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Calycanthus chinensis |
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| Synonym(s) |
Sinocalycanthus chinensis |
| Common name |
Chinese sweetshrub |
| Family |
calycanthaceae |
| Life cycle |
deciduous shrub (Z6-8) |
| Flowers |
white (summer) |
| Size |
5-10' |
| Light |
part shade |
| Cultural notes |
ordinary garden soil, not too dry |
From seed  |
germinate at room temperature, 2-6 weeks
detailed seed-starting info below
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| Seed ripens | early November |
Deciduous shrub with glossy mid-green leaves, and camellia-like flowers up to 4" diameter. We grew ours from seed in 2004; in June of 2008 we were finally treated to our first blooms - although they're nowhere near four inches - probably more like two inches diameter.
As youngsters, our shrubs were eaten down to the ground by rabbits one winter. They were undoubtedly set back a bit, but survived. The next few winters, I protected them with wire cages. Eventually, they grew large enough to fend for themselves. Then one year, they decided they'd had enough, and did not return. It may be that their exposure had become too shady because of the growth of nearby shrubs and trees. Luckily, one of my seedlings from several years ago survived – the young shrub is now planted in a sunnier spot.
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| | Developing fruit: early July |
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| | Still developing: late August |
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This plant used to grow in our garden, but it slipped away... One or more images of this plant are included in my stock photo catalog About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Calycanthus chinensis
Some particularly helpful links to other websites
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Joanne Lenden | Oct 04, 2006 | I wonder if this plant is currently Sinocalycanthus chinensis ...that was the name I got when BBG gave us some seeds from their three...then it was Calycalycanths and then I heard it was back to Sinocalycnthus. Please advise.
Sure enough, GRIN says it's Calycanthus chinensis, so I swapped the "botanical name" and "synonym" fields. Thanks for the note. |
| Margaret Clare | Jun 01, 2011 | Hi. I've been growing Sinocalycanthus sinensis, but have had real problems with black staining which appears at the bud stage? I moved it into a pot for a year to see how it went and it flowered beautifully with no staining. So encouraged I replanted it and it has made excellent growth, lots of buds but alas, in the past few days the black staining is back. It is a real eyesore as it looks as it someone has spilt black gloss paint on stems, some leaves and the buds themselves. Such a shame. No mention of this anywhere in UK but found mention of it on Dutch and German garden sites. Any ideas what could cause this? There is no insect or environmental problems visible. It is now too big to be repotted well, but is no longer the lovely shrub it was.
I don't know the answer, but I have to report that for the first time this year, I'm seeing some damage on my plants that's similar to what you're describing. I wonder if it's because they have been progressively exposed to more shade as the neighbors' arborvitae hedge towers ever higher over them. |
| Caz Phillips | Nov 05, 2011 | Thanks to your wonderful info I have germination - fresh seed nicked with knife and baggied on 22/10/2011 first seedling potted up 05/11/11. This is the fourth year I've tried and am delighted to get a 'result' Big thumbs up for the information! |
| mark | Sep 23, 2022 | responding to ancient post,but ROSECLEAR 3 IN 1 fungicide/insecticide or any other fungicide? seems to work on the blackspots/patches that appear on calycanthus in our garden Uk.PS spray before they appear is best ,ie preventative. |
- Seed from '03 trade. Pot 65F (67%G, 12-40d)
- Seed from '08 garden. Baggy 70F (20d) - nicked with file - 70F (4d) - 35F (6w) - 70F (9d; 40%G, 6d) - nicked with knife - 70F (40%G, 14d)
- Seed from '08 garden. File-nicked deep, baggy 70F (80%G, 13-18d)
Fast-growing seedlings.
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