Californian Allspice (Calycanthus occidentalis) is a deciduous shrub native to California that brings wine-cellar fragrance and theatrical drama to any garden. From late spring through summer, it produces distinctive waterlily-like flowers in dark red to purplish-brown, each bloom lasting just a day or two but arriving in succession. Growing 6 to 12 feet tall and equally wide in USDA zones 6 through 9, this thicket-forming shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates an impressive range of soil conditions, making it equally at home in a naturalized woodland setting or as a living hedge.
Partial Sun
Moderate
6-9
144in H x 144in W
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High
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Dark red to purplish-brown flowers with an unusual thin-tepaled form and a distinctive wine-cellar fragrance distinguish this California native from conventional ornamental shrubs. The blooms are showy and fragrant, appearing from late spring into early summer and sometimes extending to early fall, while the shrub itself forms an upright-rounded silhouette that naturally creates dense thickets. It remains trouble-free once established, with no serious insect or disease problems reported.
Californian Allspice serves two primary landscape roles: as a naturalized element in woodland or native gardens where its tendency to sucker and spread creates authentic thicket formations, and as a living hedge plant where it provides screening and visual interest through its extended flowering period. The fragrant flowers and attractive fruit features make it equally valuable for ornamental display.
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Prune immediately after flowering (late summer) to shape the plant and maintain a more compact form. Remove root suckers promptly unless you want the plant to naturalize and spread into a thicket. This post-bloom pruning ensures the plant remains tidy without sacrificing next season's flower production.
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