Discover its history, ideal growing conditions, propagation methods, and practical uses. Discover its fragrant flowers, growth habits, ornamental features, and care tips for creating a thriving garden. It is found in the southeast in shady woodlands and along streambanks. Learn how to grow the spice bush (or sweet shrub) in this care and growing guide. · carolina allspice grows in sun, part shade, and filtered shade. Carolina allspice is an erect to rounded deciduous native shrub in the sweetshrub family (calycanthaceae). Good drainage, however, is a must. Carolina allspice (calycanthus floridus) is a deciduous shrub that produces dark red, magnolia-like flowers with a sweet, fruity scent in spring and summer. Learn about sweetshrub (calycanthus floridus), also known as carolina allspice or spicebush. It has shiny, golden-yellow foliage in fall and is resistant to disease and deer. From spring to midsummer, flowers bloom on old and new wood. It will grow faster in part shade and slower in full sun. They grow vertical stems or suckers in the spring, but do not spread aggressively. Ideally, the shrub should be planted in rich loam that is slightly acidic but will tolerate a wide range of soil types and a ph of 6. 0 to 8. 0. · learn about calycanthus floridus (carolina allspice), a north carolina native plant. · carolina allspice shrubs have an upright, rounded growth habit. · carolina allspice is a medium-sized shrub native to the southeastern u. s. The bark, leaves, and flowers often, but not always, have a fruity or spicy aroma.