Carolina Allspice
Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsey'
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsey' is the sweetshrub gardeners reach for when fragrance is the whole point. The species, Carolina allspice, is a southeastern native beloved for reddish-brown flowers that smell of ripe fruit, but the scent varies wildly from seedling to seedling, and 'Michael Lindsey' was chosen precisely for a rich, dependable perfume. Add glossy dark green foliage and clear golden fall color, and this selection has become a benchmark, one the plantsman Michael Dirr called the standard by which other introductions will be measured.
Woodlanders owes this plant to the plantsman Allen Bush, who selected, named, and introduced 'Michael Lindsey' through his Holbrook Farm and Nursery in Fletcher, North Carolina, now long closed. The clone earned a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal on merit, chief among the reasons that reliable fruity fragrance carried on flowers of deep reddish-brown. In warm weather the scent, variously read as strawberry, pineapple, or melon, drifts on the air rather than waiting to be found.
The genus name joins the Greek words for calyx and flower, for the curious bloom in which petals and sepals look alike, a ring of narrow, strappy, magnolia-like tepals. Those flowers run a clever trap, since the fruity scent lures small beetles inside, where they shelter and feed before carrying pollen out to the next bloom, an ancient pollination bargain older than bees on flowers. The aromatic bark and leaves, spicy when bruised, gave rise to the allspice names, though every part carries the alkaloid calycanthine and should never be eaten.
Site Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsey' where people pass close, beside a path, a doorway, a patio, or a seat, so the fragrance is part of the day. The shrub takes full sun to part shade and average, well-drained soil, growing dense and rounded and asking little, and the cut flowers scent a room. For a native, trouble-free, deer-resistant shrub that earns a place on perfume alone, this is among the very best.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 4–9
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Mature size
- Height 6–8 Feet · Spread 5–8 Feet
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
Reddish-brown, fruity fragrance, late spring to summer
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
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.
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.
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.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
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.
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.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
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.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.