Common Name: Carolina allspice
Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Calycanthaceae
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Spread: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: Maroon
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Tolerate: Deer, Clay Soil
CultureEasily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Thrives in part shade, but tolerates full sun as long as soils are kept moist. May grow somewhat taller in part shade than in full sun. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, including sandy or clay, but prefers rich moist loams. Prune immediately after flowering to shape and to maintain compactness. Remove root suckers promptly if naturalization is not desired. If planted in the St. Louis area (northern part of USDA Zone 6), it should be given a root mulch, sheltered location and protection from cold winter winds. Flowers are reportedly sterile, so plant will not produce viable seed. Noteworthy CharacteristicsCalycanthus × raulstonii, commonly known as Raulston’s allspice or sweetshrub, is a large, upright-rounded, thicket-forming, multi-stemmed, suckering, deciduous shrub which typically grows to 8-10’ tall and as wide. This species is the result of a cross between C. chinensis and C. floridus. It features mildly fragrant maroon flowers in spring (sometimes continuing through summer to early fall) on plants clad with opposite, leathery, irregularly toothed, glossy, ovate to elliptic, emerald green leaves (to 7” long) which turn buttery yellow in fall. Leaves are rough above and pubescent below. Commonly called sweetshrub but the within plant has much less flower fragrance however. Unfortunately, nomenclature questions still exist. Some experts consider the new plant to be an intergeneric hybrid between Sinocalyanthus chinensis (Chinese sweetshrub) and Calycanthus floridus (Carolina allspice), having the botanical name of x Sinocalycalycanthus raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine’. Other experts do not recognize Sinocalycanthus as a genus (simply considered part of Calycanthus) and contend that this plant is an intrageneric hybrid whose proper botanical name is Calycanthus raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine’ ProblemsNo serious insect or disease problems. UsesWoodland gardens. Specimens around homes and in foundations. Shrub borders. Native plant areas. Dappled shade. Hedge. |
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