Sweetshrub is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9 and shrugs off deer. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for native bees.
Zones
4-9
pH Range
5-7.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Sweetshrub on your exact land.
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What Sweetshrub is
Sweetshrub grows as a perennial and reaches around nine feet at maturity. It blooms in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Sweetshrub
Sweetshrub grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. Sweetshrub does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 110 frost-free days and about 500 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
9 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
110+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant sweetshrub in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Sweetshrub prefers pH 5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Keep it in good form
Prune sweetshrub to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — sweetshrub isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Sweetshrub offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Sweetshrub thrives
Sweetshrub is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–9·Where Sweetshrub growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Sweetshrub can grow in these states:
See if Sweetshrub will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether sweetshrub actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Sweetshrub in my zone?
Sweetshrub grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Sweetshrub?
Most growers plant sweetshrub after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 110-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Sweetshrub need?
Sweetshrub does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Sweetshrub need?
Sweetshrub prefers soil pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Sweetshrub attract pollinators?
Yes — sweetshrub's flowers are a solid nectar source for native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Sweetshrub safe for pets?
Sweetshrub is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.