Calycanthus


CALYCANTHUS FLORIDUS.--Carolina Allspice. Carolina, 1726. If only

for the purplish-red, pleasantly-scented flowers, this North American

shrub is worthy of extensive culture. The hardiness, accommodating

nature, and delicious perfume of its brightly-coloured flowers render

this shrub one of the choicest subjects for the shrubbery or edges

of the woodland path. It is of easy though compact growth, reaching

in favourable
ituations a height of 12 feet, and with ovate leaves

that are slightly pubescent. Growing best in good fairly moist loam,

where partial shade is afforded, the sides of woodland drives and

paths will suit this Allspice well; but it wants plenty of room for

branch-development. There are several nursery forms of this shrub,

such as C. floridus glaucus, C. floridus asplenifolia, and C. floridus

nanus, all probably distinct enough, but of no superior ornamental

value to the parent plant.



C. OCCIDENTALIS.--Californian or Western Allspice. California, 1831.

This is larger in all its parts than the former, and for decorative

purposes is even preferable to that species. The flowers are dark

crimson, and nearly twice as large as those of C. floridus, but rather

more sparsely produced. This is a very distinct and desirable species,

and one that can be recommended for lawn and park planting, but, like

the former, it delights to grow in a rather moist and shady situation.



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