Plant type: deciduous shrub
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4 to 9
Although "sweetshrub" is most often used to refer to this handsome native, it is also called Carolina allspice, strawberry shrub, bubby blossom, sweet bubby, pineapple shrub and spicebush. All of these common names make reference to the rich fruity fragrance of the two-inch-wide, maroon to red flowers, which appear in mid spring and then sporadically through midsummer. The fragrance is especially rich on warm, humid evenings and has been compared to combinations of strawberries, bananas, melons and pineapple. Not all sweetshrubs bear sweet blooms, however. Some types produce blooms that smell vinegary—more like spoiled fruit. For this reason, select plants carefully. Buy named cultivars, such as the ones listed below, or buy a plant in bloom so you can smell the flowers before you make the purchase. Sweet shrub bears dark green leaves that are broadly ovate, and some plants turn yellow in fall. Plants are six to nine feet tall and form a broad, rounded mound that spreads to as much as 12 feet in time.
Cultivation: Give sweetshrub a spot in full sun or shade that has rich, moist, well-drained soil. Plants tolerate acid or alkaline soil. Prune, as necessary, immediately after flowering. Plants tend to get lanky in full shade.
How to use it: Plant sweetshrub where the fragrance of its spring flowers can be appreciated. Plants are effective as a screen around a sitting area or outdoor living space, or even near a doorway, where the fragrance can be enjoyed frequently.
Selected Cultivars:
'Athens' bears very fragrant, light yellow flowers and sports yellow fall foliage.
'Edith Wilder' bears fragrant, maroon-red flowers. 