Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Calycanthus occidentalis or Spice Bush

The genus Calycanthus, family Calycanthaceae, includes 4 species of shrubs native to North America and China. Some species are: Calycanthus occidentalis, Calycanthus floridus, Calycanthus brockianus, Calycanthus chinensis.

Common names: California sweetshrub, Spice Bush, Californian allspice, Western spicebush. This species is native to California.

Calycanthus occidentalis is a deciduous shrub with a rounded shape that reaches 3 meters (9.84 feet) in height. The aromatic oval leaves are bright green. The attractive scented flowers are purplish red. It blooms in late spring and early fall. The fruits are elliptical capsules 7 cm (3") long.

Spice Bush is used to form hedges, as an isolated specimen and in small bushy groups. It is suitable for Mediterranean coastal gardens.

Calycanthus occidentalis prefers full sun exposure although it also grows in light shade. It resists frosts down to -7 ºC (10 ºF).

The soil can be a normal well-drained garden soil with coarse sand and containing abundant organic matter.

Water regularly so that the substrate does not dry out completely; for example, once a week in summer. In winter reduce watering.

Fertilize in autumn with compost or manure and in spring monthly with mineral fertilizer.

California sweetshrub can be lightly pruned after flowering to maintain a rounded shape.

Calycanthus occidentalis is a plant resistant to the usual pests and diseases.

Spice Bush is propagated from seeds sown in a seedbed in autumn and from cuttings in summer.

Images of the shrub Calycanthus occidentalis or Spice Bush