Sweet Shrub, Carolina Allspice, Strawberry Shrub, Bubby Bush, Sweet Betsy, Florida Spice Bush, Flori

On Aug 13, 2015, FlyPoison from Rock Hill, SC (Zone 7a) wrote:

Sweet Shrub as I prefer to call it is one of my favorite blooming bushes. I absolutely love the sweet aroma whether I'm far away or up close. Their fall color here is quite nice as they turn a very intense shade of yellow. The only problem I've had is drought stress and it's been brutal this summer. I've kept most healthy but some have already begun to shed leaves and it's only mid-August.

On May 29, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

I grew up with one. I think the merits are overrated. The flowers are such a dark color that they are hard to see except close up. The hybrids with C. chinensis (like 'Hartlege Wine' , 'Venus', and 'Aphrodite') are much showier, with larger flowers and a brighter color. Unfortunately, the hybrids are not fragrant.

And I've always thought that the fragrance is like rotten apples, not allspice. The flower fragrance varies in intensity, and can be negligible. It's more reliably produced by crushing twigs or leaves.

Grows well in full sun here in Boston Z6a.

This plant is toxic to ruminants and to humans.

On Jun 2, 2014, bobbieberecz from Concrete, WA wrote:

Not sure whether to rate this a neutral or positive. I have two plants that get partial sun and mostly shade. Both are in very fast draining soil. One gets a few hours of morning sun the other just an hour or two of hot afternoon sun. Both have leafed out beautifully with plenty of blossoms. Why neutral? At the nursery I literally followed my nose to the shrub that was perfuming the air from quite a distance away. I was so intoxicated I bought 2 plants on the spot, though I was told I would have a grove quickly if I didn't keep on top of the suckering. My plants both smell like sour rotting apples....not at all spicy. The second reason for neutral is that it is a nice green bush but the dark flowers can ONLY be seen up close. This is a good bush for one of those winding garden pa... read moreths but if you're looking for color that you can see from your porch or lawn chair across the yard, this isn't it. It survived with no dieback our unusually cold winter. So far it's been a good sport and is doing its job in the garden.....just wish the scent was there as that was the whole reason I bought it in the first place.

On Sep 16, 2013, cargarden from Goodview, MN wrote:

Live in Winona, Mn zone 4 but getting warmer each year except for last year. I have 3 Sweet shrubs and found out where you get them desides on the size of flower at least in my case and the flowers really don't have too much of a fraqrance but the leaves and stem do (strong). Wish the flowers did, I have the white, and the maroon from White Farm which are a larger flower and a maroon from Spring Hill with a smaller flower. I am confused on should they be in full sun or shade as different places call for either, They are in full sun and also have one in part shade. How do you get them so you get the fragrance so you can smell with out breaking the wood. Have a few dogs next door to us and that is why I got them because they say it freshes the air. As you know what dogs do if the extremitie... read mores are not picked up.

On May 19, 2013, whipporwill from Middlebury, IN wrote:

My sweet shrub is growing(and scenting) nicely in Northern Indiana. It has been divided several times. It was transported from my childhood home in the Shenandoah Valley of VA. and doing well in Elkhart Co. IN. A great conversation plant and deer don't bother it!

On Jun 3, 2012, countrylife4me from Beargrass, NC wrote:

I have a question. My Sweet Betsy bush has never flowered. I moved it and put it in a pot where it has been for a couple of years now. Any suggestions as to what to do for it? I live on a wooded lot with very little sunshine.
Thanks

On May 26, 2011, joylederman from Dover, PA wrote:

I have a question about Sweet Shrub. This is often listed as a plant attractive to birds & wildlife (in fact, I just got one from Tractor Supply, specifically sold as "Plants for Birds & Wildlife"). What is the feature of the plant that the critters like? Do birds eat the seedheads? Just wondering.

On May 4, 2011, mentinsel from BREST,
France (Zone 9a) wrote:

Hi from FRANCE
I'm looking for informations about calycanthus
According to french nurserymen
Calycanthus floridus seem to have no scent
I am fan of fragant shrubs
What do you think ?

On Feb 13, 2011, RosemaryK from Lexington, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:

Wow! I can't wait to smell one. These are the cultivars listed In Dirr's Hardy Shrubs and Trees: 'Athens' or 'Katherine': a deliciously fragrant yellow flowered clone with heavier textured dard green leaves that turn golden yellow in autum; 'Edith Wilder': like the specieis but with guaranteed floral fragrance; 'Michael Lindsey': fragrant maroon flowers and spinach colored leaves on a more compact framework. I have also looked over the hybrids with the Chinese plant such as 'Hartlage Wine,' and although they sound great in looks, one can't expect them to inherit the fragrance of our American species. Now the job is to wait and smell some in bloom in order to choose. My local New England nurseries claim they sell them out every year.

On Nov 8, 2010, burien_gardener from Burien (SW Seattle), WA (Zone 8b) wrote:

I have a large spice bush in my south Seattle, Puget Sound garden. It does take a gardener to appreciate the flowers as it is not showy. However, I've seen White Flower Farm (?) offer a variety or hybrid with large white camellia-like flowers.

As to propagation, my observation is that spice bush is one of those thicket-forming understory plants. Mine has produced a number of suckers and I get to distribute them through my garden -- Yea, free plants!

On Jun 25, 2010, GardenSite from Woodbridge, VA wrote:

My "bubby-rose" as grandma called it, grew from a seed pod off a huge old bush at my grandmothers house in Pulaski, VA. This is its 12th year and did it ever blossom. I counted 37 blossoms while previous years have ranged from 0 to 3. And oh they smell so good... It has survived 4 in-state moves, various containers and at 3ft tall is the heartiest it has been.

During my 12 years of watching I researched to find out the name and where it came from. At the start I knew of one at grandmas and one across the street from grandmas. It was certainly a surprise when I volunteered at Woodlawn Plantation to find it growing "like a weed" according to the regular workers, as they were trying to thin it out. The head gardener directed me to Monticello. There I found one growing... read more to the left of the steps leading to the Jefferson cemetery. Jefferson detailed its name and origins in some of his writings at the gift shop.(which helped me find this website) I found one growing across from the Tiger/Lion area at the National Zoo in Washington DC. Even one of my old friends had one growing in his backyard in Arlington, Va.

I'll always cherish the times of my youth at grandmas when right after sunset it's cinnamon-like smell would fill the air. It has been an eye opener to see where all else the bubby-rose has been. If anyone knows some more historic places to find the bubby-rose please post. Thank you for reading and thank you for posting.

On Apr 8, 2010, totheMax from Easton, MD wrote:

When I first moved to my husbands family home in Starr on Maryland's Eastern Shore, there was a very old Carolina Allspice there. It had been planted some 50 years prior by my husband's grandmother. It was nestled in an eastern corner of our old farmhouse, watered by rain that ran off of the un-guttered roof. It was as large as an elephant, and smelled heavenly of strawberries and melon, sometimes banana! When we tore down the old house, we had an excavator dig up the large plant and move it to another part of our yard....where it languished in somewhat declining form for a few years. We moved to Easton Md. bringing with us a much smaller portion of the shrub bush. This new portion was only large enough to fit into a child's bucket, yet in the last two years it is thriving once again. L... read moreooks and smells wonderful. It is over 6 ft. tall. I'll trim it to a somewhat more manageable size. It is once again planted on the eastern side of our home.
My sister in law bought an Allspice from a nursery and was very disappointed to find the blossoms without any fragrance and even worse this look alike impostor set out runners into her neighbors yard!

On Dec 17, 2009, zanlpn from Bristol, TN wrote:

I have a Sweet Shrub in my backyard from the home where I grew up. (Grew up and live in Upper East TN). I got a 2' "stick" 8 yrs ago from that home and it is now about 8' tall and doing wonderfully well. Maroon flowers with the strawberry aroma. Not real invasive but does multiply. This is from stock that is 60+ years old. Wouldn't trade it for anything! Is in full sun most of the day and is partially shaded by a pine tree. It only gets watered when it rains. Would recommend this plant to anyone who wants an old fashioned plant with a lovely scent.

On Nov 16, 2008, SantaRosaGal from Jay, FL wrote:

8b Santa Rosa County, FL
I bought this shrub online. When it arrived 3 yrs ago it was two "bare sticks" in a pot about 2 feet tall. I planted it where it receives the morning and mid afternoon sun and shade in the late afternoon and evening. It did well for the first 1 1/2 yrs, grew to about 4 feet and leafed out well. Then a worker accidentally drug a large hose over it and snapped off the top half of the plant This year it grew back again but still has not bloomed. I am afraid it is getting too much exposure to our NW Florida sun as the leaf tips are brown, curled, and easily crumble in my hand by mid summer even though they get a fair amount of water. I am going to transplant it to a shady location this Fall to see if that will help.

On Nov 24, 2007, kristywins from Raleigh, NC wrote:

Re: Poisonous plant claim

I just wanted to note that someone has commented that this plant is poisonous and that is only partially true. Once upon a time the bark of this plant was used as a spice and may still be done safely since the only poisonous part of the plant is the seed - and then only if taken in large quantities.

On Jan 31, 2006, ppatnaude from Amherst, MA (Zone 5a) wrote:

Grows Well In Amherst MA one other interesting aspect to this plant is it's seed pod.

On Mar 22, 2005, Peachdumplin wrote:

I relocated from New York to SC some 15 years ago. In our yard off the back deck was a shrub, which my grand mother, who was a native to this area, called a "Sweet Bubby Bush".

She said that in her youth, she learned that she could use the flowers from this shrub as a sachet in her clothing drawers, which was common practice of young women in this area in the 1920's and 30's.

The Sweet Bubby Bush has a wonderful fragrance, and is a hardy shrub to grow in Spartanburg SC. We once transplanted this 7 foot shrub, and it survived, and continues to flourish in it's new location.

On Sep 27, 2004, WendyAloha from Beaverton, OR wrote:

I have just purchased my first Sweet Betsy bush and am hoping for a happy shrub here in Oregon. I was inspired by my father-in-law who reminisced so charmingly about young girls carrying the buds (I'm not sure if by that he meant the flowers or the seed pods, since both are supposed to be fragrant) in their handkerchiefs tucked in a warm spot (I'll bet that's why it's called 'bubby bush' or 'bosom bush') as a substitute for the perfume they couldn't afford or weren't allowed to wear back in Depression-era North Carolina. I'm dying for a whiff, so hope it is happy on my north facing wooded hillside!

On May 29, 2004, spaceman_spiff from Saint Petersburg, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

I have also heard the name "bubby" associated with this plant. My grandmother had one in her yard in Boone County, West Virginia, and always called it a "bubby rose." My aunt there had one, too, and I have seen it in several places in that area of West Virginia.

A few years ago I ordered one in the mail from a nursery in the Carolinas and planted it in my yard in St. Petersburg, FL, since the nursery catalog said it was zoned for as far south as Zone 9. It grew successfully for a couple of years, and right about when it bloomed for the first time, I sold the house and moved. I divided a couple of rooted sections to bring with me to my new house, but it failed to grow successfully. After 3 or so years of appearing very sick-looking (and never blooming), it finally died.... read more I decided to order another larger plant, which has been in my garden for about 2 months. It bloomed shortly after I planted it, and had many flowers, but I was very disappointed that the flowers had NO fragrance at all! The odor was the main reason I wanted it. I'm concerned that the leaves are not getting as big as I remember, so I'm wondering whether it dislikes the soil in my garden. But I'm especially disappointed about the lack of odor, and am wondering if this is a result of the soil as well. The nursery catalog touted the fragrance as a noted point of the plant, so I would expect that they would have sent me a fragrant variety.

On Oct 3, 2003, samkar from Lake Lure, NC wrote:

Attractive, intriging - brown flowers have a scent of ripe apples. Wood and leaves have a scent of camphor, and bark similar to cinnamon.

While plant is called 'Allspice', it is toxic, and must not be used as a herb or spice.

On Jan 10, 2003, lupinelover from Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

Although this shrub is very easily started from seed, the fragrance varies from slight to heavy from seed-grown plants. The best way to ensure you get one that is nicely fragrant is to get a rooted cutting or sucker from a known plant.

On Jul 19, 2001, tiG from Newnan, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Seeds may be sown in containers of sandy loam in March or April. Plants may be divided in the spring. Cuttings can also be taken in July and inserted in sandy soil in a propagating case in a greenhouse or frame.
These hardy, vigorous-growing, deciduous shrubs are found wild in the United States