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Spicebush- Unsexed

Lindera benzoin

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Category
Tree / Shrub / Vine
Sun
Partial to Shade
Soil moisture
Medium-Wet to Medium
Bloom time
Apr–May
Bloom color
Yellow

About Spicebush- Unsexed

Spicebush is a versatile and aromatic deciduous shrub that offers multi-season interest and exceptional ecological value. In early spring, before its leaves appear, it is covered in clusters of tiny, fragrant yellow flowers that provide an essential early nectar source. Its bright green leaves, which turn a brilliant golden-yellow in the fall, emit a spicy, citrus-like fragrance when crushed. Spicebush typically grows 6 to 12 feet tall and thrives in partial shade and moist, well-drained soils, often found in rich forest understories. Most notably, it is the primary host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, and its high-lipid red berries are a prized food source for migrating songbirds. This hardy shrub is an excellent choice for naturalized hedges or as a standout specimen in a shaded border. Note that plants are dioecious, requiring both male and female individuals for berry production.

Native range

Native to 33 states:

AlabamaArkansasConnecticutD.C.DelawareFloridaGeorgiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasVirginiaVermontWest Virginia

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Lindera benzoin

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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