Spicebush is a fragrant, native understory shrub valued for its seasonal interest and wildlife benefits. Known for its aromatic leaves and bright yellow spring flowers, it adds texture to gardens and supports pollinators, songbirds, and butterflies. In fall, its red berries provide a splash of colour and a vital food source for birds.
Quick Facts
Height: approximately 8 feet in urban settings
Spread: approximately 8 feet in urban settings
Form: Broad, rounded crown with upright branches
Leaves: Simple, light green, fragrant, long, obovate with smooth edges; emerge in spring after the flowers; bright yellow in fall.
Flowers: Tiny, yellowish-green female and showy, yellowish-green male, aromatic clusters; appear in early spring before the leaves on separate male and female shrubs
Fruit: Small, bright red, glossy, ellipsoid drupes containing seeds; mature in fall on female shrubs only
Distinguishing Feature
Its aromatic leaves and clusters of bright red berries make spicebush easy to recognize. Early spring flowers are also a key sign that spring has arrived.
Historical Fact
Spicebush has long been used by Indigenous Peoples for teas, spices and traditional remedies, and its use was later adopted by European settlers.
Why We Love It
Spicebush adds four-season interest to gardens and naturalized areas. Its flowers attract early pollinators, and its berries provide essential food for birds. Its multi-stemmed form and manageable size make it suitable for backyards, hedgerows or natural garden edges.
Did You Know?
- Spicebush is a host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. Its bright red berries also provide an important food source for birds in fall and winter.
- It is one of the earliest shrubs to bloom, with flowers appearing before the leaves and providing an early nectar source for pollinators.
- Spicebush is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate shrubs, so only female plants produce berries.
Plant Your Own!
Adding a spicebush to your yard provides beauty, wildlife habitat and seasonal fragrance. Plant for less with LEAF’s subsidized Shrub Planting Program today!
LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and improvement of urban forests. We envision vibrant communities where everyone benefits from a healthy urban forest. For over 30 years we have been connecting people with trees through education, planting and stewardship.
