Plant Name: Calycanthus occidentalis
Common name: California or Western Sweetshrub or Spice Bush
Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height: 3’ – 13’
Plant Width: 3’ – 13’
Bloom Time: Late Spring – Early Autumn
Flower Color: Dark Red to Burgundy to Purplish Brown
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Sun; Will Tolerate Full Shade
Soil Requirements: Tolerates a Wide Variety of Soil.
Water Need: Med to High
Attributes: Pollinated by Beetles; Hosts Butterflies & Moths; Deer Resistant; Yellow Fall Color.
Firewise: Yes
Uses: Hedge, Butterfly Garden; Shrub Border; Foundation Plant; Woodland Garden.
Note: Bark has strong Camphor smell when scraped; Strongly Scented Flowers; Prune Immediate after Flowering; Flowers only last a day or two.
Native to: Western US
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 – 9
Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC member/ Master Gardener