Plant Details

Calycanthus floridus

American allspice

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Common names

23 names · 18 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American allspice
  • Carolina Allspice[2]
  • Carolina sweetshrub[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Sweet Sub[2]
  • sweet-scented shrub[2]
Other languages (17)
Dutch
  • Specerijstruik
French
  • Arbre aux anémones[2]
  • Calycanthe de Floride
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美东夏蜡梅[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美東夏蠟梅[2]
Czech
  • sazaník květnatý[2]
Finnish
  • carolinanrosettipensas[2]
German
  • Echter Gewürzstrauch[2]
Italian
  • calicanto vero[2]
Japanese
  • アメリカロウバイ（広義）[2]
Korean
  • 자주받침꽃[2]
Lithuanian
  • Puošnusis kalikantas[2]
Polish
  • Kielichowiec wonny[2]
Russian
  • Каликант цветущий[2]
Slovak
  • kalykant floridský[2]
Spanish
  • Clavero de Carolina[2]
Swedish
  • hårig kryddbuske[2]
Language not specified
  • Eastern sweetshrub[1]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Calycanthus floridus L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Eastern sweetshrub — VernacularName.tsv, line 152113; taxon Q59D.
[2] Calycanthus floridus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Carolina sweetshrub — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Carolina Allspice — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Clavero de Carolina — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • sazaník květnatý — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Arbre aux anémones — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • 美东夏蜡梅 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • 美東夏蠟梅 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Kielichowiec wonny — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Puošnusis kalikantas — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • calicanto vero — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Каликант цветущий — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Sweet Sub — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • sweet-scented shrub — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • hårig kryddbuske — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • アメリカロウバイ（広義） — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • Echter Gewürzstrauch — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • 자주받침꽃 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • carolinanrosettipensas — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.
  • kalykant floridský — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 126485; Calycanthus floridus.

General information

Scientific name: Calycanthus floridus
Accepted name (Kew): Calycanthus floridus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Calycanthaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Calycanthus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: American allspice
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.83–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.83–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Dense, Erect, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Disinfectant, Repellent, Fragrant

Description

The aromatic bark is dried and can be used as an alternative to cinnamon. However, caution is advised, given the previously mentioned reports of toxicity.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1220872; name ID 382428; Calycanthus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1220879; name ID 382441; Calycanthus floridus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Calycanthus floridus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5093211, ID Q59D: Calycanthus floridus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Calycanthus floridus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .