Lindera benzoin
Northern Spicebush
- Main interest:
- early bloomer, decorative berries, fall colour
- Exposure:
- full sun to full shade
- Soil humidity:
- dry to wet soil
- Flower colour:
- greenish-yellow
- Fragrance:
- Mildly fragrant
- Flowering period:
- April
- Foliage:
- green
- USDA Hardiness:
- zone 4a: -34.5 °C (-30 °F) View Zone Map
- Mature height & width (max.):
- height: 12 ft (3.6 m) width: 12 ft (3.6 m)
- Use:
- specimen, naturalizing, hedge
The Northern Spicebush will let you know spring has arrived with its dense clusters of pale yellow flowers. This native plant is noted for its early aromatic flowers, red berries and beautiful fall colour. This low maintenance bush is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants. Female flowers that have a male pollinator will give way to the bright red berries that are attractive to birds. Both the fruit and foliage are fragrant. The fruit has a peppery taste and scent. Stems and leaves when crushed develop a spicy and citrusy fragrance hence "benzoin", the species name. In the fall the leaves turn a golden yellow.
Synonym(s): Laurus benzoin, Benzoin aestivale
Also known as: Spicebush, Spice Bush, Wild Allspice, Common Spicebush, Benjamin Bush