Lindera benzoin

Spicebush is a highly branched, woody shrub that reaches heights of 5-15 feet. It blooms very early in the spring — March and April in Jackson Park, before most plants have leafed out — so it is one of the few spots of color in a grey landscape. When spicebush blooms, leaves are not yet present; the small clusters of yellow flowers have the stage all to themselves. Some specimens have only a single sex of flower (pistillate or staminate); less commonly, spicebush plants may bear “perfect” flowers with both functional male (stamens) and female (pistils) organs. Individual flowers are about 1/4″ across, pastel-yellow, with six yellow, petal-like tepals. Male flowers have nine stamens in three groups of three, each group associated with a two-lipped, yellow nectary; the anthers are bright yellow. Female flowers have an ovary with a single pistil and 6-18 non-functional pseudo-stamens; the stigma is large, bright white, and rough-surfaced. The flowers are said to have “an unusually sweet fragrance.” The fruit is a fleshy drupe with a single stone; it turns bright red in the late summer/early fall.

Spicebush is a highly branched, woody shrub that reaches heights of 5-15 feet. It blooms very early in the spring — March and April in Jackson Park, before most plants have leafed out — so it is one of the few spots of color in a grey landscape. Branches and the central trunk (which may not be present) are slender, covered with brown shiny bark with scattered white lenticels. When spicebush blooms, leaves are not yet present; the small clusters of yellow flowers have the stage all to themselves. Some specimens have only a single sex of flower (pistillate or staminate); less commonly, spicebush plants may bear “perfect” flowers with both functional male (stamens) and female (pistils) organs. Individual flowers are about 1/4″ across, pastel-yellow, with six yellow, petal-like tepals. Male flowers have nine stamens in three groups of three, each group associated with a two-lipped, yellow nectary; the anthers are bright yellow. Female flowers have an ovary with a single pistil and 6-18 non-functional pseudo-stamens; the stigma is large, bright white, and rough-surfaced. The flowers are said to have “an unusually sweet fragrance.” The fruit is a fleshy drupe with a single stone; it turns bright red in the late summer/early fall.

Spicebush is a highly branched, woody shrub that reaches heights of 5-15 feet. It blooms very early in the spring — March and April in Jackson Park, before most plants have leafed out — so it is one of the few spots of color in a grey landscape. Branches and the central trunk (which may not be present) are slender, covered with brown shiny bark with scattered white lenticels. Leaves are alternate and confined to new twigs and branchlets.