Spicebush or spiceshrub is an American plant, and, like many American plants, especially those of useful value, it has several names. One is allspice – but that is misleading because it sounds like the spice allspice, which are the rounded peppercorn fruits of a different plant.

Calycanthus is also called sweet bush and strawberry bush. The botanical name itself means beautiful flower, and the flower is beautiful.

The flowers and the whole plant look a bit like a magnolia tree and it is a moderately distant relative of magnolia.

Magnolia is considered to be one of the oldest flowering plants, and this too is an ancient species. It is ancient enough to have its own plant family, the Calycanthaceae, which has only two species and a doubtful third one from Asia. The two species are American – Calycanthus floridus is found in the lower eastern states from Carolina to Florida and is known as Carolina allspice and Calycanthus occidentalis is the Californian allspice.

The link with magnolia is obvious when the flowers are looked at. Calycanthus could easily be a small purple version of the star magnolia, the numerous petals being strap-like, peeling back from the centre, just like those of the magnolia, and often held in an upright position, like magnolia. But they are smaller, only about 5cm across, very pretty and often a complete surprise: tucked away amid the leaves, or sitting in full view on top of them.

Flowering can occur into autumn on current season growth. The two species are much alike, the California one being bigger and more vigorous with slightly larger darker flowers. ‘Hartlage Wine’ is a hybrid with a touch of white at the centre.

The leaves are twice the size of the flowers and may turn yellow before falling in winter. The flower is also very fragrant, which explains the “sweet” in its various names.

The flowers are the source of a very esteemed fragrant essential oil used in high-quality perfumery.

The other parts of the plant are also scented. Besides being connected to magnolia, it is also considered to have an ancestral link with bay laurel, which is used as a kitchen herb. The sweetshrub earns its spicy name from the spicy odour, likened to camphor or mothballs, or cinnamon.

In its native range in America, calycanthus grows in mountain woodland and in clearings by streamsides, but it is not a wet-ground plant. It thrives in similar positions in the garden in a place where it has some light shelter for its handsome leaves and some sunlight for a few hours each day.

It comes from regions that are warmer than here and needs reasonably good levels of sunlight. Although from a warm climate, it is hardy to USDA Zone 5, which is much colder than any part of Ireland ever reaches, but it is also comfortable in sub-tropical areas.

However, like so many plants of continental climate origin, it can be caught out by the stop-start nature of an Irish spring and the young shoots can be nipped by a late frost.

Being deciduous helps its hardiness rating. It likes to grow in well-drained soil that does not dry out, although it is tolerant of drought for extended periods.

It grows best in a rich woodland-type soil, well-drained but full of moisture-retentive humus.

Calycanthus does not mind whether the soil is acidic or limy and grows well in either, making a spreading, suckering bush of about 3m. It flowers in summer with single flowers on side-shoots or at the tip of branches. CL

Cutting cabbage

When cutting heads of spring or summer cabbage, it is possible to get a smaller, but useful, crop from the same plants. The root is not pulled out of the ground and the cut is made just above the lower leaves, leaving in place a few old leaves to feed the root and help it to re-grow.

This works well with quick-maturing cabbage varieties, such as ‘Hispi’ and ‘Minicole’. The plants produce about four new mini-heads and often these are a nice size if not a lot of cabbage is wanted, or just use as many little heads as necessary. Watch for snails, and cabbage aphid that might be on the old plants.

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Sow a batch of the salad vegetables that mature quickly, including beetroot and white turnips. Do not let weeds go to seed, to prevent a replenishment of weed seeds in the soil. Plant out winter cabbage varieties, if not already done. Pick herbs for winter use as they come ready, before flowering, by drying or freezing.

Lawns

Keep up regular mowing, as grass growth has been exceptional in most areas. If the grass looks a bit pale and hungry, feed the grass using high-nitrogen fertiliser during a wet spell. If weeds have built up in the last few years, apply a lawn weedkiller during a fine spell when growth is active. Keep lawn edges trimmed.

Trees, shrubs and roses

There has been a lot of rose blackspot and leaf spot disease and it is still necessary to spray rose bushes of susceptible varieties, especially in the damper parts of the country. Early flowering shrub roses and ramblers that have now finished could be pruned. Water young trees and shrubs if they look like they need it.

Flowers

Pots and baskets need regular watering and feeding. Feeding with liquid feed every two weeks or even every week is essential to keep the plants going after the first flush of flowers. Remove seed heads of flowers that self-sow, such as foxgloves and libertia, if they are not wanted. Sow seeds of lupins, mallows and foxgloves.

Greenhouse and house plants

Continue watering and feeding all greenhouse plants to maintain strong growth. Water plants in pots or grow-bags regularly. Train and side-shoot tomatoes and cucumbers. Take cuttings of deciduous shrubs of all kinds – especially roses and clematis. Pot on house plants as necessary if not already done.