Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a native deciduous shrub of eastern North America. It’s common in rich, moist woods and can grow in large clumps to 15 feet tall under ideal conditions. I enjoy observing spicebush and its associated flora and fauna throughout the year. In this and following posts, I’ll describe some of the highlights of a spicebush year.
Spring awakening
Spicebush is the earliest blooming native shrub in my area, usually opening its cheery yellow flowers along leafless twigs by mid April. Large clumps of spicebush that glow yellow under the leafless tree canopy are visible from a considerable distance. Spicebush likes the same habitat as skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). A delightful early spring scene is a woodland full of yellow spicebush anchored by bright green skunk cabbage leaves.
The flowers of spicebush are tiny, about 1/8” to 1/4” wide, and form clusters of 2 to 5 that hug the twigs. The flowers don’t have petals but have 6 yellow sepals (the outermost parts of a flower which are green and leafy in most flowers). Each spicebush shrub has either all male or all female flowers–what botanists call dioecious. This promotes greater genetic diversity in a population of shrubs. To determine if a shrub is male or female, you’ll probably need a hand lens to examine the tiny flower parts. Female flowers have a single globular ovary at the center, while male flowers have stamens that extend outward from the center. If you’re close to the flowers, you also might notice that they have a light fragrance. Male shrubs usually have more flowers than females because it requires a lot more energy to develop female flowers into fruits and seeds.
Spicebush flowers remain open for 2 to 3 weeks, and they’re an important early season nectar source for a variety of bees and flies.
The leaves of spicebush begin to unfurl in May. The leaves are alternate, entire, egg-shaped or oval and about 2 to 6 inches long. They’re bright green above and paler beneath. Both the leaves and twigs have a spicy fragrance when crushed, giving the shrub its common name.
Next post
Spicebush summer fauna
Wonderful! I love Spicebush. We have loads of it at Hill-Stead as it has quite a bit of wetland. I am told that the Indians ground it and used it as a spice, and I can quite believe it as the scent is quite strong when you first strip the bark.
Thanks for another nifty post!
Diane Tucker
Hillsteadblog.org
Hi Diane,
Thanks for your comments!
Edna
We are hoping to have some spicebush in or in the vicinity of our butterfly garden. Thannks for the very informative post!
That’s great!
Edna
I really like your ‘through the year’ idea and look forward to future posts. I have a Japanese garden in a park near me which I’ve taken pics of (http://lightswimming.com/2012/02/26/nerima-gardens-wringing-wet/) and I plan to revisit it through the year in different seasons and post pictures – that idea really appeals to me. cheers
Thanks for your comment, lightswimming. I’m looking forward to your posts.
Edna