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Japanese Spice Bush Lindera obtusiloba

Phonetic Spelling
lin-DER-ah ob-tew-sil-o-ba
Description

Japanese Spicebush is a herbaceous shrub or small tree from Asia generally growing 10-15 feet tall and wide. The leaves are variable and can have 1-3 lobes or none. In fall the color is a bright yellow lasting for several weeks. The shrub is either male or female so fruits are produced on female shrubs only.

Japanese Spicebush isn't picky about soil types but prefers moist well-drained soils in full to partial sun. It does best in acid to neutral pHs. Use in shrub borders or as a specimen.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lindera
    Species:
    obtusiloba
    Family:
    Lauraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Young leaves are fried and used as a Buddhist ceremonial dish
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Edibility:
    Young buds and leaves used in teas.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    small red fruit that turns black on female plants.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Umbel
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Greenish-yellow flowers without petals in umbels in spring
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, simple, leathery, lustrous dark green leaves; 2.5 to 5 in. long; brilliant golden yellow fall color. Ovate, cordate at base, margins entire or 1, 2, or 3 lobed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Corky Ridges
    Stem Description:
    Branchlets yellow-green, smooth and striate when young. With age become brown and scurfy with corky lenticels