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Calycanthus floridus

Carolina Allspice · Carolina Sweetshrub · Eastern Sweetshrub

Family CalycanthaceaeGenus Calycanthus

A deep red many-petalled flower at the tip of a shoot between two long leaves with pale undersides
FlowerDidier DescouensCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
6-12 ft1.8-3.7 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
6-12 ft1.8-3.7 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Brown/Copper, Red/BurgundyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Deep shade; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

84% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Calycanthus p. 110Public domain
Show the original text
Calycanthus (Calycanthaceae). C. floridus collected in January germ. 70(84-87% in 2nd w) and 40-70(81-93% in 3rd d) using either fresh seed or seed DS 6mat70or40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Calycanthus p. 110. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 3 days.

81% germination in 3 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Calycanthus p. 110Public domain
Show the original text
Calycanthus (Calycanthaceae). C. floridus collected in January germ. 70(84-87% in 2nd w) and 40-70(81-93% in 3rd d) using either fresh seed or seed DS 6mat70or40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Calycanthus p. 110. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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