshrub

Calycanthus floridus

Benevolence and sweetness.

Family
Calycanthaceae
Genus
Calycanthus
Native to
Southeastern United States
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
Deciduous shrub
Height
180-300 cm
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Moist, well-drained, rich
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
4-9
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • The flowers have a distinctive fruity fragrance often compared to strawberries, pineapple, or bubblegum.
  • Every part of the plant is aromatic; even crushed twigs and leaves release a spicy-sweet scent.
  • The flowers have an unusual structure with no clear distinction between petals and sepals.
  • Seeds were historically used by Appalachian settlers as a substitute for allspice.
  • Beetles are among the primary pollinators, attracted by the fruit-scented blooms.

Color meanings

0

Sweetness

1

Benevolence

2

Kindness

Uses

  • Fragrance gardens
  • Woodland edges
  • Specimen shrub
  • Native plant gardens