Lindera benzoin
The first time is in the spring when the sweetest little flowers open up along the slim branches of this native understory shrub.
Spicebush is a perfect little tree for Eastern USA gardens. In my garden it’s happy in clay soil that’s been amended with decaying organic matter and mulched with shredded leaves. It will thrive in dappled sun or even medium shade. It’s a slow growing tree that I plant for its year round wildlife value. It’s an excellent source of nectar for early bees, flies, butterflies. It’s a host plant for spicebush butterfly and promethea silkmoth. It provides cover, nesting and seeds for birds. It has delightful fragrant flowers that make me smile. (and, it’s deer resistant!)
After the flowers fade, the leaves appear. I like the light green leaves and love to occasionally crush one to release the spicy smell. But, please don’t crush them, before checking for eggs or caterpillars. It’s their host plant and you don’t want to injure the next generation of Spicebush Butterfly! I’ve never found the caterpillars or chrysalis, but, each summer the butterfly visit my garden. (Butterfly Gardens). I am pretty sure they must be here! I can’t wait to see them~They’re the most incredible looking caterpillars! (here)
Then, just when you have almost completely forgotten that you have a wonderful understory tree like Spicebush~
Future flowers hugging the stems
Autumn arrives and it once more lights up the garden with the loveliest yellow leaves and red drupes (seed).
Isn’t nature grand!
Gail Eichelberger of Clay and Limestone has a beautiful wildlife garden in Middle Tennessee. She loves prairies, cedar glades, woodlands, native plants and gardening. She maintains a private practice as a therapist when she’s not in the garden or blogging.
© 2011, Gail Eichelberger. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
© 2011, Gail Eichelberger. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Gail Eichelberger
Very nice! Any experience with deer — do they “prune” it for you?
Alan @ it’s not work, it’s gardening! recently posted..Starting to empty the greenhouse
Alan, it seems to be deer proof or at least deer resistant! It could be the spicy tasting leaves that make it so. I’ve seen it in the woodlands where deer regularly graze and eat the nearby plants to the ground. gail
Gail Eichelberger recently posted..Eye- Eye- SkipperA Big Eyed Pollinator
Spicebush IS very slow growing! I loved this plant when I first learned of it, and put in several five years ago. I lost several (perhaps too much sun) and the others are taking forever to establish. I still only have wispy stems, no flowers yet and they just started to color up in fall this past year. They seem to be fussy, not really happy in my garden, but I’m being patient. I do want to see these in their full glory, and the butterflies too!
Laurrie recently posted..The Borrowed View
Laurrie, Very slow, but, worth it! The last two years I’ve seen a dramatic change in my little tree. There are more flowers and the small branches. I decided to add several more to the garden and think this may increase my chances of discovering cats! gail
Gail Eichelberger recently posted..Eye- Eye- SkipperA Big Eyed Pollinator
I killed a couple and finally potted one up on the deck, where it’s thriving. The nursery owner told me that they’re a plant found in flood plains, so they need to be very wet during the early growing season, but can tolerate a little more dry later in the year. Seems to be true, as far as I can tell, but man, if they’re in full sun, they need a LOT of water out here in NC.
Ursula Vernon recently posted..Obligatory Annual Deer-Hating Post
Ursula, That’s a great solution~I’ve read it has better fall color in sun, but, it colors up plenty in my shadier woodland. Mine is planted near a downspout and that helps ’cause we are having lots of summer droughts…The new normal! gail
Gail Eichelberger recently posted..Eye- Eye- SkipperA Big Eyed Pollinator
Did someone say flood plain? ahhhh….I’ve got the perfect spot then so I’ll have to look into acquiring one of these beauties. Gail, you’ve painted a picture enticing me to look for this beauty next trip to the native plant nursery, closer to rainy season.
Loret recently posted..The Awakening – Giant Swallowtail
Loret, Flood plain! Go for it! Don’t you love having native plant nurseries near our gardens. I said this earlier, but, I am adding more to my garden. Speaking of flood plains, we are getting another hard rain a falling in Nashville. gail
Gail Eichelberger recently posted..Eye- Eye- SkipperA Big Eyed Pollinator
What a sweet little tree.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..NowhereVille
kathy, It’s a sweet tree for sure.
Gail Eichelberger recently posted..Eye- Eye- SkipperA Big Eyed Pollinator
We discovered two mature spice bushes in our northern Indiana woods where it is lightly shaded and damp. I’ve always wondered why I don’t see it for sale, but it must be the slow growth. Last fall, a tree fell on one of the shrubs, splitting it in half. I took about 25 cuttings and I’m hoping that they root.
It is easy to ID in the winter since the flower buds are perfectly round flat buttons. Also, you can make delicious tea from it. I steep it and add a little honey and vanilla. This shrub would be perfect for a shady rain garden.
Spicebush berries are a energy boosting food for birds at migration time (Peterson’s Field Guide to Eastern Forests, page 334). That’s because the fruit is high in fat (lipid) content that provides the birds with more energy per unit of weight. “They can store a lot of fuel with relatively little weight compared with that of more sugar-laden fruit.” Other species producing fruit that’s high in fat are Flowering and Grey-stemmed dogwoods, Southern Magnolia, Southern Arrowwood, Sassafras, Virginia Creeper and Black Tupelo.
In another couple of weeks I will check the spice bush in the back swamp. They do light up the woods when they bloom. I will look for the chrysalis. Thanks for that heads up.
If my soil wasn’t so dry and well-drained, I’d have to get one. It’s got such great fall color.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter recently posted..Ive Won a Yellow Ribbon