Carolina Allspice Shrub

Carolina allspice for sale here is Calycanthus floridus, also called sweetshrub, a native shrub with maroon, spice-scented flowers in spring. We ship it bare-root at 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 feet, in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for fragrance borders, woodland edges, pollinator plantings and wholesale buyers.

Carolina Allspice Size, Zones and Sun

Sweetshrub forms a dense, rounded mound 6 to 12 feet tall and wide. Zones 4 to 9. Sun to deep shade all work, but afternoon shade helps in a hot summer, and a plant in deep shade grows lanky. Rich, well-drained loam is ideal. Clay is tolerated, and so are short floods.

Carolina Allspice Flowers and Fragrance

Blooms open from mid-April to mid-May, sometimes with a few stragglers into summer. They're brown to deep red and look a bit like small water lilies. The scent is fruity, with notes people describe as pineapple, strawberry or banana, and it gets stronger in warm weather. It also varies from plant to plant.

Carolina Allspice and Pollinators

Butterflies take nectar from the flowers, and beetles are frequent visitors too. For other native shrubs with red blooms to plant alongside, see our list of native red-flowering shrubs.

Where to Plant Carolina Allspice

Put it where the scent can reach you, near a patio, walkway, window or gate. It also works at a woodland edge or in a mixed shrub border. Space plants 5 to 6 feet apart. Our article on top native shrubs for Tennessee gardens has companion ideas.

Planting Carolina Allspice Bare-root

Soak the roots for an hour, dig a hole as wide as the root spread and set the shrub at the depth it grew. Firm the soil and water deeply. Mulch to hold moisture and water weekly through the first summer.

Buying Carolina Allspice in Bulk

At 5 feet apart a pack of 25 makes a border about 125 feet long, 100 plants run to 500 feet and 500 plants reach 2,500. Packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500 suit anything from a single border to a large mixed planting.

Good to Know About Carolina Allspice

Sweetshrub struggles in dry, sandy soil, so add organic matter and water during dry spells. Fragrance differs between plants, so if you want to be sure of the scent, smell a plant in bloom before planting a big block. Pruning is best right after flowering.

Carolina Allspice in Woodland Borders

It's a good fit for the shady side of a house or the edge of the woods, where few shrubs flower. Paired with ferns and native perennials, it adds color and scent early in the season.

Carolina Allspice Plant Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Carolina allspice ships bare-root in November, in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes and packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more wholesale shrubs.