You asked us for more edible and medicinal value plant options during last year's sale, and we listened! Learn more about Spicebush below.
This is a preorder and the seedlings are expected to arrive at NRICD by the date of the seedling sale on April 26. If an unforeseen weather or shipping event prevents your order from being fulfilled, you will receive a full refund.
You can pick up your order at 1800 Scituate Avenue, Hope, RI from 10:00-12:00 on Saturday, April 26.
Latin: Lindera benzoin
Zones: 4-7
Other common names: Spicebush, Spicewood, Benjamin Bush, Northern Spicebush
Mature Height/spread: a rounded, deciduous shrub, open form 8′ to 12′ tall, equal width. It has a long life span in comparison to most other plant species and a slow growth rate. Northern Spicebush has green foliage and yellow flowers. Flower bloom is usually observed in the mid spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the summer and continuing until fall.
Flowering: March-April; fruits maturing August-October (-November).
Soil / Climate: full sun to partial shade, prefers moist, well-drained soil. Spicebush have a low tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions. Common habitats are low woods, swamp margins and streamsides.
Notes: Spicebush sometimes forms thickets.
Wildlife: is common that the dispersal of seeds in many lauraceae species are due to birds that swallow them, so also the fruit and berries are often similar to attract birds. Birds are important dispersal agents. The hermit thrush swallows the whole fruit and later regurgitates the seed, indicating that it is an important seed disperser. Mammals may also be potential dispersers of genus seeds, including the raccoon and opossum. Small berries provide food for wildlife in winter. Over 20 species of birds, as well as deer, rabbits, raccoons, and opossums have been recorded as browsing the leaves or eating the fruits.
Sourced from Cold Stream Farm
Photo of Spicebush Honey from Rebecca Beyer of www.bloodandspicebush.com
Photo of Spicebush flowers from gardenia.net
Spicebush close up leaf photo from Coldstream Farm, wide shot from Blazing Star Butterfly Garden