Eastern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin

Summary
One of our hands-down favorite shrubs at the SBG is the native northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Unlike the showy but non-native forsythia, spicebush offers beauty and wildlife value beyond its yellow flowers. In early spring its branches are lined with tiny, fragrant, long-blooming blossoms.
Easily grown in full sun to partial shade, in average well-drained soils, this medium sized shrub grows 6-12” with an attractive, regular shape. Its leaves have a delightfully spicy scent when crushed. A shrub for all seasons, the leaves of spicebush turn a warm yellow color in late autumn .
Look for one of our larger specimens along the paved path of the SBG, welcoming park visitors with its cheery yellow flowers and spicy scent.
More Details
FAMILY
(Laurel)
BLOOM TIME
March-April
FLOWER
Yellow
MATURE SIZE
6-12 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Full sun to part shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Medium to moist, well-drained soils
NATIVE STATUS
Lorem ipsum dolor
Ecosystem Connections
Spicebush is most notably the host plant for the adorable spicebush swallowtail caterpillar, which never fails to delight SBG visitors of all ages. These caterpillars, which can be found feeding on the foliage, resemble cartoonish snakes with their big false eyes that are used to deter predators. The caterpillar can also protect itself by rolling up in one of the sturdy leaves. On female plants, spicebush flowers give way to bright red berries (drupes) later in summer, a high quality food for migrating birds.