Calycanthus raulstonii Aphrodite- Sweetshrub

Calycanthus Aphrodite is a recent variety of shrub with anemone-like flowers that will be appreciated for its very long and beautiful flowering period. This deciduous shrub bears large flowers resembling anemones, with a beautiful magenta-purple colour tinged with white at the centre, from late spring to the end of summer. Its fragrance, which can be surprising, evokes a subtle blend of strawberry and green apple aromas. Its large, vibrant green leaves enhance the purple colour of the flowers. Not widely found in our gardens, Calycanthus is nevertheless a low-maintenance shrub, as long as the soil is deep, well prepared, and remains moist. Another aspect is that you will not have to wait long for the flowers as it blooms from a young age!

The calycanthus is a deciduous shrub from the Calycanthaceae family. The Aphrodite hybrid cultivar is the result of cross-breeding between Calycanthus floridus, native to the southern United States, and Sinocalycanthus chinensis, a species closely related to the Calycanthus, but native to China. This hybrid was obtained in the USA by J. C. Raulston, who gave it the name Calycanthus (x) raulstonii. With a rather rounded bushy habit, it will reach an average height of 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) and a spread of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) at maturity, which is around five years of age. Its slightly rigid branches bear leaves that are 7 to 13 cm (2.8 to 5.1 in) long, ovate and velvety, shiny on the upper side, lighter and greyer on the underside. They turn yellow in autumn. Its flowering is abundant from June to July, and continues throughout the summer, and even into autumn. Its original flowers, shaped like wide cups with a diameter of 5 to 7 cm (2 to 2.8 in), are composed of a corolla of wide petals, purplish-magenta in colour, surrounding a small central crown of small petals of the same purplish colour, bordered with white. The heart of the flower is occupied by purple stamens.

Still considered rare, this calycanthus is perfect for adding originality to your garden. It can be used, according to each gardener's desires and the space available, as a standalone specimen, in a free and countryside hedge, or in a large bed mixing perennials and small shrubs. The fragrance and beauty of the flowers can be better enjoyed near a pathway or not far from the terrace. To accompany it, one can choose, for example, daylilies, botanical peonies, the pheasant's eye tree, a variegated Cornus alba, a ninebark, a Diervilla splendens.

Calycanthus flowers resemble those of anemones in size and shape. But the fragrance is quite different as it is reminiscent of strawberries, which is what gave rise to the English name, "Strawberry bush".