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Home  /  Plants  /  Budburst Species  /  Lindera benzoin
Phenology Observation Sheet for Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

COMMON NAME

Spicebush

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Lindera benzoin

ALSO KNOWN AS

Benjamin bush, Wild allspice

Plant family

Laurel (Lauraceae)

Plant group

Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

Spicebush is a native shrub in the eastern U.S. It grows in moist woodlands and has both male and female plants. Spicebush blooms in the early spring and has small, yellow flowers. In the fall, the female trees have bright red berries that provide valuable food for wildlife.
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OBSERVERS
361+
OBSERVATIONS
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Identification hints

Spicebush is a native shrub in the eastern U.S that commonly grows in moist woodlands. Each shrub will have either male or female flowers, but not both on the same shrub. Male and female shrubs must be in the same area for fruiting to occur. The leaves are oval shaped, 6-15 cm long and are broadest above the middle of the leaf. The leaves alternate along the twig. Spicebush blooms in the early spring and has small, yellow flowers that appear before the leaves. In the fall, the female trees have bright red berries and the leaves turn a pretty yellow color.
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Did you know?

Spicebushes are great for a variety of wildlife. Butterflies, such as the Spicebush swallowtail and the Promethea silkmoth caterpillars eat the leaves and often use them to build their cocoons. Birds eat the berries in the fall. This shrub is also deer tolerant. The leaves and berries are very aromatic, with a turpentine-like or spicy smell to them when crushed or rubbed. It is important to note that another plant, Calycanthus, also has the common name Spicebush. This is not the same plant.
DISTRIBUTION IN TH U.S.
Alabama , Arkansas , Connecticut , Delaware , Florida , Georgia , Iowa , Illinois , Indiana , Kansas , Kentucky , Louisiana , Massachusetts , Maryland , Maine , Michigan , Missouri , Mississippi , North Carolina , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , Ohio , Oklahoma , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , Virginia , Vermont , West Virginia
HABITAT
There is no information available about this species.

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