Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus), packet of 10 seeds

Family:  Sweetshrub (Calycanthaceae) Hardy to Zones 5 to 11 (Eastern Sweetshrub)   Deciduous shrub to 10 feet tall, flowering in large, terminal, aromatic, dark red blossoms.  Native to eastern and southern USA, from Virginia to Florida.  The foliage is leathery, shiny, aromatic.  Disease and insect resistant.   Traditional use (TNAM, TWM): used externally as a skeletal muscle relaxant.  Also treats neuralgia.  The dried bark or dried twigs may be ground up to make an edible and tasty spice akin to cinnamon.  The seeds and flowers, however, can prove toxic if ingested.  Easily grown from seed.  Nick through the seedcoat with a sharp blade, soak overnight in water, and the next day plant the seeds in warm, fast-draining mix.  Germination takes 4 weeks.  Space plants 6 feet apart. 10 seeds/pkt, Open-pollinated, Untreated, No GMO’s