Deciduous Shrub – Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’

Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’

Botanical name: calycanthus x aphrodite 

Beginner friendly?: yes 

Average size at maturity: 6-12 ft in height and in spread 

Hardy zone: zones 5-9 

Growth rate: grows 1-2 ft per year 

Foliage color: green 

Flower color: red 

Bloom time:  spring, summer 

Pruning instructions: lightly prune immediately after blooms are spent in the early summer 

Propagation methods: propagate with cuttings during the late spring, early summer 

Landscape use: 

Special features: long-lasting blooms, fragrant blooms, deer resistant, drought tolerant

Light needs: 3-6 hours of sun per day 

Watering instructions: allow the top 2-4 inches of soil to dry out between watering sessions 

Fertilizing instructions : use a slow release fertilizer once a year in the early spring as dormancy comes to an end

Best time to plant: spring, fall 

Best type of soil:  clay, loam 

Companion plants: coneflower, pittosporum, weigela, aster 

Toxicity level: mildly toxic for humans and pets if ingested 

Invasive species: no