About
Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsay' is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that typically reaches about 3 meters in height and can produce suckers. Its foliage consists of oval, glossy green leaves that provide a lush backdrop. In late spring or early summer, the plant produces fragrant, dark red flowers characterized by narrow, strap-like petals, which emerge at the tips of short branchlets. After flowering, urn-shaped seed capsules develop. In the fall, the leaves transition to vibrant shades of orange and yellow.
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
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
- 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
- Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, will tolerate light shade but foliage colour and flowering are best in full sun. May suffer from frost damage in very cold winters
- Pruning
- Prune immediately after flowering to shape and maintain size. Remove root suckers promptly
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer, by layering in autumn, or by division, removing suckers in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)