Spicebush
Lindera benzoin

Height: 6-12 ft
Spread: 6-12 ft
Bloom Time: March-April
Sunlight: Part Shade to Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet, Moist, Medium, Dry

Named for the spicy fragrance of the leaves when bruised, this 6 to 12 foot shrub prefers shady locations and typically grows in the understory of woods. It naturally occurs in both wet and dry locations and is among the first species to flower in the spring. Its prolific yellow flowers appear in March and April before its leaves have emerged and provide a wash of yellow throughout wooded areas. The shrub takes on a vase-like habit with time. Male and female flowers are on separate plants, and females produce red drupes (berry-like fruits) later in the year that birds feed upon. Spicebush is a host plant for the caterpillars of the large and showy Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies.