About
Calycanthus floridus, commonly referred to as spicebush, is a robust, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that often develops suckers. It features oblong to oval leaves that are dark green on top and have a hairy texture on the underside, turning yellow in the fall. In May, the shrub produces highly fragrant flowers with dark brownish-red, strappy petals, which emerge at the tips of short branchlets. The scent is a unique blend reminiscent of pineapple, strawberry, and banana. After flowering, urn-shaped fruit capsules develop and remain on the plant during the winter months.
About the genus
Calycanthus are deciduous shrubs featuring simple leaves that emit a pleasant aroma, along with solitary, fragrant blooms that appear during the summer months.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy, Columnar upright, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- SE USA
- Fragrance
- Flower
- Toxicity
- Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Prefers moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade where it grows taller, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and some sun. Shelter from cold, drying winds. Autumn colour is better in its native habitat.
- Pruning
- Prune immediately after flowering to shape and maintain size. Remove root suckers promptly. Tends to form colonies in the wild.
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)