Western Spicebush | Fragrant Red-Brown Flowering Native Shrub

Spice Bush

5 Gallon

$69.00

Spice Bush

Calycanthus Occidentalis, Western Sweetshrub, California Spicebush, Western Spicebush

A fragrant California native shrub with unique maroon flowers and spicy-scented foliage, perfect for sensory and wildlife gardens.

$69.00

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

Spice Bush is a remarkable native shrub that offers a multi-sensory experience throughout the seasons. Its most notable feature is its intensely aromatic nature—crushing its broad, dark green leaves releases a captivating, spicy-sweet fragrance reminiscent of cloves and fruit. In late spring to early summer, it produces unique, deep burgundy to reddish-brown flowers with thick, glossy petals that spiral inward, resembling a small, exotic water lily. These blooms emit a complex, fruity to fermented scent. A robust, multi-stemmed shrub, it provides structure, fragrance, and a touch of wild elegance to woodland edges, native gardens, and naturalized areas.

Highly Aromatic Foliage & Flowers: All parts of the plant are fragrant. Crushed leaves emit a strong, sweet-spicy scent, while the unusual flowers offer a complex, fruity aroma.
Unique & Ornamental Blooms: Features showy, 2-inch wide, maroon to red-brown flowers with thick, waxy petals arranged in a spiral, providing a unique visual and olfactory display.
Native & Ecologically Valuable: A California native that provides habitat and food for local pollinators, supporting the ecosystem.
Robust & Adaptable Habit: Forms a large, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub with a spreading form, thriving in a variety of soil conditions once established.
Low-Maintenance & Pest Resistant: Extremely hardy with no serious pest or disease problems. It is deer resistant and requires minimal care beyond occasional pruning.

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Features:Foliage: Broadly oval, opposite leaves with prominent veins, emitting a spicy, aromatic fragrance when crushed.Flowers: Unique, deep maroon to reddish-brown flowers with thick, glossy, spirally arranged petal-like structures, resembling a small cup or lotus; flowers have a complex, fruity to spicy fragrance.Habit: Deciduous shrub with a multi-stemmed, spreading, rounded habit. Highly pest and disease resistant.
Mature Height: 5–12 ft
Mature Width: 5–12 ft
Growth Rate: Moderate
Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
Key Advantages:Unique, fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage.Excellent pest and disease resistance.Adaptable and low maintenance.Attracts pollinators
Landscape Uses:Woodland and naturalized gardens.Mixed shrub borders.Fragrance gardens.Informal hedges or screens.Specimen planting

Q: Where is the best place to plant it in a home garden?
A: Plant it in partial shade to full sun, in a location where you can regularly brush against its leaves to release the scent—such as along a pathway, near a patio, or under a window with good air circulation.

Q: How does it differ from the Eastern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)?
A: They are different genera. Calycanthus occidentalis (Western Spice Bush) has larger, maroon, cup-shaped flowers and aromatic leaves. Lindera benzoin (Eastern Spice Bush) has smaller, clustered yellow flowers in early spring, is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies, and its leaves turn a clear yellow in fall.