Calycanthus Hybrid, Carolina Allspice, Eastern Sweetshrub, Florida Spice Bush, Strawberry Shrub 'Venus'

I absolutely love this plant. It is growing vigorously in my zone 5 garden. I have had it for 3 years now and it is about 3-4 feet tall a...Read Morend wide. Prolific blooming, nice fragrance and clean foliage. My only negative would be that I have black spotting every year on my beautiful flowers. This plant is much hardier (cold hardy) than given credit. Last winter we had one of our coldest winters ever (more like a zone 4) and this plant came through with no tip die back or root damage.

I have 3 of the "Venus" variety and 1 species. The plants' habit tends toward a philadelphus look: Long stems and flowers right on them (...Read Moreas opposed to laterals). The flowers indeed look magnolia-like (think stellata class).

In terms of scent, almost seems as if each flower has its own identity. On the plus side, they are always fragrant, as opposed to the species which varies dramatically from 1 plant to the next.

The fragrance is also of a melon variety, although like any calycanthus it is variable. I have not noticed it wafting which, IMHO, is generally the hallmark of a great fragrant plant (daphne odora is my comparison). Nonetheless, it makes for a statement that one appreciates unusual plants.

The foliage of the plant is nice and the flowers are relatively interesting but I didnt like the smell. It reminded me of a trash can at...Read More a roadside fruit stand. I would only plant this for appearance.

I love this plant (no bias here!) and so far it has done well for me. I bought this last spring (2007) and though it was tiny it bloomed ...Read Moreseveral times during the summer. Now it's much larger (2 1/2 5o 3 feet high and a bit wider) and continues to bloom. But the leaves also are shiny and bright. I have it at the top of a self-made hillock; my garden used to be a gravel parking pad. It has the best topsoil I could fine locally, and first access to the soaker hose, and on top of that mulch. So far it's simply lovely. And, yes, I baby it, but no more than the rest of the garden.

Hope this helps someone.