May 2025

I couldn’t resist highlighting the Aphrodite Sweetshrub – a plant that brings back fond childhood memories. I remember visiting a neighbor’s old home and smelling the sweet scent of Carolina Sweetbush, a shrub once common in yards across the Deep South and native to that region.

The Aphrodite Sweetshrub is the result of a three-way cross between Carolina Sweetbush (Calycanthus floridus), Western Sweetbush (California Allspice), and Hartlage Wine Sweetshrub. This hybrid brings together the best qualities of its parents, making it a standout shrub for homes here in the Ozarks.

Blooming begins in May and continues into late summer. The maroon flowers are best appreciated up close, and their fragrance varies depending on the bloom’s age and the time of day. Some say it smells like pineapple, others detect apples or bubblegum, while some catch no scent at all!

This is a large shrub, reaching 6–8 feet tall, so give it some space. It’s ideal along a woodland edge or as a deciduous summer privacy screen. Prune after flowering to maintain its shape. Aphrodite Sweetshrub is adaptable to various soil types, including clay, though it thrives in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It tolerates nearly full shade, is deer-resistant, and offers a bonus of golden yellow fall foliage. As a sterile hybrid, it won’t spread by seed.

You’ll find several Aphrodite Sweetshrubs planted along the creek near the southeast corner of the Garden, and a second group near the Cottage along the fence on the north side. Be sure to visit the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks this summer to experience this unique, shade-loving shrub for yourself!

Berni Kurz

Director of Horticulture

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks