Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, mixed borders, informal screens, and as a bold specimen shrub.
Benefits: Large, magnolia-like deep red blooms add dramatic color and a tropical feel, often with a fruity fragrance. Flowers repeat from early summer into fall, delivering long-season impact with Proven Winners® performance.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — sturdy multi-stem shrub with a broad canopy.
Bloom Color: Deep Red
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 6'–12'
Mature Width: 6'–12'
Bloom Season: Early Summer–Fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A showy, long-blooming shrub that brings exotic-looking flowers and rich color to sunny and partially shaded landscapes.
Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’ is prized for its oversized, magnolia-like blooms in a saturated deep red that stand out across the garden. Flowering begins in early summer and continues through fall, providing repeat color when many shrubs have already finished their main display.
Its lush green foliage and strong, upright habit make it a natural fit for foundation beds, back borders, and informal screening. It adapts well to a range of garden soils and performs reliably in both full sun and partial shade, with a little afternoon shade being helpful in hotter climates.
Care
Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’ Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. More sun typically encourages heavier flowering and a denser habit, while afternoon shade can help reduce stress in warmer regions.
Grow in moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Consistent moisture supports the best growth and flower production.
Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, plants handle short dry periods but perform best with deep watering during extended heat or drought.
Fertilize in early spring with a slow release fertilizer to support healthy growth and repeat blooming.
Prune after a main flush of flowering if shaping is needed. Light trimming is usually sufficient to maintain a full, natural form.
Size
What Size is Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’ for Sale Online?
Plants are shipped in greenhouse-grade grow pots and are actively growing at the time of shipment. Size may vary slightly by season. If you have specific sizing questions before ordering, please contact us.
How Large Does Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’ Grow?
At maturity, this shrub typically reaches 6 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide, developing into a broad, multi-stem specimen or informal screen.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’?
The botanical name is Calycanthus × ‘Aphrodite’.
What are some common names for this plant?
- Sweetshrub
- Carolina Allspice
- Allspice Bush
Does Sweetshrub ‘Aphrodite’ have fragrance?
Many gardeners notice a fruity scent on the blooms, though fragrance can vary with temperature, time of day, and growing conditions. Even when scent is subtle, the oversized flower form and deep color provide standout ornamental value.
Where does this shrub fit best in the landscape?
Use it as a bold specimen, a back-of-border anchor, or an informal screen where you want long-season blooms and strong structure. For similar options, explore our Proven Winners® collection, or browse additional choices in Shrubs & Bushes.
