Calycanthus Sweetshrub

Venus' Sweetshrub

Venus’ Sweetshrub (Calycanthus × ‘Venus’) is a stunning modern hybrid prized for its large, creamy-white flowers brushed with soft purple at the center, delightful fragrance, and refined shrub form. Blooming in late spring with repeat flowering into summer, it brings elegance and scent to mixed borders and woodland-style gardens.


Plant Profile
Type: Deciduous flowering shrub

Mature Size:



Width: 6–8 ft



Height: 6–8 ft



Bloom:



Large (3–4 in.) magnolia-like flowers



Creamy white petals with lavender to purple centers



Sweet, fruity fragrance



Late spring with repeat bloom in summer



Foliage:



Glossy dark green leaves



Turns golden yellow in fall



Zones: 5a–9b
Light: Full sun to partial shade (best flowering with sun)
Soil: Moist, well-drained soils; adaptable to clay and loam
Water: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture


Features & Uses


Form: Upright, rounded shrub with a refined, architectural habit



Excellent as a specimen shrub, in mixed borders, or along woodland edges



Exceptionally large flowers compared to older sweetshrub varieties



Fragrant blooms attract pollinators



Resistant to deer and rarely troubled by pests




Care Notes


Low maintenance; prune lightly after flowering if shaping is needed



Flowers on old and new wood, allowing for repeat bloom



Mulch to conserve moisture and protect roots

Plant type

Flowering Deciduous Shrub

Height

6-9'

Width

6-8'

Hardiness zones

5–9

Sunlight

Full sun to part shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

Cornsilk, Purple

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Jasmine

Soil

Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Specimen

Shape

Rounded, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No