• Photo of Calycanthus chinensis (Calycanthus chinensiss)

Plant Profile: Calycanthus chinensis

Names

Allspice, Chinese Sweetshrub

  • Photo of Calycanthus chinensis (Calycanthus chinensiss)

Phonetic Spelling:kal-ee-KAN-thus chi-NEN-sis

Genus:Calycanthus

Species:chinensis

Family:Calycanthaceae

Chinese sweetshrub thrives in environments that offer full sunlight to partial shade, preferring moist, well-drained soil rich in organic material. It's crucial to keep the soil consistently moist, as this plant is sensitive to drought conditions. In regions where winter temperatures can vary significantly, it’s advisable to plant it in a sheltered spot.

This shrub features glossy green foliage and produces large, creamy white flowers during mid-summer. Unfortunately, it has become a rare species in its natural habitat, and its continued existence is at risk without human intervention.

**Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Issues:**

Calycanthus chinensis Feature Summary

Calycanthus chinensis Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#deciduous shrub
#deer resistant
#cream flowers
#glossy leaves
#large flowers
#mid-summer flowers

Similar Plants

Calycanthus chinensis is often confused with:

Calycanthus chinensis Feature Summary

Attributes
Small beetles pollinate the flowers.
Attracts Pollinators
Fruit
The fruits are top-shaped. They overwinter on the shrub.
Flowers
The creamy pinkish-blue to white outer portion of the petals. Yellow inner portion with maroon markings. Yellow stamens. Blooms resemble camellias.
Pink
White
Blue
Spring
Summer
7 - 20 petals/rays
3-6 inches
Leaves
The 6" leaves are a glossy dark green. They have a bit of roughness on the upper surface.
> 6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Cottage Garden
Border
Accent
Small groups
Specimen
Patio
Walkways
Woodland
Pollinators
Bark
Dark Gray
Dark Brown

Calycanthus chinensis Attributes

Calycanthus chinensis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Eastern China

Calycanthus chinensis: Wildlife Value

Small beetles pollinate the flowers.

Calycanthus chinensis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Calycanthus chinensis: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Calycanthus chinensis: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Calycanthus chinensis Fruit

Calycanthus chinensis: Fruit Description

The fruits are top-shaped. They overwinter on the shrub.

Calycanthus chinensis Flowers

Calycanthus chinensis: Flower Description

The creamy pinkish-blue to white outer portion of the petals. Yellow inner portion with maroon markings. Yellow stamens. Blooms resemble camellias.

Calycanthus chinensis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
White

Calycanthus chinensis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Calycanthus chinensis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Calycanthus chinensis: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Calycanthus chinensis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Calycanthus chinensis Leaves

Calycanthus chinensis: Leaf Description

The 6" leaves are a glossy dark green. They have a bit of roughness on the upper surface.

Calycanthus chinensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Calycanthus chinensis: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Calycanthus chinensis: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Calycanthus chinensis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Calycanthus chinensis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Calycanthus chinensis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Calycanthus chinensis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Calycanthus chinensis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Calycanthus chinensis: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Calycanthus chinensis Whole Plant Traits

Calycanthus chinensis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Calycanthus chinensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Calycanthus chinensis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Calycanthus chinensis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Calycanthus chinensis Cultural Conditions

Calycanthus chinensis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Calycanthus chinensis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Calycanthus chinensis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Calycanthus chinensis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Calycanthus chinensis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Calycanthus chinensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Calycanthus chinensis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Calycanthus chinensis Stem

Calycanthus chinensis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Calycanthus chinensis Landscape

Calycanthus chinensis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Calycanthus chinensis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Calycanthus chinensis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Calycanthus chinensis: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Calycanthus chinensis Bark

Calycanthus chinensis: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown
grass
Dark Gray