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Lindera benzoin
Northern spicebush is a wonderful large shrub to add to your landscape for many reasons. This shrub boasts petite, glossy, aromatic leaves that turn a glorious yellow in the fall, interesting flowers that give way to bright red fruits that can be dried and used as an allspice flavoring, and the twigs are also aromatic, historically ground and used in tea.
Known as “forsythia of the woods” due to the brilliant yellow flowers, this native is an excellent candidate for planting along the garden’s edge. L. benzoin is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) so if you hope to have fruit you will want to plant several of these.
Northern Spicebush is the host plant for the gorgeous Spicebush Swallowtail.
Use: Berries can be eaten fresh but improve in flavor when dehydrated. Dried and ground berries can be used as a spice with a unique flavor described as floral and peppery, a little like allspice.
Plants can be purchased in-person or online (with in-person pick-up).
All online orders will be ready for pick-up 24-72 hours after purchase. You will receive an email to let you know when your order is ready. We kindly ask that you pick-up any orders within one week of purchase.
Photos 1 and 2 courtesy of Dan Wilder
Lindera benzoin (Spicebush)
type: shrub sun needs: Part shade to sun water needs: average, moist, to wet soil height: 6-12' plant spacing: space 6'-8' apart bloom time: April, May bloom color: yellow edible parts: Berries can be eaten fresh but improve in flavor when dehydrated. Dried and ground berries can be used as a spice with a unique flavor described as floral and peppery, a little like allspice. salt tolerant. Some salt exposure should not be fatal to the plant but some leaf burning may still occur. deer resistant (please note that does not mean deer proof)
