Calycanthus floridus Michael Lindsay- Sweetshrub

Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsay' is a variety of strawberry bush that is interesting for its abundant and particularly fragrant flowers, its well-branched habit, and its golden autumn foliage.  The shrub blooms in late spring: on its beautiful glossy green leaves, large flowers of reddish-brown, unusual and dark, appear as if they were placed directly on the branches. They release an extraordinary scent of strawberry and spices. Of medium stature, with a lovely habit, hardy and requiring little maintenance, this Strawberry bush integrates well into a loose hedge, a large shrub border, or as a background plant in a perennial border.

Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsay' is a horticultural selection by Allen Bush (USA). The botanical species is native to the eastern coast of the United States and was introduced to Europe in 1806. It is an aromatic shrub in all its parts, with bark and foliage that have a slight camphor scent. This Michael Lindsay variety has a bushy, well-branched, rather compact habit and will reach a height of 2.2 to 2.3 m (7 ft 2 in to 7 ft 6 in) in all directions at maturity, which is typically at the age of 5-6 years. Its branches bear leaves that are 7 to 13 cm (2.8 to 5.1 in) long, ovate and slightly fuzzy, shiny on the upper side and lighter on the underside. They turn butter-yellow and golden-yellow in autumn before falling off. Flowering takes place in May-June, on new shoots. The original cup-shaped flowers have wide petals and are burgundy-red with a wash of brown, with distinct lanceolate petaloid sepals arranged in spirals. The flower's centre is occupied by purple stamens. The scent of the flowers evokes, according to observers, strawberries and exotic fruits, with a beautiful spicy note. The fruits resemble small elongated hazelnuts and are contained in curious small brown fuzzy pouches. These seeds are toxic and should be kept away from children and animals. The shrub tends to produce a few suckers on the periphery of the stump. Remove these suckers promptly if you want to limit its spread.

This Michael Lindsay strawberry bush is of great ornamental value and rather easy to cultivate. It can be used, according to each gardener's desires and the space available, as a standalone specimen, in a loose and rustic hedge, or in a large border mixing perennials and small shrubs. The fragrance and beauty of the flowers will be best enjoyed near a pathway or not far from the terrace. To accompany it, one can choose, for example, variegated dogwoods Elegantissima, tree peonies, pheasant's eye, a golden ninebark, or a Neillia splendens, etc.

Calycanthus flowers resemble those of anemones in size and shape, but the fragrance is quite different: it is reminiscent of strawberries, and it is this characteristic that the English name "strawberry bush" refers to.