Spicebush Lindera benzoin

6-12’ native shrub, rounded and loose. CT native, found in the understory and edges of low woods, wooded swamps, pond shores, sometimes in uplands.

Many small yellow spicy-fragrant early-April flowers, before leaves, creating a soft yellow haze. A harbinger of spring. 3-5” leaves, excellent golden-yellow fall color, especially with a few hours of sun.

Bright scarlet fruits in September. Stems are aromatic when bruised.

Part sun to shade, prefers part sun. Prefers moist fertile soil, but tolerates wet conditions, and even dry if in shade. Avoid moving once established.

Useful in woodlands, shrub borders, shade gardens, hedgerows. Streamside buffers. Early settlers used the berries as a substitute for allspice, and its bark in place of cinnamon. Stems make a tea full of Vitamin C, said to ward off colds.

Attracts butterflies. Larval host to the caterpillar of Spicebush Swallowtail (in photos) and the Tiger Swallowtail. Attracts Thrushes, Vireos, & other songbirds.

Photos 1, 6: Pat Breen, U. of Oregon; Dept of Hort. landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/linde- ra-benzoin Photo 3: The Native Plant Society of New Jersey npsnj.org/photo_galleries/photo_pages/linde- ra_benzoin.html Photos 2, 4: Missouri Botanical PlantFinder missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plant- findersearch.aspx Photo 5: North Central Conservation District Photo 7: Virginia Tech Dendrology dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/fact- sheet.cfm?ID=123 Photo 8: Wisewire flickr.com/photos/158504583@ N02/36272259763/sizes/m/ Photo 9: Anset Oomman, Bugwood.org forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?img- num=5519533 Photo 10: UConn Plant Database. hort.uconn.edu/plants Photo 11: Greg Hume commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spicebush02. jpg