How to Grow and Use Spicebush

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a shrub native to Eastern North America and a member of the laurel or Lauraceae family. It can be found growing around forest edges and along rivers and waterways. It grows prolifically in the wild but also makes an attractive plant for your garden.

Spicebush can be easily spotted in early spring- March through May- because of its pompom-like yellow flowers. It can disappear into the green of the forest during the summer, then show itself again come the end of summer due to its gorgeous and festive red berries.

Not only is spicebush a pretty bush to have around, but it is also a favorite of local pollinators and birds. As well, it is actually a medicinal plant that provides rather tasty tea for humans.

Source: mo_plant_daddy/YouTube

Spicebush for the Pollinators

Spicebush is the preferred plant of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. This stunning butterfly, with its black wings, white spots, and blue dusting, lays its eggs on the spicebush that provided food for the caterpillars. Spicebush is also a favorite amongst the local bird population. The berries are almost 50 percent fat so are ideal for migratory birds making their way to warmer climates for the winter.

Spicebush for Humans

Source: Trillium: Wild Edibles/YouTube

The leaves, berries, and young twigs of the spicebush tree have been used medicinally for centuries. It has been used to help reduce fever and is thought to increase circulation. When the leaves and berries are crushed, they give off a warm, spicy scent reminiscent of allspice. The seeds of the berries, when ground, are used as a substitute for allspice.

The leaves, which you can use dried or fresh, make a delicious spicy tea, and the berries themselves are worth some of your time and attention. The berries can be used fresh or dried and add a lovely flavor to fruit pies and cobblers. The berries should be harvested when red and can be frozen until you are ready to use them.

How to Grow Spicebush

Spicebush is a deciduous shrub that grows in USDA growing zones 4-9. In the right conditions, it can grow to heights of 12 feet with a span of 15 feet. It doesn’t require heavy pruning, but it can be shaped and kept smaller by pruning after flowering has ended. Spicebush needs to be in a well-draining, sunny spot in your garden but can tolerate a little shade.

Newly planted shrubs will need regular watering, but once established, spicebush is quite low maintenance.

The best way to get spicebush for yourself would be to buy a small shrub or bare-root plant from a nursery. It does, however, grow readily from seed and even cuttings.

From Cutting: If you have a friend with spicebush, you could ask for a cutting. Take a softwood cutting at the end of summer or early fall and dip the cut end in a rooting hormone. This does not have to be a chemical hormone. Human saliva, cinnamon, willow water, and aloe vera can all be used to help protect new cuttings are promote root growth.

Once you have your cutting, simply push the end of the stem into a potting mix and water well. The soil needs to be kept well-moistened and must not dry out until the roots are established. You can help things along by putting a plastic bag over the cuttings to create a greenhouse-like situation.

From Seed: The berries, which can be found on the female plant towards the end of the summer, contain the seed you need to create a new plant. Harvest some red berries and remove the seeds. Plant them immediately in soil in a pot. The seeds will go dormant over winter and emerge next spring.

Growing a bush from seed might sound like a daunting task, but spicebush can grow 1-2 feet per year if conditions are ideal. You will have yourself a significant shrub in no time.

Never use a herb or plant medicinally without checking with a medical professional first and doing your own research. If foraging for spicebush, be sure to have 100% certain identification before consuming anything. 

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• 5 Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Pots
• Uncovering the Mysteries of Medicinal Herbs

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