Almost two years ago we had the bank above the big garden cut back. The trees had started shading the growing area even before Pap died in 2016 so it was much needed.
It’s been interesting to watch plants that have emerged in the area now that the trees, ivies, and laurels are gone.
Last summer there was a sea of jewelweed and it’s already growing this year so I’m sure there will be the same expanse of pretty wildflowers that happen to be good for skin ailments.
Milkweed also grew in the cleared area. In fact there was so much that last fall when the seed pods opened there was a couple of days that it looked like it was snowing as the seeds floated around in this end of the holler.
Carolina spice bush has taken over the top part of the bank. The shrubby bushes are called by a variety of names including sweet shrub, Carolina allspice, sweet bubby bush, applesauce bush, and strawberry bush.
As you might have guessed from the common names, the flowers have a sweet spicy scent to them.
The blooms are a deep brownish maroon. They start out fairly tight and uniform and then as the days pass they flop open to revel the inner portion. I’ve read, Carolina spicebushes grow near creek banks or where they can receive sufficient moisture, but in my mountain holler they don’t seem to care if they are near water or not. They grow throughout the southeast portion of the US.
The sweet smelling bush is often thought of as old fashioned. That might be because it was once commonly used as a deodorant or perfume of sorts. Women made sachets of the blooms and stored them in drawers, closets, and sometimes they tucked them into their dresses.
My Papaw Wade Wilson loved the sweet spicy blooms so every spring of the year I think of him as I stop and smell them.
Last night’s video: Making Matt Sassafras Tea & Harvesting Horseradish for Pickles.
Tipper
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Them sweet flowers of the bubbie bush. These were tucked into the bosom of womens brassieres so, when they’d sweat, it’d smell so sweet.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Oh how I miss the mountains in Blue Ridge. I loved the sweet shrubs or sweet hubby as my mother in law called it, lady slippers, trilliums and especially Joe Pyle Weed. I think
I have seen that in some of your videos. Walking in the woods was one of my favorite things to do. I love your outdoor tours as well as watching you in the kitchen❣️
I never knew this as anything but Sweet Betsy. Mama had a large bush and each year I couldn’t wait for it to bloom. I would pull a few of the flowers off and keep them as long as I could. The fragrance was wonderful and very distinct. Wish I had one here at my house now.
you are such a gifted writer…always bringing the garden to life, with your words. Just picturing those seeds “like snow” and you pausing to smell those spice bushes and thinking of your Dad. Thanks for your beautiful post.
love it so beautiful love flowers
I was first introduced to this shrub by my mother in law. She had one growing in her yard and I was always amazed by the sweet, strawberry smell. We now have a large one in our yard that came from her
bush. Always brings sweet memories of her.
What is shown in the picture I’ve always called Sweet Betsy.
What a beautiful plant from the leaves to the lovely color of the delicate petals – even the many interesting names for it! I wish I could smell the scent they give. I don’t think we have them here. Lavender is the main scented plant used here for sachets to ‘tuck’ in the many places you mentioned.
I have never heard of this bush before, so interesting! my sister has a good size plot of land and has a good amount of milkweed. When she mows she goes around the milkweed because monarch butterflies cocoon on the plants.
Sweet picture of Katie and Corie.
I would love to have a start of these. I remember them from my childhood. Do you know where I can get the old fashion plant? Thank you so very much.
Loretta, I’m not sure but you might be able to find one at an online store that sells native flowers and bushes. Just search for Carolina Spice Bush and hopefully you’ll fine one 🙂
I never knew what those flowering bushes were called until now. Thank you and yes, they are beautiful!
My grandmother born in 1890 said that they would take the sweet shrub blooms and wrap them in handkerchief and put them in their dresses and purses for a perfume
Must be wonderful to be surrounded by all that natural beauty. I imagine those wildflowers are very joy to behold.
I always love it when the sweet bubbies bloom. They grow in the woods at my mom and dad’s and I remember playing in the woods in the spring as a child and smelling that sweet smell. Whenever I’m at their house in the spring, I always walk the woods when they are in bloom. I never hear anyone other than my family reference them by that name, so I was so glad to read your post. ❤️
About 15 years or so, a friend of mine who is 89 now, showed me this “bush” that was growing in a powerline cut. The “bush” is right below a still-standing pre-War Between the States log cabin where he and his 15 other brothers and sisters, along with his mother and daddy, lived from the early 1930s- early 50s. One spring morning while listening for a turkey to gobble this my friend told me to come with him. He had something he wanted to show me. It was this bush. He did and the smell was divine. As he was picking the blossoms, he said his mother called it “Sweet Blossom” and went on to say she would pick a bouquet (that is the word he used) when the bush was in bloom and place it on the table and it would make the whole cabin smell like the bloom. Later, he said his wife did the same. He told me that even though his wife was gone, he still picked a ‘bouquet now and then and I should too. I still go down there when they are blooming and pick a “bouquet” . I had probably walked past it and got a waft of the sweet smell and might have glanced at the blooms, but only after “Greasy Vickery” pointed it out to me did I learn to appreciate it. I am proud he did.
Why do I think sweet bubbies smell like nursing homes and infirm old ladies? It’s like a sickeningly sweet smell to me.
I see Br’er Don has already beat me to the comment that immediately came to mind when I read today’s blog. Tipper’s delicate dancing around the origin of the name “sweet bubbies” nicely melds with the delicate fragrance of the blooms.
I’ll also note that the plant had a key influence in my shaping and molding as a turkey hunter. My mentor in the sport, a grand woodsman and hunter named Parker Whedon, was both fascinated and delighted when I pointed out the plant to him and related this bit of mountain folklore. I’m convinced it is why he took me on as an apprentice and shared a lifetime of accumulated knowledge in the quest for America’s big game bird with me.
Jim Casada
Your photograph is so beautiful, it looks like I should be able to smell them—wish I could. .
Oh wow!! First time I heard the name sweet bubby for this bush was in Troutman about thirty years ago. I also like Carolina jessamine and blue eyed grass. Wonderful names.❤️
HI Tipper, I love these. as a kid I knew where one grew and would hunt it ever year just to get to smell it. Several years ago I hand a chance to purchase a couple to grow in my yard. last year was the 1st time it bloomed. but the nursery version doesn’t have the fragrance of my childhood. but still has the beauty and the memories. Have a great week!
My dad bless his heart made a cold med of sorts from that plant mixed with pine tar and honey. One taste and you were cured . call grandma fast was my last words.
I love the smell of bubby flowers!
Calycanthus floridus
We had a few of these come in on a nursery truck last year and I had to look up the common name. I wondered if they would survive this far north. One site stated zones 4-9 another said 5b-9. Very pretty and the smell would definitely be a bonus!!
I went out to our company’s nursery yesterday and picked up some banana cream daisies, rose marvel salvia, and some purple coral bells to put around our mailbox. I always hope they’ll live year to year, but we have no protection from the harsh winter winds. The only thing that lives is a hydrangea and Walker’s Low Catmint. My momma always had flowers and hosta around her mailbox, so after she passed away I made a bed around mine because I always thought hers was so beautiful. Our mail carrier said she loved how we made it so perdy.
Tipper, I just love all the things you do and share! It reminds me to slow down and enjoy what’s around me.
Tipper, you’re being way too delicate and non-specific with “tucked them into their dresses.” Why they tucked them into a very particular location – where the fragrance would emanate from sweet bubbies;-)