This is an uncommon shrub with distinctive, fragrant flowers (produced from mid-April to mid-May), spicy-smelling (when crushed) leaves, and oddly-shaped fruit. Depending on the region, this shrub may be called Sweet Betsy (what my grandmother called it), Sweet Bubby or Sweet Bubby Bush, or Carolina Allspice.

McDowell Co., NC 4/16/2011.

There are two varieties in NC, var. floridus (with pubescent leaf undersides, petioles, and twigs) and var. glaucus (Willdenow) Torrey & A. Gray (glabrous or sparsely pubescent). The photo at left shows an example of var. glaucus from the western Piedmont. In NC, var. glaucus is much more common, generally occuring at higher elevations and further north/west than var. floridus.

McDowell Co., NC 4/16/2011.

Flower of var. glaucus.

Clay Co., NC 5/19/07.

Flower of var. glaucus.

Haywood Co. NC 5/9/08.

Leaf undersides of var. glaucus. Leaves are not always glaucous beneath.

Haywood Co. NC 5/9/08.

Branch of var. glaucus.

Haywood Co. NC 5/9/08.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/2009.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/2009.

Ripening fruit.

Planted specimen, Chapel Hill, NC 5/25/2009.

Sweet Betsy is most common in the southwestern third of North Carolina, rare in the Coastal Plain.

A wild var. glaucus with a very whitish leaf underside.

Clay Co., NC 5/14/05.

Leaf undersides of var. glaucus.

Clay Co., NC 5/19/07.

Planted specimen, Chapel Hill, NC 4/13/02.

Planted specimen, Chapel Hill, NC 4/13/03.

This mutant with yellow flowers is the cultivar Calycanthus floridus 'Athens'.

Planted specimen, Chapel Hill, NC 4/7/02.

Bizarrely-shaped hard seed pods are produced in summer. Wild plant of var. glaucus.

Guilford Co., NC 7/31/04.

A leftover seed pod of var. glaucus from last year, with flowers and a developing seed pod.

Clay Co., NC 5/22/05.

Bark detail.

Clay Co., NC 5/19/07.