Sweetshrub

Description:

Lovely red flowers covered this large specimen - I usually see deep maroon to chocolate brown, so it was nice to see a different color! These blossoms were highly, highly fragrant as well. They smelled very fruity, and almost chocolate-y to me - a very pleasing aroma. The flowers are edible - and supposed to be delicious (but my kids were unimpressed!)

Habitat:

Found in fertile woodlands along sandy streams and hillsides. Grows in acid soils in the Southeast, predominantly in the Piedmont and mountains. It prefers moist, fertile soils in full sun to partial shade, but it is moderately tolerant of adverse conditions.

Notes:

Spotted growing along the road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.