Practical
Plants

Calycanthus floridus glaucus

Eastern Sweetshrub

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

Some reports say that the fruits are poisonous to sheep[7].

Edible uses

The leaves, root and bark are dried and used as a substitute for cinnamon[4].

Product or use
Condiment

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Emmenagogue[11]. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat urinary problems[9].

Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - Pennsylvania to North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
Habitat
Rich woodlands[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. If the seed is harvested 'green' (as soon as it has fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and sown immediately it can germinate in 3 weeks[2]. Dried seed germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[3]. Stored seed requires between 3 weeks and 3 months cold stratification before sowing in the spring. When large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. They can be difficult[2]. Layering in spring. Sever the new plants in a wet spell of weather about 15 months later and then lift them in the autumn[12]. High percentage[12]. Division of suckers in early spring[1]. Very easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required.

Cultivation

Prefers a light loamy soil that is deep and moist but it succeeds in most fertile soils[1][5]. Prefers a sunny position but it tolerates shade when grown in warm temperate zones[1][6]. Requires a sheltered position, protected from cold winds[8]. A very ornamental plant, it is often confused with the closely related C. floridus and is perhaps no more than a sub-species of that species[1]. The leaves smell strongly of cinnamon[8]. The seed only ripens in Britain after a hot summer[1]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[6].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  12. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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