Lindera benzoin
An aromatic, deciduous shrub native to eastern North America, it thrives in moist woods and stream banks, features early-spring yellow flowers and fragrant leaves, bears bright red berries on female plants that attract birds, is dioecious with male plants producing flowers, and serves as a host plant for swallowtail butterflies.
Common Names
Spicebush, Northern Spicebush, Wild Allspice
Summary
Lindera benzoin, commonly called Spicebush, is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America with a broad, rounded habit that typically grows 6–12 feet tall and wide and often forms thickets by root sprouting. It features aromatic leaves and stems, yellow-green flowers in early spring before leaf emergence, and bright yellow fall color; female plants bear red drupes that attract birds, and the plant serves as a host for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly, supporting butterflies and pollinators. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants necessary for fruit production.
In cultivation, spicebush grows in moist, well-drained soils and tolerates sun to shade, with fall color most vibrant in sunnier spots; it is hardy in USDA zones 4–9 and generally pest- and disease-free. Uses include borders, shade or woodland gardens, native plantings, and naturalized landscapes, and it can provide year‑round value through fragrance, early spring flowers, fall color, and wildlife appeal. For propagation, seeds require cold stratification, and softwood cuttings are also used; both male and female plants are recommended for fruit production; deer may browse young plants.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
72-144 inches
Spread
6-12 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade; tolerates full sun, partial sun, and full shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (pH 5.0–8.0), tolerating a wide range of textures.
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained soil
Soil pH
No single ideal soil pH; tolerates 5.0-8.0 (acidic to alkaline soils).
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green in summer, turning yellow in fall.
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow to moderate growth; about 1–2 ft per year in optimal full sun with moist soil, slower in shade
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Fall, Spring, Summer, and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) Blume
- Publication
- Mus. Bot. 1: 324 (1851)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Laurales
- Family
- Lauraceae
- Genus
- Lindera
Synonyms
Laurus glomerata Laurus axillaris Laurus fragrans Malapoenna glomerata Ozanthes benzoin Tetranthera floridana Benzoin aestivale Benzoin aestivale f. xanthocarpum Benzoin benzoin Benzoin geniculatum Benzoin odoriferum Calosmon benzoin Lindera benzoin var. pubescens Lindera benzoin f. benzoin Laurus benzoin Tetranthera aestivalis Lindera aestivalis f. xanthocarpa Malapoenna geniculata Euosmus aestivalis Euosmus benzoin Lindera benzoin var. verna Tetranthera geniculata var. grandiflora Lindera benzoin f. rubra Laurus aestivalis Laurus pseudobenzoin Benzoin aestivale var. pubescens Calosmon acstivale Lindera benzoin f. xanthocarpa Lindera benzoin var. benzoin