Sweetshrubs have untoothed, opposite, ovate leaves with a pleasant, spicy aroma. The flowers, blooming in May and June, have numerous overlapping petals and a fruity scent. This is one of a series of recent hybrids between our native Calycanthus floridus and Calycanthus chinensis done at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in North Carolina. The flowers are rich claret-colored, except for ivory tips on the inner ring of petals. The flowers are much larger and showier than the species. It has larger leaves but is less fragrant. It was named after Richard Hartlage, who did the breeding.