Family: Calycanthaceae
Scientific name: Calycanthus occidentalis
Common name: Spice bush / Western sweet shrub
Origin: United States

This species comes from the same primitive lineage as the more famous spice bush or melon tree (Calycanthus floridus), but isn’t as common. This species is also quite aromatic: the flowers and leaves spread a scent that resembles to the smell of red wine. The red flowers are pollinated by bugs and bloom best in full sun. The plant is fully hardy and proves to be a great addition to your garden due to its beautiful growth and lovely fragrances.

Sowing description: Sow the seeds in sowing mix and first put the whole in the fridge for 3 to 12 weeks. Keep the soil constantly moist. Then let them germinate at 15-20 degC, Germination can occur after 1 to 6 months.

Sowing time: November - June
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: -20 degrees Celsius

Photo 1: Scott Zona (CCA-2.0 Wikipedia)