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THE GARDEN SAGEA library of living things
Shrubs & garden character · Western North Carolina field companion

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Whole shrub · Spicebush
Whole shrub · Spicebush◐ Part sun or part shadeFamartin ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full composition retained.

Early flowers and spicebush-swallowtail host; fruit requires male and female plants.

Sun Exposure
Part shade–shade
Mature Height (ft)
6–12
Mature Width (ft)
6–12
Bloom Season
Early spring
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Get to know this plant.

Sun Exposure

Part shade–shade

Growth Habit

Rounded understory

Mature Height (ft)

6–12

Mature Width (ft)

6–12

More growing details

Bloom Season

Early spring

Bloom Color

Yellow

Evergreen / Deciduous

Deciduous

Native Status

NC native

WNC Notes

Early flowers and spicebush-swallowtail host; fruit requires male and female plants.

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Wet-Soil Tolerance

Moderate–high

Deer Resistance

Moderate

LOOK CLOSELY

Two views, a closer look.

Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.

Whole shrub · Spicebush
Whole shrub · Spicebush◐ Part sun or part shadeFamartin ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full composition retained.
Spicebush · Botanical detail
Spicebush · Botanical detail◐ Part sun or part shadeHope Duckworth ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; complete composition retained.
Spicebush · Botanical detail
Spicebush · Botanical detail◐ Part sun or part shadeCabarrusco Hope Duckworth ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; complete composition retained.

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