'Aphrodite' Sweetshrub (Calycanthus)
Shrub
- Irresistibly unique blooms from Proven Winners!
- Fragrant flowers for grace the landscape for months.
- Lush, handsome foliage provides great coverage.
- Very resistant to deer damage.
- Zones 5-9, sun/part sun, 5-10′ tall and wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent: USPP 24,014
Common name: Sweetshrub
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hrs of sun)
Height x width: 5-10' tall and wide
Flower color: Red
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Spring
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Rare & unusual, Proven Winners, privacy & screening, native, low flammability, heat tolerant, fragrant, deer resistant
Uses: Flower gardens, landscaping, edging, ground cover, slopes
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) to part shade (4-6 hours/day)
Water: Moderate moisture; tolerates dry conditions once established, but flowering is best when not stressed.
Space: 6-7' apart
Fertilizing: Seldom needed; apply a granular garden or rose fertilizer in early spring if desired
Winterizing: A 2-3" layer of shredded bark mulch is recommended. In zone 5 - and even in USDA zone 6 in cold winters - this plant may die back to the ground. However, it will re-emerge from the roots. This is why there is such a wide range of height and width on this plant. Expect it to become quite large in warmer climates.
Maintenance: This plant can be pruned as needed, but as it matures, controlling its height may become difficult. Prune in spring, before the new growth begins to emerge, if you wish. Makes a very nice cut flower.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
Plant arrived looking like a couple of twigs stuck in a pot. The few leaves that are on it are half eaten. Nowhere near the size, caliber or quality of the majority of plants in this order, and there were a lot. Will be filing a claim for refund or replacement.
We’re sorry you recieved plants that were not up to our standards. Our team of horticulture experts would love to take a closer look! Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2026, so we have you covered. Please send your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
The shrub bloomed the second year after planting and is growing at a nice rate. The first few months after planting I had doubts it would thrive, but it has proven otherwise. Very hardy and pretty shrub.
The plant arrived healthy and a decent size. I’m growing it in a planter and it’s thriving. Great addition to my garden!
I’m very disappointed in this purchase. Ordered and received last year; came as a very healthy and vigorous plant. It has grown well and I was so excited to see it flower earlier this year. Unfortunately, the flowers have ZERO scent. I purchased and planted mainly out of nostalgia… very fond memories of these as a child. Very disappointed that this is not as advertised.
Hello! We appreciate your feedback. The aroma is stronger in higher temperatures, but can vary from person to person. We have a 60-day guarantee on all of our plants. If you would like to be assisted further, please contact us at [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plant. We look forward to helping!
I am over the moon with our purchase!
Showed up packaged amazingly so that no damage coukd occur in shipping and the plants were green and full. Unfortunately after i planted them we had a small freeze which can happen where i live. There was a little damage from that but because they are such healthy plants, they recovered well.
WOW! This plant came in a box and when I opened it, the plant was green and upright and healthy-looking. I am impressed with its durability. I haven't been able to plant it, just kept it watered, and for 2 weeks now it has been healthy and bright and really green. I have never seen a greener plant right out of the box! Get plants, this one, and more from Great Garden Plants. They really are!
Got nothing. No help from customer service either.
Our friendly customer service team is here to help! Just contact us at [email protected] with your order number. After further investigation, we will be able to better assist you. All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Healthy, large one gallon. Should take well.
Received a healthy, in tack plant!
Wonderful plant! Packed well! Growing already! Can’t wait to see more of it! Many thanks!
These grew very fast and did better than many of my other shrubs over a challenging freeze/thaw winter that damaged and killed many plants. The flowers are unique and beautiful!
Arrived in great shape and very quickly
Nice full healthy plant. It already has new growth on it.
Arrived ready to plant beautifully packed. 100% pleased.
It looks great!
All I can say is it arrived in good shape and it’s planted in a good location and protected from the deer. 🤞for the spring
Hello! We are sorry that you're not fully satisfied with your plants. Please email pictures of the plants to [email protected], making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. Rest assured, we have a guarantee on all our plants. Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2024! If you received your plants within that timeframe, we would happily apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!
https://www.greatgardenplants.com/pages/our-guarantee
It’s doing fairly well planted in with tomato plants and the other two plants I had ordered. Hopefully will mature enough this year to feed the Bees 🐝
That was my intentions with my entire order.
Thanks for a beautiful plant - my mom couldn’t have been more thrilled. It arrived before Mother’s Day and I only ordered the week prior. Excellent all around. When I asked her how the plant was doing, she said “very happy.” 10/10
I bought 2 sweet shrubs and planted in 2 different locations. Both have leaves partially eaten. I have just relocated one to see if that helps.
Hello! We're sorry to hear about your Aphrodite Sweetshrub. Keep in mind, deer resistant does not equal deer-proof. Deer does tend to avoid sweetshrub, but deer and other animals will eat nearly any plant if they are hungry enough. Young plants (like those we sell) are most susceptible to deer damage, so we still recommend keeping an eye on them as they grow! We recommend using a deer repellant spray to help keep the deer at bay. Happy Gardening!
I fell in love when I saw this plant at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. It appears to have settled well into the garden. I'm excited to see how it will fare over the winter...and can't wait for flowers to appear.
Hardy plants, well packed, growing better than expected. Would suggest purchases from them.
I am so excited to see this plant thrive in my garden! It has grown so much in the short time it’s been planted. GGP has never disappointed, their plants are so healthy and packaged so well.
Of all the plants that came with my shipment, this was the one that looked the most healthy. It's not very big, but it's brimming with vitality, so I have high hopes for the little guy.
Can't wait until it blooms,they smell so good,next year it will be better established..Thank you for my order..
These little cuties are thriving right next to the mature one I planted last year (which is now about 4' tall!). They came packaged perfectly and have been doing well. Can't wait to watch them play catch up with the older one next season!
I will recommend them to my friends.
Is the sweetshrub an evergreen shurb?
Sweetshrub is deciduous and will lose its foliage in the fall.
Can you plant as a single or is better to plant as a pair or more together?
That depends on the look you want to achieve. 'Aphrodite' Sweetshrub is a great shrub to be the focal point in a landscape setting or planted in a row to make a hedge.