Carolina Allspice is a new plant I just discovered and would love to have in the garden. It’s a fragrant flowering shrub with dense leaves and suckers that can grow up to 9 feet tall. It is native to the woodlands of the south eastern United States. Including Virginia, Missippi, and Florida.

Here is a photo of the pretty blooming Carolina Allspice.  It has dark maroon to purple petals that bloom at the end of short branches.  Image from rareplants.de

The scent is what intrigues me. As it carries fruity notes of pineapple, strawberry and banana. Even the leaves are described to be aromatic when bruised.

Scientific name is Calycantus Floridus and common names include:

Sweetshrub
Carolina Spicebush
Carolina Sweetshrub
Spicebush
Common Spicebush
Strawberry Bush
Yellow Sweet Betsy

Floridata has more useful facts about growing the Carolina Allspice.

- Use sweetshrub in natural areas and woodland gardens where it can sucker freely and assume its natural habit. Sweetshrub is also nice in planters near entryways and patios where it’s delicate fragrance can be enjoyed.

- This plant is easy to grow, pest free, inexpensive, and easy to propagate. The delightful fragrance of its flowers turns this nice little shrub into a real winner. Dry the flowers, leaves, twigs and bark to use in potpourri.

- Try to purchase sweetshrub when it is in bloom to find one with fragrance. There is variation is the amount and nature of the perfume among individuals. The flowers also seem to become more fragrant as they age.

Available at Henry Field’s for $7.98 Zones 4 - 9.

Calycantus Floridus “Athens” - Yellow Sweet Betsy is another version with light greenish-yellow flowers. Even the buds are really pretty. Soon they will bloom and will also give fruity scents. Photo from Pender Nursery.