Calycanthus 'Aphrodite' 

Other Common Names: Spice Bush, Carolina Allspice, Strawberry Bush, Bubby Bush, Sweet Betsy, Sweet Bubby and Sweet Booby

Gifted with the largest and most beautiful blooms in the Sweetshrub family, unlike other Calycanthus varieties that just bloom one time annually, 'Aphrodite' produces its strawberry-scented Magnolia-like flowers in spring and summer! The flowers stand out nicely against large very glossy leaves that provide a tropical effect in the garden. Leaves turn a vibrant yellow in late fall. This native will grow in sun or shade and is ignored by deer but loved by butterflies. A "must have" plant in gardens where it will grow!

Growing 6 to 7 feet tall and wide, the Aphrodite Sweetshrub is ideal for use as a specimen, grouping, background or natural hedge in sunny to partially shaded landscape borders and flowering shrub or woodland borders. Sweetshrub is ideal for planting close to the house near a window or entryway where the fragrance may drift indoors. Plant additional plants by a favorite path or sitting area. A fine addition to cottage, wildlife and North American native plant gardens. 

Suggested Spacing:  5 feet apart for solid hedge;  10 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden North of USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 5a, where this Sweetshrub variety is not reliably winter hardy, you'll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and place back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Sweetshrubs are exceptionally easy to grow in a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. We've seen no serious insect or disease problems and plants are quite drought tolerant when established. 

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