Calycanthus 'Venus' sweetshrub, broad white magnolia-like flower with a purple-flushed center
Calycanthus 'Venus' sweetshrub, broad white magnolia-like flower with a purple-flushed center
Deer-Resistant Fragrant

Venus Sweetshrub

Calycanthus hybridus ‘Venus’

$28.00 Sold out
USDA Zones 7–9 Full Sun and Part Shade Matures 5–6 Feet

A white-flowered, three-species hybrid sweetshrub, Calycanthus 'Venus' opens broad magnolia-like blooms, purple-flushed at the heart and scented of ripe strawberry and melon.

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Roots wrapped in moist soil and padded for safe transit
Grown and shipped from our nursery in Aiken, SC
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The Full Story

Calycanthus 'Venus' is a white-flowered sweetshrub bred by Dr. Tom Ranney at North Carolina State University, drawing on three species at once: the Eastern Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus), the California sweetshrub (Calycanthus occidentalis), and the Chinese sweetshrub (Calycanthus chinensis, long known as Sinocalycanthus). The result is a deciduous shrub that carries the best of all three: hardiness, substance, and an unusual flower.

Plump, yellow-green buds open to broad white blooms, magnolia-like and a little smaller than a star magnolia, washed with yellow and a flush of purple at the center. The flowers are fragrant, ripe and fruity in the manner of strawberries and melon, and appear from late spring into summer above glossy, dark green leaves.

'Venus' grows upright and full, roughly five to six feet tall and wide, and asks little beyond sun or light shade and a moist, well-drained soil. Clean foliage, a long season of bloom, and a tidy, non-running habit make this hybrid an easy choice for a mixed border, a fragrant foundation planting, or anywhere a white-flowered shrub is wanted near a path or seat.
Will this plant thrive in your zone?

Plant Profile
At a glance
Hardiness
USDA Zones 7–9
Sun
Full Sun, Part Shade
Soil
Moist, Well-drained
Mature size
Height 5–6 Feet · Spread 5–6 Feet
Growth rate
Fast
Seasonality
Deciduous
Design Notes

Plant 'Venus' where the white flowers and their fruity scent can be met up close, near a path, a doorway, or a seat, in a mixed border or a fragrant foundation planting. The upright, well-furnished habit and clean dark foliage make a good foil for shade-tolerant perennials, and unlike the native sweetshrubs this hybrid stays put rather than running underground, an easy plant to place in a tidy garden. Give sun for the heaviest bloom, light afternoon shade where summers are fierce.

Flower, Fruit & Foliage

Flower. Yellow-green buds open to broad, white, magnolia-like flowers two to three inches across, the inner tepals brushed with yellow and a flush of maroon-purple at the center. The scent is fruity and ripe, strawberry and melon, carrying best on warm days from late spring into summer.

Fruit. As with all sweetshrubs, spent flowers may give way to a leathery, urn-shaped capsule that ripens brown and lingers on the stems; on this hybrid fruit set is sparse, a quiet autumn footnote rather than a feature.

Foliage. The leaves are large, glossy, and dark green, clean through the season and turning soft yellow in fall, a substantial backdrop that sets off the pale flowers.

Care

Read our full care guide

Light. Full sun to part shade; sun brings the most flowers, light shade suits the hottest gardens.

Soil. Moist, well-drained, and reasonably fertile; 'Venus' is adaptable but resents drought-stressed, baking ground.

Water. Keep evenly moist while establishing, then water through dry spells to hold the foliage and prolong bloom.

Pruning. Little needed; shape just after flowering, since bloom comes on established wood. The non-suckering habit keeps the shrub well-mannered.

Hardiness. Dependable through roughly USDA Zones 7 to 9 in the warm Southeast, though the published record runs colder: NC State Extension and other references document 'Venus' as cold-hardy well to the north, as far as Zone 5, so northern gardeners willing to trial the plant have good reason to expect success.

Here’s a closer look at how we produce our plants

From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.

Woodlanders Growing Process

Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.

Sustainable Growing Practices

Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.

Supporting Local Biodiversity

Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.

At Woodlanders, we are committed to quality.
Grown in Aiken, South Carolina
At Woodlanders, we are committed to quality.

All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.

Learn more about Woodlanders
Healthy plants, ready to thrive
Success, made simple
Healthy plants, ready to thrive

Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.

Read the care guide
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Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect upon delivery

All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.

Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
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Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
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At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.

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