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Meet the Breeder

Carl Hesselein

RED ZEPPELIN®

Sweetshrub

Calycanthus floridus var. purpureus

'PRNCFS'

PPAF; CBRAF

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A cluster of deep burgundy foliage, a single red-orange flower, and chartreuse green spent flowers on Red Zeppelin sweetshrub.

A large planting of Red Zeppelin sweetshrub in a landscape bed with a tree showing fall color in its leaves behind it.

A bright orange flower blooming on the burgundy-red foliage of Red Zeppelin sweetshrub.

A large planting of Red Zeppelin sweetshrub in a landscape showing its deep burgundy foliage; a patch of pink petunias blooms in front of it.

Red Zeppelin sweetshrub foliage that has a red color with green veins.

Red Zeppelin sweetshrub with burgundy-red foliage growing in a landscape.

Dark Purple Foliage
Orange Flowers
Native Species

Description

With its glossy burgundy-red foliage, Red Zeppelin sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus var. purpureus) will rock your world! The color of the foliage lasts all season and is accompanied by lightly fragrant orange-red flowers in late spring and early summer. Not only is it adaptable and easy to grow in the landscape, but our many years of trialing indicate it’s easy to grow in production, too. This selection of our North American native species was developed by the folks at Pleasant Run Nursery in Allentown, New Jersey.

Like other calycanthus, Red Zeppelin tolerates shade, however, in its case, some sun is imperative for the most dramatic foliage color.

USDA Zone: 4 - 9 (-30°F/-34.4°C)
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun
Height: 4-8'
Width: 4-6'
Type: Deciduous
Bloom Time: Late spring and early summer
Flower Color: Red, Orange
Foliage Color: Purple
Liner Sizes: 2 1/4", 4", Quick Turn

General Care

Soil

Adapts to most soils; moist soils with organic matter are preferred.

Pruning

Prune to shape after flowering if desired.

Uses

Mixed borders; perennial beds; hedges; foundation plantings; screening and privacy.

Growing Tips

Grow in well-drained, acidic media. Flowers on old wood, so late-season trimming the season before sale should be avoided. Large foliage necessitates larger containers for best results. Benefits from a protected site and/or heavy mulch in colder end of its hardiness range. Because of its burgundy foliage, Red Zeppelin calycanthus is less shade tolerant than other selecitions.