Northern Spicebush, Spice Bush, Spicebush, Wild Allspice
A lovely harbinger of spring, Lindera benzoin (Spice Bush) is a medium to tall, multi-stemmed, rounded, deciduous shrub noted for its early flowers, red berries, and excellent fall color. Its graceful, slender branches are studded with dense umbel-like clusters of sweetly fragrant, tiny, pale yellow flowers in early-mid spring. Blooming before the leaves unfurl, the blossoms attract butterflies and other pollinators.
It belongs to the laurel family, Lauraceae, which includes popular shrubs and trees such as bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), avocado (Persea Americana), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum).
Spice Bush is an important host plant for several butterfly species, most notably the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus). It is also a magnet for several bird species, including the American Robin, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Great-Crested Flycatcher, Hermit Thrush, Red-Eyed Vireo, and Veery. Its berries provide a vital food source for these birds, making Spicebush an essential component of any bird-friendly landscape.
Spice Bush is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants. The female flowers are followed by bright, glossy red berries that mature in fall and attract birds and small mammals. The foliage of thick, obovate, pale green leaves, 5 in. long (12 cm), turns golden-yellow in fall. Both the fruit and foliage are aromatic, emitting a spicy fragrance when bruised. Fast-growing, easy to grow, this eastern North American native is a fine choice for moist, shady places or naturalizing.
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Lauraceae |
| Common names | Spicebush, Northern Spicebush |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid), Fall |
| Height | 6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spread | 6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spacing | 72" - 144" (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Midwest, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Southeast, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Drought, Deer, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Lauraceae |
| Common names | Spicebush, Northern Spicebush |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid), Fall |
| Height | 6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spread | 6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spacing | 72" - 144" (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Midwest, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Southeast, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Drought, Deer, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Lindera benzoin (Spice Bush) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Lindera benzoin (Spice Bush) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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