Spice Bush;  Calycanthus occidentalis

Late Bloomer.  Large shrub, long purplish petals, large flowers, fragrant leaves. Notes:  Sweet-shrub (Strawberry-shrub) family.  The genus is from the Greek "calyx" flower, meaning ‘hollow receptacle.’  Deciduous or evergreen, aromatic shrubs.  Can grow into small trees. This is a favorite of ladybugs, which may spend the winter packed into the urn-shaped seed pods or, at lower elevations, massed on top of one another in large clumps to stay warm.  A good specimen is found at the first bridge of the handicap (left) trail.  Prefers moist, shady places. Also called Sweet Shrub. Click on the species name to go to USDA for this plant. Kingdom Plantae -- Plants     Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants         Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants             Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants                 Class Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons                     Subclass Magnoliidae                         Order Laurales                             Family Calycanthaceae -- Strawberry-shrub family                                 Genus Calycanthus L. -- sweetshrub P                                     Species Calycanthus occidentalis Hook. & Arn.                                      -- western sweetshrub

Spice Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis)