My personal notes: (be aware that this are my experiences in Victoria Garden. In other places in and around Redding, this plant can behave differently)

Calycanthus occidentalis (Western Spice Bush) is a local native shrub. It grows in the area behind our house, near a seasonal stream in rich soil in an area the is in winter quite boggy. It grows there in full sun as well in shade.
The main attraction of the shrub are the beautiful dark red flowers which appear early summer and look like magnolia flowers. The flowers are strongly, spicy scented and together with the bark utilized to make Calycanthus oil, an essential oil used for making perfumes.
In winter the bush drops its leaves and you can recognize it by the big seedpods. Be careful the seeds can cause convulsions.
In Victoria Garden the plants grow in two places. First in the white border in the back yard in nearly full shade, in rich soil and moderate watering and the spice bush seems happy there. Secondly I planted them at the bottom of the woodland area in the front garden. Here it is in a poor soil with less water and partly sun. These shrubs are surviving, but not doing as well as the other one.

What are your experiences?

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