Wildlife
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
Beetles are the main pollinators of the fragrant flowers, and butterflies visit for nectar.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 1–2 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native shrub
Carolina Allspice
Calycanthus floridus
- Ships 1–2 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–9
- Grows 6–9 ft
$10.95Was $14.95Save 26%
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
Carolina allspice is a deciduous shrub for USDA zones 4-9 that grows 6-9 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. It grows in full sun to part shade, preferring afternoon shade and moist soil. Buy it for maroon spring flowers with a fruity, spicy scent; the seeds are poisonous, so it is not edible.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Carolina Allspice plant profile
Mature size6–9 ft tall · 6–10 ft wide
Typical (6 ft)Up to 9 ft
Rounded, multi-stemmed shrub that slowly spreads by suckers.
USDA hardiness zones4–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Full sun to part shade; afternoon shade helps in hot areas, and deep shade makes it leggy.
SoilpH 5.5–7.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers rich, moist, well-drained loam but adapts to many soils.
Native to the USYellow fall colorHedge & screen
Flowers & fruit
Maroon to reddish-brown flowers with a fruity, spicy scent bloom in mid to late spring. Brown, urn-shaped pods follow; the seeds are poisonous.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow in fall. Glossy, dark green oval leaves that are aromatic when crushed and turn yellow in fall.
Pests & disease
Generally pest- and disease-free.
Pruning
Prune right after flowering to shape the shrub, and remove suckers or old stems as needed.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$10.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Carolina Allspice
SPRINGMaroon to reddish-brown flowers with a fruity, spicy scent in mid to late spring.
SUMMERGlossy dark green leaves; scattered flowers may continue.
LATE SUMMERUrn-shaped brown seed pods form; the seeds are poisonous.
FALLLeaves turn yellow before dropping.
Questions people ask about Carolina Allspice
What does Carolina allspice smell like?
The maroon flowers have a fruity, spicy scent often compared to strawberries and cloves. The crushed leaves and bark are aromatic too.
Is Carolina allspice poisonous?
The seeds contain toxic alkaloids, so do not eat any part of the plant and keep seed pods away from children and pets.
Will Carolina allspice grow in shade?
Yes, it grows from full sun to fairly heavy shade, but it gets leggy and flowers less in deep shade.
Is Carolina allspice hardy in Wisconsin?
It is rated to USDA zone 4, so it can grow in much of Wisconsin; choose a sheltered spot in the coldest areas.
What does the Carolina allspice look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant, leafless bare-root shrub about 1-2 feet tall. Soak the roots and plant it soon after arrival.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 1 review
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
R
I have been longing for this shrub since I left N. Carolina 40+ years ago. It was so well packed for shipping, and arrived moist and fresh. When I scratched the stem as per instructions is was green and sweet smelling. It is planted in mostly shade, and so far is healthy. I am just waiting for the leaves to come.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, Morton Arboretum.