Northern Spicebush Lindera benzoin
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lin-DER-ah BEN-zo-een
- Description
-
Spicebush is a deciduous shrub that may grow to 8 to 15 feet that can be found in rich forests, dry forests on slopes, and swamps. The leaves are alternate with a smooth margin. Leaves produce a spicy odor when crushed. The bark is brown to gray-brown and speckled with light-colored lenticels. In early spring, small, yellow flowers mature in axillary clusters. The shrub produces a bright red drupe with a peppery taste and scent. The fruit matures in the fall. This plant is dieocious, which means female fruit sets need male pollinator plants to reproduce. This plant has good, yellow fall color.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is susceptible to laurel wilt.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Native Plant Demonstration Garden All Saints' Episcopal Church
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Rubra'
- 'Xanthocarpa'
- 'Rubra'
- 'Rubra', 'Xanthocarpa'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Rubra'
- 'Xanthocarpa'
- 'Rubra'
- 'Rubra', 'Xanthocarpa'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lindera
- Species:
- benzoin
- Family:
- Lauraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Essential oils from this plants leaves, twigs, and fruits, have been used in teas. The fragrant fruits are sometimes dried and used in sachets. Native Americans have been known to use the dried fruits of this plant as a spice, and the leaves of this plant for tea.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) larvae which has two flights from March-December with a partial 3rd flight in the South. The adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers like sweet pepperbush, thistles, blue flag, and azalea. This plant also supports Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) larvae which have 2 generations per year from April-October. Adult Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies feed on nectar from Japanese honeysuckle, jewelweed, thistles, milkweed, azalea, dogbane, lantana, mimosa, and sweet pepperbush. Also a host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, especially during fall migration. White-tailed deer will browse twigs and leaves.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A drupe, scarlet red spicy scented fruit in late Summer/early Fall (August-September) 1/2' wide.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The Spice bush has clusters of tiny, apetalous, aromatic, greenish-yellow flowers that bloom along the branches in early spring before the foliage emerges (March-April). It has dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), with the male flowers being larger and showier than the female ones. The flowers of female plants give way to bright red drupes. Female plants need a male pollinator in order to set fruit (scarlet red), however. It's drupes are very attractive, but are largely hidden by the foliage until the leaves drop.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Spice bush has thick, alternate, oblong-obovate, light green leaves (to 5" long) turn an attractive yellow in autumn. Leaves are aromatic (spicy fragrance) when crushed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Has a spicy fragrance
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Wet Soil
