Red Zeppelin® Sweetshrub

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Shade

(0 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

Foliage is the main event here. Red Zeppelin® Sweetshrub carries deep burgundy-purple leaves from spring through summer, holding its saturated color long after many dark-leaf shrubs fade. Unlike older sweetshrub selections grown mainly for flowers, Red Zeppelin® offers season-long leaf color, and adds lightly fragrant orange-red blooms in late spring. It matures 4–8 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide, forming a broad, upright shrub with real presence. 

Developed by Pleasant Run Nursery from our North American native species, Calycanthus floridus var. purpureus 'PRNCFS' was chosen for richer foliage and garden durability. The large, glossy leaves create a coarse texture that stands out in mixed borders. Flowers appear on old wood and nestle among the dark foliage, offering a subtle but welcome contrast. It tolerates heat, humidity, and even clay soils once established, and deer typically leave it alone. 

Red Zeppelin® Sweetshrub Care

Plant Red Zeppelin® in full sun to part sun, with at least four hours of direct light to intensify leaf color. It adapts to a wide range of soils, including clay, but performs best in well-drained ground enriched with organic matter and a slightly acidic to neutral pH around 6.0–7.0. Water deeply during establishment, then provide supplemental irrigation during extended dry spells rather than frequent shallow watering. A spring topdressing of compost or a balanced shrub fertilizer supports steady growth without pushing weak stems.

Because it blooms on old wood, any shaping should be done shortly after flowering finishes. Remove a few of the oldest stems at the base every few years to encourage fresh growth and maintain a full framework. In the colder end of its range, apply a thick mulch layer in late fall to buffer root temperatures.

Red Zeppelin® Sweetshrub Spacing

Space shrubs 4–6 feet apart in landscape plantings to allow the natural form to develop. For use as a specimen in smaller gardens, give it room to be appreciated from all sides. Pair it in landscape designs with ninebark for layered foliage contrast, tuck in coneflower at its base for summer bloom, or combine with bluebeard to echo cool tones against the dark leaves. We like it as a bold counterpoint to green-heavy plantings.

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