Maintenance Landscaping Design

Sweet shrub is a plant that produces a sweet fruit. The plant is native to the Americas and is grown in many countries around the world. The fruit of the sweet shrub is often used to make jams, jellies, and pies.

Also called

• common sweet shrub
  
• American sweet shrub
  
• Appalachian sweet shrub
  
• Carolina allspice
  
• spicebush

Basic info

• Sweet shrub is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 6 feet tall.
  
• It has opposite, ovate leaves that are 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide.
  
• The fragrant, white flowers bloom in late spring or early summer and are followed by small, red fruits.
  
• Sweet shrub is native to eastern North America, where it grows in woodlands and forest edges.
  
• It is a popular ornamental plant and is often used in hedges and shrub borders.
  
• Sweet shrub is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and prefers full sun to partial shade.
  
• It is relatively pest and disease free.
  
• Deer resistant.
  
• To propagate, take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer.
  
• Sweet shrub can be susceptible to leaf spot and powdery mildew if grown in humid conditions.

Related plant:
Sweet Almond Bush

Planting Process

1. For sweet shrub, first step is to identify a good location. It should be in full sun with well-drained soil.
   
2. Prepare the planting area by removing all the weeds and loosening the soil.
   
3. Sweet shrub can be propagated from seed, but it is easier to start with a young plant from a nursery.
   
4. Plant the shrub at the same depth it was growing in the pot.
   
5. Water the plant deeply and thoroughly after planting.
   
6. Mulch around the shrub to help retain moisture and prevent weeds.
   
7. Sweet shrub doesn’t require much fertilizer, but you can give it a light feeding in early spring.
   
8. Prune the shrub in late winter or early spring to shape it and remove any dead or damaged wood.
   
9. Sweet shrub is susceptible to a few pests and diseases, but these are generally not serious problems.
   
10. Enjoy the sweet-smelling flowers that appear in late spring or early summer!

Related plant:
Sweetspire

Considering the Soil

About soil condition, sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus) prefers humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. It does not like full sun and will not tolerate drought conditions. Amend the soil with compost before planting. This shrub is winter hardy in zones 5-9.

Light condition

Like the other plants, sweet shrubs need sunlight to grow. They can tolerate partial shade, but they will produce the most flowers and fruits when they are grown in full sun. Sweet shrubs are a great addition to any garden, and they are easy to care for.

Ideal Temperature

The temperature for sweet shrub should be around 70 degrees. If it's too cold, the leaves will start to turn brown and drop off. If it's too hot, the leaves will start to wilt and the plant will go into shock.

Humidity Aspect

Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50%. It will grow in lower or higher humidity but may not flower as well. If the humidity is too low, the leaves will suffer and if it is too high, the plant may be more susceptible to root rot and other diseases.

Fertilizing

About fertilizer, this plant does best with a half-strength all-purpose fertilizer applied monthly during the growing season. The roots of this plant are very sensitive to disturbance, so be careful when transplanting.

Light requirement

Pruning sweet shrub is a important part of keeping this plant healthy and under control. Sweet shrub can become very leggy and produce fewer flowers if it is not pruned regularly. Prune sweet shrub in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Cut back the stems by one-third to one-half their length.

Plant Propagation

Propagation is by rooting softwood or hardwood cuttings, or by layering. When propagating by rooting cuttings, take them in late spring or early summer from healthful, current-season growth. Cuttings from the tips of branches root the quickest and are usually the most vigorous.

Growth Speed

Usually, the plant growth rate is slow to moderate. Some species, however, can grow quite rapidly. When grown in optimum conditions, some sweet shrubs can add several inches to their height each growing season.

Common Problems

Common problems for this kind of plant are, root rot, wilt, and leaf spot. These problems are most often seen in poorly drained or wet areas. Sweet shrub is also susceptible to "die back" where the tips of the branches turn brown and die. This is usually caused by too much sun or wind exposure.

Basics of Growing

• If you live in a warm climate, you can grow sweet shrub year-round.
  
• Sweet shrub prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
  
• Plant sweet shrub in well-drained soil.
  
• Sweet shrub is drought tolerant once established.
  
• Fertilize sweet shrub once a year with a general purpose fertilizer.
  
• Prune sweet shrub in late winter or early spring to shape and encourage new growth.
  
• Sweet shrub is susceptible to aphids and scale. Treat infestations with an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
  
• Sweet shrub is generally disease resistant.
  
• Harvest sweet shrub fruits when they are ripe. Fruits can be eaten fresh or used in pies and jams.
  
• Enjoy the sweet, citrusy flavor of sweet shrub!

Alternative Plants

• Sweet berrie
  
• Sweet bell
  
• Sweet blossom
  
• Sweet briar
  
• Sweet cicely
  
• Sweet cherry
  
• Sweet chestnut
  
• Sweet clover
  
• Sweet gum
  
• Sweet fern

Source:
Fact sheet: Sweet Shrub - UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County
Venus Sweetshrub | NC State Extension - mcilab.ces.ncsu.edu
Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)