In-Depth Description
One of the first flowers to bloom in spring, its tiny yellow-green flowers provide early-season nectar to native bees and butterflies. Spicebush is a shrub in the laurel family, native to moist woodlands in eastern North America. In the north, spicebush is thought of as the “forsythia of the wilds” because its early spring flowering gives a subtle yellow tinge to many lowland woods where it is common. Named for its spicy, fragrant leaves and stems, it is useful in shrub borders and naturalized areas.
Bright red fruits ripen from July through October on female plants but are only showy once the foliage falls off. The berries, high in fat content, are quickly eaten by various species of birds and tea can be made from the aromatic leaves and twigs. The berries can also be used as an alternative to allspice.
