By Joyce Corson
Guest Columnist

Joyce Arleen Corson

A very beloved native shrub in South Carolina is sweet bubby bush or sweet shrub (calycanthus floridus). Another common name is Carolina allspice so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that this is a fragrant plant.

In fact, all parts are fragrant — from the flowers, to the leaves (crush one), to the stems (even the dead ones can be broken to release the smell) and all the way down to the roots!

The flowers are uniquely shaped so many folks recognize it. Not every plant is as fragrant as others so it is recommended that you buy one while it’s in bloom. A cultivar by the name of ‘Athens’ has golden-colored flowers.

Shade and drought tolerant, this native shrub is found in much of the state except the southeastern area.

Valued for the sweet, fruity fragrance of its flowers, it is a dense, rounded, well-branched deciduous shrub boasting a profusion of dark red flowers. It likes growing on the sloping edge of my garden.

Sweet Carolina Shrub

Growing Sweet shrub in your garden adds a fruity-spicy scent to your yard or garden when you plant this attractive, almost carefree shrub. Spicy, fruity fragrance!

In early June, 1-2 inch deep maroon flowers appear on the Spicy Sweet Shrub.

Blooms last for 3-4 weeks and fragrance that peaks in late afternoon and early evening when flowers are fully open.

The Spicy Sweet shrub develops exotic pods, if pollinated, and later filled with aromatic seeds. In autumn the leaves turn golden yellow and the flowers dry to a lite brown and reassembles a wooden rose. Sweet shrub can easily be grown from seeds. Simply sow the seeds in springtime (March or April), preferably in a shady area of the garden in rich, well-drained, loamy soil.

Plant plenty of seeds some gardeners are unlucky enough to chance upon an unscented variety when growing from seed. Taking a long time to develop fruit, you may want to visit a gardeners nursery for assurance of fragrance.

In the mean time you may use the dried fruit and arrange into a seasonal bouquet.