Japanese Spicebush Lindera obtusiloba
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Benzoin obtusilobum
- Phonetic Spelling
- lin-DER-ah ob-tew-sil-o-ba
- Description
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Japanese Spicebush is a large, herbaceous, multi-stemmed, flowering shrub or small tree in the laurel family, native to the valleys and mountain slopes of Asia and generally growing 10 to 15 feet tall and wide at maturity (20 to 50 years). It is multi-stemmed with yellow-green, smooth branches when the plant is young. The yellow flowers emerge before the leaves in early spring, although their emergence is dependent on how mild the climate is. The leaves are variable and can have 1 to 3 lobes or none. In fall, the leaf color is a bright yellow lasting for several weeks. The shrub is either male or female and fruits are produced on female shrubs only.
Japanese Spicebush tolerates most soil types but prefers moist well-drained soils in full to partial sun. It does best in acid to neutral pHs. Male and female plants are required to bear fruit.
Use in shrub borders or as a specimen. The vibrant colors of the leaves and flowers make this a distinctive and attractive plant for a woodland landscape. It is said to require acidic soil; however, it is often found on limestone mountains in China.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lindera
- Species:
- obtusiloba
- Family:
- Lauraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Young leaves are fried and used as a Buddhist ceremonial dish.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Japan, North and South Korea
- Distribution:
- Popular in European gardens.
- Edibility:
- Young buds and leaves used in teas.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Small, glossy red fruit that turns black on female plants.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, greenish-yellow flowers without petals in umbels in spring. Flowers with 6 narrowly elliptic tepals, males with 9 stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- 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 inches long; brilliant golden yellow fall color. Ovate, cordate at base, margins entire or 1, 2, or 3 lobed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Brown
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Branchlets yellow-green, smooth and striate when young. With age become brown and scurfy with corky lenticels
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
