Lindera benzoin

spicebush

Lauraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

to 10 ft

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Naturalistic settings and informal wet hammock settings.

Considerations:

Like it's relative redbay( Persea borbonia ), it's susceptible to attacks by the redbay ambrosia beetle, which spreads a deadly fungus called Laural Wilt. While we need to keep planting them for the butterflies, just be aware that you might lose it to this wilt. Maybe if we plant enough, that we'll find some that are resistant.

Light:

Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---- to ---- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Organic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds



  • Larval host for the spice bush swallowtail and other butterflies. 


  • Attracts bees and flies.


Birds and mammals eat the fruits.

Native Habitats:

Bluffs, floodplains, calcareous hammocks. Rare.