Sinocalycanthus 'Venus', also known as the Carolina Allspice, is a bushy shrub that will become the focus of your garden with its large showy flowers and subtle-coloured autumn display. One of the more exclusive shrubs that you can acquire for your garden, Sinocalycanthus is the end result of an intense breeding program and is rarely offered for sale in garden centres, so this is your chance to get your hands on something really rather special. The main show is from late spring into summer when 'Venus' erupts with a fabulous show of large, magnolia-like, creamy-white flowers with yellow and purple central splashes. The eyecatching blooms are beautifully scented and the first flush will last for several weeks in late spring, before blooming on and off right through until the autumn. There's then the added bonus in autumn when the large, glossy green leaves turn yellow and transform into honey-brown before falling. A strong, reliable grower and fully hardy, Venus is a low maintenance option for those of us with little time to worry about complicated care routines - just prune out any dead or damaged branches and that's it! Supplied as an established plant in a 3L pot, ready to be planted out.
If you want a garden plant that no-one else will have (or even recognise) then the Carolina Allspice, (Sinocalycanthus raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine') has got to be your go-to plant. An ideal choice for many gardens from woodland to moderately sunny, it is a robust, deciduous shrub with beautiful, lightly scented, maroon flowers up to 7.5cm (3-4in) across. A relatively new introduction for gardeners and a first for us here at YouGarden, 'Hartlage Wine' was first revealed at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2010, where it delighted all who encountered it. The flowers themselves are a delight to see and form along the branches. They are a rich shade of burgundy red, with just a hint of cream towards their centre - simply gorgeous against the backdrop of the lustrous green foliage, which in turn transforms to buttery shades in autumn. This unusual and delightful shrub is the first successful cross between Calycanthus floridus and Sinocalycanthus chinensis, its rare Chinese counterpart, making it something really special for your garden, and a plant that will amaze all who see it! Fully hardy, plants can withstand temperatures down to -15°C (5°F) and grow best in part shade, although you can also grow this beauty in full sun if it is kept well-watered until established.