Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)
[lin-DARE-ah BEN-zo-in]

Deciduous Perennial Rounded, Multi-Stemmed Shrub in the Lauraceae Family
A native shrub with two big October moments: bright yellow fall foliage and scarlet berries that pop once the leaves drop — a favorite fueling station for migrating songbirds.

Lindera benzoin, spicebush, is a native understory shrub found throughout eastern North American woodlands, valued for its aromatic foliage, early-spring flowers, and fall interest. Its leaves, twigs, and bright red fruit all carry a spicy, citrusy fragrance when crushed — the source of both its common name and its historical use as a wild allspice substitute.

In early spring, small clusters of pale yellow flowers cover the bare branches before the leaves emerge, among the very first native shrubs to bloom. Female plants develop scarlet red berries that ripen through the second half of summer and become especially showy in October once the foliage — which turns a clear golden yellow in fall — begins to drop.

Pros

  • Golden-yellow fall color plus, on female plants, bright red berries that peak in October
  • Aromatic, spicy-citrus foliage that's naturally deer-resistant
  • Tolerant of shade, wet soil, and occasional flooding
  • Host plant for spicebush swallowtail butterfly caterpillars

Cons

  • Dioecious — need a male and a female plant nearby for berries, and young plants can't be sexed for years
  • Fibrous roots make it difficult to transplant once established
  • Slow growing, especially in shade
  • Susceptible to laurel wilt disease where its beetle vector has spread (mainly a southeastern US concern so far)
Why Like Spicebush is a keystone wildlife plant. It's the required host for spicebush swallowtail caterpillars, which disguise themselves first as bird droppings and later develop snake-like eyespots for protection. Its lipid-rich red berries are an important high-energy food for migrating songbirds — especially wood thrushes — heading south in fall, and its early yellow spring flowers are one of the first nectar sources of the season for emerging pollinators. Historically, its aromatic dried berries were used as a wild allspice substitute, and its leaves and twigs were brewed into a traditional tea.
Highlights One of the earliest native shrubs to flower in spring and one of the showiest in fall — golden foliage and scarlet, bird-favorite berries peak together in October, right as the leaves thin out.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 15 feet tall. 6 - 15 feet wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Prefers consistently moist soil; tolerates occasional flooding and brief dry spells once established.
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Deciduous, Fall Color, Full Sun, Good for Rain Garden, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Shrub, Wet Site Tolerant Fall Color Shrubs, White Flowering Shrubs, Yellow Flowering Shrubs
Bloom Period March to April
Flower Color Light Yellow
Foliage Color
Animals That Use It

Larval Host:
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 07/19 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!