Chinese spice bush is a shrub that grows up to 9 feet with opposite, untoothed, aromatic glossy green leaves. It produces interesting many-petaled, nodding flowers in later May. The cupped flowers have broad outer sepals that are glistening white, sometimes tinged in violet, with a ring of inner petals of yellow with a purple blotch at the base. Originally placed in the genus Sinocalycanthus, this species was been merged with Calycanthus, and it has been used in hybridization with American species to produce some remarkable new cultivars. It should be plant in deep, moist, humus-rich soil in full sun to partial shade.