Sweetshrub
Calycanthus floridus
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Sweetshrub - #3 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Sweetshrub highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateSlow
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Flower Color
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodEarly Spring, Late Spring, Summer
Growing Zones 4-9
The lovely and unexpected native Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is a dense, rounded woody deciduous shrub with highly unusual saturated reddish-maroon blossoms and an aromatic fragrance that's unlike anything you've smelled before! Another common name is Carolina Allspice because you find them widely growing in those states. They are also known as the Hairy Allspice, which is in reference to the hairy twigs and leaf undersides of this plant. It is also called the Strawberry Bush because of the fragrant blooms carrying a scent best described as combining hints of pineapple, strawberry and banana! If you haven't picked up on the spice theme - they're aromatic top to bottom!
Featuring very fragrant, 2" reddish-burgundy to pinkish-maroon flowers that bloom in May and cover the shrub in vibrant color! Pollinators adore these blooms as much as you will! These flowers give way to brownish, urn-shaped seed capsules that mature in fall and are eaten by many bird species. Lustrous, dark green 6" long leaves have pale green undersides for a lovely two-tone effect in the breeze and are highly aromatic when rubbed or brushed against in the garden!
You'll love how they turn golden yellow in fall and highlight the seedpods! These heat-tolerant ornamental shrubs are hardy throughout USDA growing zones 4 through 9 and can reach 6-8 feet in height and 8-10 feet in width. These are a boon to wildlife in many ways! Known to attract Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Wrens, Sparrows, Thrushes, Orioles, Finches, Mockingbirds, Thrashers, Vireos, and even Hummingbirds! Not to mention a wide variety of pollinators!
Planting and Application:
Use as a specimen near the front door or an allée around your seating areas. Highlight the corner of your patio or other outdoor living areas so that the fragrant flower and leaf aroma can best be enjoyed. It is utilized in the mixed-shrub border, and is equally lovely included in a native row along the foundations of your home!
Suckering freely when allowed, Sweetshrubs form dense thickets and naturalize out-of-the-way areas and native planting displays. These groves provide privacy for you and cover, shade, roosting and nesting for birds and wildlife! Create your own woodland oasis or lush wildlife habitat in your own backyard! Sweetshrub blooms are lovely cut flowers, and the blooms, leaves, twigs and bark are often dried to use in potpourri! The dried bark is a substitute for cinnamon!
- Unique Reddish-Burgundy to Pinkish-Maroon Flowers in May
- Deep Green Foliage & Golden Fall Color
- Fragrant & Aromatic! Cut Flower & Potpourri
- Naturalizes By Suckers, Shelterbelts, Hedge, Groves & Privacy
- Native Food & Shelter Resource For Birds, Wildlife & Pollinators
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Sweetshrubs are easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full to part sun. It grows somewhat taller in shade than in sun, and it is tolerant of a wide range of soils but prefers rich loam. Prune immediately after flowering to shape or maintain compactness. Remove root suckers promptly if naturalization is not desired. These natives are very pest free and easy to grow! They're also deer resistant and perfect to include in a fire-scaping landscape plan.
- Full Sun & Partial Shade
- Moist to Average Rich Soil
- Prune After Flowering
- Firescaping & Low-Maintenance Native Plantings
- Deer-Resistant, Pest & Disease Free
You and your backyard birds will adore the vibrant, unusual blossoms of this tough and hardy native shrub! Order your own fragrant Sweetshrub from NatureHills.com today so that everything living in your world can benefit from biodiverse native plantings and phenomenal out-of-this-world ornamental beauty!
