3 Ways to Plant a Calycanthus

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Calycanthus (Calycanthus floridus) has several names in the USA. It can be called Sweet Shrub, Carolina Allspice, Strawberry Shrub, Bubby Rose or Sweet Betsy. This aromatic plant can be recognized by its red-brown flowers, which are said to resemble small magnolia blossoms. Its distinct scent has been described as a mix of strawberry, melon and spiced apple. It has also been compared to that of chewing gum!

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Prepare Your Garden

Step 1. Make sure you have enough space in your garden

It is important to be aware that Calycanthus last a long time and can be very invasive. Consequently, it is advisable to keep it in a large garden because it can spread too much if you have little space.

• Calycanthus is a prolific producer of seeds, but the plant tends to spread by putting out root-forming suckers. It is advisable to pay attention to this if you want to check the layout of your garden.

  

• Also be careful that it doesn't invade your neighbors! Tear off the suckers in spring to contain the spread of the plant.

  

Step 2. Be aware that Calycanthus can grow very tall

Calycanthus plants not only spread wide, but can also grow very tall; some gardeners report varieties of three meters in height, but a height of 90-240 cm is more common for an adult plant. They are also long-lived plants.

Step 3. Grow Calycanthus in moist, rich, slightly acidic soil

Calycanthus is not fussy about the type of soil it grows in, but will develop best in moist, rich soil with plenty of growing space.

• Avoid swampy places or any spot where puddles tend to form after rainfall. The plant will have no problems in clay soil.

  

• Calycanthus also has a slight preference for neutral or slightly acidic soils.

  

Step 4. Plant Calycanthus in a shady location

Calycanthus will grow in sun and shade, but usually favors shady places. Calycanthus plants grown in full sun will grow more slowly and will not reach the same height as those grown in the shade. In nature, the plant would grow in wooded areas, so it thrives best in areas with shady spots.

If you have a tree-lined area in your garden that offers partial shade, consider planting Calycanthus below

Step 5. Make sure you plant Calycanthus in a location where you can enjoy its scent

Many people like to plant the Calycanthus bush near a house, living area, or path to fully benefit from the scent. It is also common to plant it under a window to appreciate the fragrance inside the house.

Method 2 of 3: Plant the Calycanthus

Step 1. Grow Calycanthus from seeds

Calycanthus can easily be grown from seeds. Simply sow the seeds in spring (March or April), preferably in a shady area of the garden in rich, well-drained, clayey soil.

• Some gardeners are quite out of luck because it is possible for it to come on an unscented variety when starting from seeds. To avoid this, you can try planting more seeds than the plants you need, and get rid of any odorless ones when they finally bloom.

  

• It will take two to three years for a plant grown from seed to flower. The first flowers appear in mid-March and continue until May.

  

Step 2. Grow Calycanthus from cuttings

Your Calycanthus will flower faster if you grow it from plant cuttings rather than seeds. Take the cuttings from a fragrant bush and plant them in July.

• Plant the cuttings in the same conditions as you would the seeds, and water until they are well settled.

  

• Growing Calycanthus from cuttings will eliminate the possibility of getting a fragrance-free variety of the shrub.

Step 3. Grow Calycanthus from a nursery plant

If you buy a nursery plant, try to buy it while it is in bloom to get an idea of the fragrance. Plant in clayey soil, in shady conditions.

• Alternatively, you can purchase a baptized cultivar, which is known to smell good. The "Michael Lindsey" variety is known for having a pleasant fragrance and attractive shiny leaves.

  

• Avoid getting plants in the woods unless you are sure you can do so according to local regulations.

  

Method 3 of 3: Caring for Calycanthus

Step 1. Prune the Calycanthus in early summer, after flowering

Calycanthus requires little maintenance, but you may want to prune it to keep the plant in shape and prevent it from growing too wide. Pruning should be done immediately after flowering, which means early summer.

• Due to the fact that this plant spreads by producing side shoots known as suckers, it is possible to control the width by plucking these when they appear.

  

• Thinning out the old growth usually ensures that the new growth comes up with greater vigor in the next season.

  

Step 2. Water the Calycanthus frequently until it is well established

After you have planted Calycanthus, it is important to keep it watered until it is well established, regardless of whether you started it from seeds, cuttings or nursery plants.

Once established, Calycanthus is very tolerant of dry conditions. As a result, only light watering will be needed during dry spells, when you should give him a drink once a week

Step 3. Protect Calycanthus from disease

Calycanthus doesn't tend to be bothered by disease, but root rot can occur in poorly drained soils. To avoid this, do not plant the bush where puddles form that do not drain easily.

• If you observe warty growths on the stems near the ground, this may indicate the presence of the collar gall bacterium.

  

• The best solution in this case is to remove the plant and surrounding soil to prevent re-infection.

  

Step 4. Transplant Calycanthus in the fall or winter

If you need to transplant Calycanthus, do it in the fall or winter. Take the cuttings in July if you wish to reproduce quickly from a mother plant.

• To reproduce a plant from suckers, take a rooted sucker and replant it until a proper root system is formed before growing it.
• This is usually the fastest way to get an adult plant capable of flowering.

Step 5. Collect the seeds once the color turns brown

Wait for the pods to turn brown if you wish to harvest Calycanthus seeds. However don't wait any longer - the seeds are best planted ripe but fresh.

It is best to plant the seeds right away. If this is not possible, keep them for up to 3 months, wrapped in moss inside a plastic bag, in the refrigerator

Step 6. Do not ingest any part of the Calycanthus

Although it was used as a spice in the past, Calycanthus is poisonous in fairly large quantities, especially the seed. Do not confuse it with allspice, which is best to buy in the grocery store!

Advice

• Some people find the plant has little to offer visually when it is flowerless, so you may want to combine it with other more attractive plants.
• Plants grow about 6 inches per year in good wet soil conditions and partial shade. Slower growth in the sun and dry soil can be expected.