Calycanthus chinensis - Sweetshrub

The Calycanthus chinensis, also known as Sinocalycanthus chinensis, is a Chinese species whose genus varies. It is either included in the Calycanthus genus or referred to as a separate genus with a single species: Sinocalycanthus. It is a deciduous bush with large ovate leaves that produces lovely cup-shaped white flowers with a light yellow centre from May onwards. With a medium stature, fast growth, hardiness, and low maintenance requirements, this Chinese Calycanthus deserves a place in the garden. It integrates well in a shrub border or at the back of a perennial bed, in light shade.

The Calycanthus chinensis belongs to the Calycanthaceae family, which includes several species of shrubs and trees. It is also called Chinese Anemone Tree, Chinese Sweetshrub, or Pompadour Tree. It is a shrub native to China, with a distribution limited to the Zhejiang province; its habitat is declining due to the destruction of local vegetation. It was discovered in the early 1960s and grows on slopes in evergreen or mixed forests in valleys between 600 and 1100 m altitude.

The Calycanthus chinensis, fast-growing, forms a shrub reaching 2 to 3 m in height at maturity. Its bark is glaucous or grey-brown with opposite branches, glabrous or pubescent when young. Its large leaves are widely ovate, elliptical, ovate, or obovate, and measure up to 27 cm long and 16 cm wide. The solitary flowers, terminal, with a diameter of 4 to 7 cm, have 12 to 14 obovate tepals arranged spirally, white in colour, with light purple edges. They appear from May or June. The inner tepals are upright, elliptical, with a curved apex, and pale yellow. The shrub then forms campanulate and narrowed fruits in October, containing 6 to 16 ellipsoid seeds with silky hairs.

This Chinese Calycanthus has a beautiful ornamental value and is relatively easy to grow. It does not tolerate full sun and ideally grows in partial shade, in moist soil. If the soil is deep and rich, it can better withstand dry summers. It can be used as a specimen plant or in a free and countryside hedge, or in a large bed mixing perennials and small shrubs. To accompany it, one can choose, for example, a variegated Cornus alba, echoing its white flowers, tree peonies with flowers reminiscent of those of the Calycanthus chinensis, or a 'Lady in Red' Physocarpus opulifolius for the contrast of foliage.

Tip: Be careful, the seeds produced by the Calycanthus are toxic to cattle and sheep! Do not plant it in hedges near pastures.