English (United Kingdom) 
Russian (Russia) Calycanthus
Family. Calycanthaceae.
Origin. North America.
Description. Calycanthus are deciduous, dense, rounded shrubs that can reach 1 - 4 meters in width and height. Bright, green, glossy, oblong leaves are arranged oppositely, 5 - 15 cm long and 2 - 6 cm wide. Flowers are single, axillary, 4 - 7 cm in diameter, male and female, appear on the tips of the shoots, with many red, brown petals, burgundy and even almost black, reminiscent of a lotus. In autumn the leaves turn yellow and fall off. All parts of the plant are aromatic. The flowers have an attractive fruity aroma - a mixture of strawberry, banana and pineapple, the intensity of the aroma depends on the variety. After flowering, the plant produces fairly large oblong berries, 5–7 cm long, with numerous seeds.
Height. In the natural environment up to 4 m, in culture the height can be regulated by pruning.
Planting and care
When it blooms
Flowering time is from April to July.
Reproduction
Calycanthus is propagated by seeds, cuttings or layering. When propagated by seeds, daughter plants may not inherit all the characteristics of their parents, and in addition, this method requires too much time and labor.
Growing at home
Remove weak or old stems and wilting flowers to keep the plant looking neat. Long shoots are cut immediately after flowering to maintain a compact shape. In warm weather, it is better to take the bush out into the fresh air.
Containment temperature
Calycanthus can withstand a wide range of temperature conditions. During the growth period, keep at normal room temperature; in the winter months, a cool rest period at a temperature of 5 - 7 ° C is desirable.
Lighting
A well-lit place or partial shade, without access to direct sunlight.
Soil
Adapts well to a wide range of soils, but prefers nutrient-rich, well-drained soils with an acidic or neutral pH.
Feeding
During the period of active growth, calycanthus is fed with ordinary liquid fertilizers 2 times a month. After flowering, fertilizing is suspended until new growth appears in the spring.
Air humidity
There are no special requirements; spray periodically to prevent pest infestations.
Soil moisture
In spring and summer, when the plant is actively growing, water it generously until the soil ball is completely wet. The bush tolerates short-term drought, but if there is a lack of moisture, its growth slows down. In autumn, when the leaves fall, reduce watering so that the soil ball does not dry out.
Transfer
Every 2 years in the spring, replant the calycanthus into larger pots. For large plants, it is enough to change the top layer of soil annually to fresh one.
Pests and diseases
The plant is quite resistant to disease and is rarely attacked by pests, but can rot if overwatered.
Varieties:
Calycanthus chinensis
Deciduous shrub up to 3 m high with a spreading crown formed by abundantly branched shoots. The leaves are glossy, green, broadly lanceolate, arranged in opposite pairs on long, thin petioles. The surface of the leaf blades is covered with a branched network of veins. The flowers are white or pinkish, wide open, with round, thin petals and a yellow center, reaching a diameter of 10 cm.
Calycanthus floridus
Dense deciduous shrubs up to 180 - 270 cm high with thin, branching shoots. The leaves are lanceolate, green, glossy, entire, on short petioles. When damaged, the leaf blades emit a pleasant smell. The flowers are single or collected in small apical inflorescences with dark burgundy, red-brown or greenish-cream petals, reaching a diameter of 5 cm. During the flowering period, which occurs in the second half of spring - early summer, the plant emits a very pleasant, fruity aroma.
Calycanthus floridus var. glaucus
A flowering deciduous shrub with thin, brittle shoots and opposite, broadly lanceolate leaves. The leaf blades are green and glossy. The flowers are solitary or in small inflorescences, appearing in the warm season on the tops of the stems.
